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Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Untouchables In The Untouchables (1987), actor Billy Drago plays Al Capone’s henchman Frank Nitti. From this bird’s-eye-view angle , Nitti has just met his fate, falling 5 stories onto the first parked car below. Today’s screenshot is also a point-of-view (POV) shot from the perspective of Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner). Looking down after killing Nitti, Ness stands triumphant on the roof of the Chicago Cultural Center (the U.S. District Courthouse in the movie). Based on several interviews, Billy Drago quite enjoyed his time playing Frank Nitti . He talked with members of the Nitti family, studied the mob outfit’s history, and interviewed remaining members of “the real Untouchables” (Omaha World-Herald , 26 Jul 1987). But what really surprised Drago during filming was how down-to-earth the Nittis were. During production, Drago received this message at his Chicago hotel: “the Nitti family will be by to pick you up at 7 o’clock.” Understandably, the actor was concerned. But, as Drago tells it, “they couldn’t have been nicer—and they had all of these legitimate businesses!” Furthermore, the family loved the way he portrayed Nitti in the movie (The Boston Globe , 24 Aug 1990). The Untouchables was nominated for 4 Oscars: best actor in a supporting role, best art/set direction, best costume design, and best music original score. Sean Connery won the award for best supporting actor. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

On virtual walking tours, discover Chicago and movies through real-time participation, HD video, interactive maps, and other unique media forms. Virtual Tours Discover Chicago and film virtually through participation, HD video, and other media. Nov 20, 2025 8:00 PM Movie Makeup and Toupees in 1920s Chicago Explore makeup from cinema's earliest days to the present, including 1920s Chicago’s famed toupee maker and his Hollywood-inspired creations DETAILS Dec 19, 2025 12:30 AM Festivus 101: A Virtual Celebration for the Rest of Us Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture DETAILS Jan 26, 2026 7:00 PM The First Ferris Wheel in Film Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality DETAILS Dec 4, 2025 7:00 PM Private: Holiday Chaos: Behind the Scenes of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family DETAILS Dec 23, 2025 12:00 AM While You Were Sleeping in Chicago: A Holiday Stroll Visit the suburban Chicago village where the romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping” was filmed DETAILS Feb 4, 2026 12:30 AM Mardi Gras and Movies in the Midwest Explore the history of Mardi Gras and its onscreen depictions, including some from Chicago film companies DETAILS Dec 8, 2025 11:00 PM Private: Festivus 101: A Virtual Celebration for the Rest of Us Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture DETAILS Dec 29, 2025 7:00 PM While You Were Sleeping in Chicago: A Holiday Stroll Visit the suburban Chicago village where the romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping” was filmed DETAILS Apr 16, 2026 12:00 AM From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film DETAILS Watch a Virtual Tour What's Included Chicago Movie Tours' virtual tours and events incorporate the following, when applicable, to bring the subject matter to life: HD video High-quality photos Expertly designed animated slideshows Clips and screengrabs Maps (to orient you as you "travel" with us) Vintage newspaper articles and ads Classic movie fan magazine excerpts Well-researched commentary Additionally, we always include opportunities for audience contribution.

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Chicago and The Wizard of Oz / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Discover Chicago's connections to 'The Wizard of Oz' Dec 06, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Chicago, Christmas Movies, and Class / Location is TBD Learn more Dec 06, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Location is TBD Learn about class stereotypes in three Chicago-based Christmas movies Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Holiday Chaos: Behind the Scenes of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" / Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Register Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Register Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST On the Run in Chicago: Behind the Scenes of The Fugitive / Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Register Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Uncover how "The Fugitive" blends TV history, cultural ritual, and Chicago’s architectural stage Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait / Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Register Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Beyond the Blues Brothers Celebrate the 1980 Chicago-based movie in all its iterations Learn More View All Talks

Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes? Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level All Talks About When you watch a movie, the images before you may seem like objective views of the world. But they are not. In fact, those images are purposefully constructed and then put onscreen—to guide your eyes where the director wants them to go. Sneaky, right? This hour-long program introduces you to the basics of cinematography, including speed of motion, perspective relationships, focal length, depth of field, and framing. After all, once you recognize how cinematography works, you can experience and understand movies on a new level. Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Chicago and The Wizard of Oz / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Discover Chicago's connections to 'The Wizard of Oz' Dec 06, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Chicago, Christmas Movies, and Class / Location is TBD Learn more Dec 06, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Location is TBD Learn about class stereotypes in three Chicago-based Christmas movies Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Holiday Chaos: Behind the Scenes of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" / Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Register Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Register Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST On the Run in Chicago: Behind the Scenes of The Fugitive / Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Register Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Uncover how "The Fugitive" blends TV history, cultural ritual, and Chicago’s architectural stage Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait / Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Register Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes? Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level Learn More View All Talks

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Prison Break This long shot, filmed at a low angle, comes from the second episode of the TV series Prison Break (2005-2009). Two women, a lawyer (Veronica) and a witness to a murder (Leticia), meet covertly near Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park . The meeting does not last long, however. The witness is convinced she was followed and runs away. Her hunch is correct: later in the episode, she is kidnapped and killed. Prison Break follows Michael Scofield, a structural engineer, and his brother Lincoln Burrows, who has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit (hence the lawyer/witness meeting above). To save Lincoln, Michael deliberately gets himself incarcerated, using a plan hidden in his full-body tattoo. Yes, a full-body tattoo . (The show is better than it sounds!) Much of Prison Break ’s first season is filmed in and around Chicago. Scenes depicting Fox River State Penitentiary, the fictional prison where Michael and Lincoln are sentenced, take place in Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, IL, where Chicago Movie Tours also gives walking tours . Prison Break ’s first two episodes aired August 29, 2005, and were watched by roughly 10.5 million viewers in the U.S. While on air, the series continued to draw viewers here and around the globe. And when it began streaming on Netflix in 2024, the show raced to the #1 spot, now discovered by a new audience. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

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Celebrate six Chicago actors and the Hollywood musical for which they are most remembered Singin' in the Rain and Chicago Celebrate six Chicago actors and the Hollywood musical for which they are most remembered All Talks About Singin' in the Rain often ranks as the best film musical ever made—and, indeed, one of the best movies ever made. Set in 1927, the film tells the story of silent film stars as they navigate Hollywood's transition from the silent era to "talkies." No, Singin' in the Rain was not filmed in Chicago, nor does it take place here. But at least six of the movie's cast members are from or have strong connections to the Windy City. So on this virtual tour, which begins at a rain-inspired sculpture in Chicago, we will celebrate these six actors and the delightfully entertaining Hollywood musical for which they are remembered. Request Talk

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Lake House This high-angle, extreme-long shot of Daley Plaza comes from the fantasy drama The Lake House (2006), co-starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. You can see Chicago's Picasso statue at left. The Lake House marks the second Chicago-based movie for both Bullock and Reeves. About a decade earlier, she starred in While You Were Sleeping (1995), he in Chain Reaction (1996). Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. City That Never Sleeps Today's #OneShotWed comes from City That Never Sleeps , a film noir set and filmed (mostly) in Chicago. This shot comes at the start of the film. After holding our gaze to the Wrigley Building for several seconds, the narrator—representing Chicago itself—begins to introduce its citizens. First up is the "mechanical man" below, working in a window. "Once he was an actor; now he's down to this," we learn. Watch the film's opening here , courtesy of Turner Classic Movies. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power Batman in Chicago: Filming Locations and the Art of Anarchy Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power All Talks About Discover how Chicago became Gotham in The Dark Knight (2008). Using original HD footage of the Chicago Board of Trade Building and Millennium Station , we’ll explore two iconic filming locations and share behind-the-scenes stories that highlight the creativity, challenges, and clever decisions that brought Christopher Nolan’s Gotham to life. But Gotham isn’t just a city—it’s a stage for chaos. In the second half of this program, we’ll explore Heath Ledger’s Joker and his mantra, “introduce a little anarchy,” linking it to both the film’s story and visual style. Using downtown Chicago as our backdrop, you’ll learn to spot low-angle shots, understand their cinematic impact, and see how they heighten themes of power and disorder. By the end of this hour-long talk (and tour) with Kelli , a PhD and former film professor, you’ll not only know where The Dark Knight was filmed, but you'll also gain tools to read the film’s imagery and storytelling in a whole new way. Request Talk

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Weather Man The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Nicolas Cage. The film follows the story of David Spritz (Cage), a local television weatherman in Chicago who is going through a mid-life crisis. In the film, people throw food—like McDonald's pies!—at David to ridicule him and illustrate their dissatisfaction with his job as a weatherman. Perhaps the food-throwing also symbolizes the public's own discontent with life in general? Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive