Harvard on location: five films shot in Boston
With more than 100 colleges and universities located in the greater Boston area, the city’s reputation as an epicentre of higher education is unrivalled. Founded in 1636 and with notable attendees such as John Adams, JFK, Natalie Portman, Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore having strolled its halls, Harvard University is the nation’s oldest higher learning institution and arguably the area’s most illustrious. With a well-known motto of “truth” and a legion of movies filmed on its campus, there’s some “veritas” to the idea that this Cambridge University is a favourite of Hollywood. Here are a few films shot in Boston that win high honours with us.
Legally Blonde
Attempting to prove she’s smarter than her brassy roots would suggest, blonde beauty Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) packs up her bags after being accepted into Harvard Law. This 2001 rom-com is set on the campus of the university’s distinguished law school, as the unlikely candidate clicks her high heels down the hallowed halls on her way to winning back the love of her college sweetie.
The Paper Chase
Intellectual humour mixes with dramatic moodiness in this classic 1973 movie also set at Harvard Law School and throughout Cambridge. The story follows James Hart, a first-year student played by Timothy Bottoms, as he chases after the academic approval of stern contracts instructor Professor Kingsfield (John Houseman) and the just-out-of-reach love of his daughter Susan (Lindsay Wagner).
Love Story
Laced with lingering outdoor strolls through the picturesque campus, this quintessential love story portrays a softer side of this tough-as-nails institute. Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) and music student Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw) share an ill-fated love in this 1971 drama that garnered several Oscar nominations including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film.
The Social Network
This 2010 drama gives a glimpse into the early days of Facebook, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg (you might have heard of him). The movie is a thrilling, fast-paced ride from the global phenomenon’s founding and infancy through the legal battles and lawsuits that resulted in Zuckerberg becoming history’s youngest billionaire.
Good Will Hunting
Filmed throughout South Boston and Cambridge (mostly in Harvard University’s Dunster House and around Harvard Square), this 1997 Oscar-winner launched the careers of local golden boys Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, a former Harvard student himself. Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT played by Damon, is a genius with mathematics but needs help from a psychologist (Robin Williams) to make his life add up to something.
But not all of New York’s coolest bars are speakeasy-themed. Once you’ve done your Prohibition crawl, continue the sampling at a number of other landmark drinking dens that are known for their ambition and innovation. The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District, named the World’s Best Bar at Tales of the Cocktail, has more than fairly earned the title; its new, Cuban-accented sibling, BlackTail, is another must. Pouring Ribbons combines creative house serves with warm hospitality.
Written by Cheryl Fenton
Image credits:
John Harvard statue © iStock: ispiegle
Harvard university © iStock: DenisTangneyJnr
Harvard Business School © iStock: jorgeantonio
