Maps of Movies
J. Edgar (2011)
Where J. Edgar says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
Washington is the story, but only the Library of Congress and one balcony view were shot there; the Senate, the courtrooms and the Lindbergh estate are elsewhere
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Scenes and places
Hoover's Justice Department corridors (1919)
In 1919 Hoover, a Justice Department clerk, is given a division dedicated to purging radicals. Helen Gandy turns down his awkward advances but becomes his personal secretary, and the two start the confidential file that will make him powerful.
Set in Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. — The Justice Department offices where Hoover is put in charge of a division purging radicals and Helen Gandy becomes his secretary.
A federal office building in Washington's Federal Triangle.
Filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, Stage 16, Burbank (Burbank, Los Angeles, United States) — The Department of Justice hallways and several offices were built as sets on this soundstage.
How to get there:
The Lindbergh kidnapping (1932)
When the Lindbergh kidnapping grips the country in 1932, Hoover pushes for the Federal Kidnapping Act and builds the FBI Laboratory. He tracks the ransom bills' registration numbers to show forensic science can solve crimes.
Set in Lindbergh estate, Hopewell, New Jersey — The home from which the Lindbergh baby is taken, the case that pushes Hoover to expand the Bureau's powers.
A small New Jersey town; the point is the town centre, not the estate itself.
Filmed at The Plains, Virginia (Virginia, The Plains, United States) — Scenes of the Lindbergh estate were shot in this Virginia town; the exact house is not given.
How to get there:
The Senate questions Hoover (1933)
Senate Appropriations chair Kenneth McKellar corners Hoover with embarrassing questions in 1933. From here Hoover turns vengeful against anyone who challenges him or the Bureau.
Set in United States Senate chamber, Washington, D.C. — The hearing room where Senator Kenneth McKellar's embarrassing questions make Hoover increasingly vengeful.
Washington's Senate chamber; no story coordinate given in the source.
Filmed at Park Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles (Westlake, Los Angeles, United States) — The hotel's ballroom stood in for the United States Senate chamber.
How to get there:
The Kansas City massacre at the station (1933)
With radicals quiet, Hoover turns the Bureau on gangsters. The Kansas City massacre is shown at a train station.
Set in Kansas City Union Station — The railway station where the Kansas City massacre takes place in the film's gangster-fighting chapter.
A big Missouri railway station; the source only says Kansas City massacre, so the station is our pick.
Filmed at Pico House, Los Angeles (El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States) — The old hotel stood in for a train station in the scene depicting the Kansas City massacre.
How to get there:
The Hauptmann trial courthouse (1935)
In 1935 the Lindbergh case goes to trial in a New Jersey courtroom.
Set in Hunterdon County Courthouse, Flemington, New Jersey — The courthouse where Bruno Hauptmann is tried for the Lindbergh kidnapping.
A small New Jersey county courthouse.
Filmed at Warrenton Courthouse, Virginia (Virginia, Warrenton, United States) — The outside of the courthouse stood in for the Flemington courthouse.
How to get there:
Filmed at Old Orange County Courthouse, Santa Ana (California, Santa Ana, United States) — Scenes set inside the courthouse were filmed here.
How to get there:
Inside the Library of Congress
Hoover works in the library's halls on the Bureau's methods; the film's own text does not date this scene.
Set in Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. — The library interior where Hoover appears in the film's Washington scenes.
The world's largest library, beside the Capitol.
Filmed at Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., United States) — One of the few scenes actually shot in Washington was the library's interior.
How to get there:
Filmed at Hoover's former office balcony (view) (Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C., United States) — Hoover's office balcony view
Filmed at Park Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles (Garfinckel's) (Westlake, Los Angeles, United States) — Garfinckel's men's department
Characters
- J. Edgar Hoover — The founding director of the FBI, shown in the film both as a young reformer and as an ageing guardian of the Bureau.
- Helen Gandy — Hoover's personal secretary and confidant, who keeps his confidential file.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was J. Edgar really filmed, if not Washington?
- Which two courthouses play the Hauptmann trial?