Maps of Movies

The Untouchables (1987)

Where The Untouchables says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Prohibition-era Chicago on screen: the real buildings behind Ness's office, Capone's hotel and the station stairs, and a Montana bridge that played the Canadian border

Scenes and places

The first liquor raid that goes wrong (1930)

Ness hits a warehouse full of crates shipped from Canada, but corrupt policemen have alerted Capone and the raid fails. It shows him how deep the corruption runs.

Set in Capone liquor warehouse — A warehouse Ness raids for crates shipped from Canada, only to find Capone was tipped off.

An ordinary Chicago warehouse in the story; the film made its warehouse scenes on a West Side soundstage.

The banquet where Capone makes a point (1930)

At a dinner with his organization, Capone kills the warehouse manager with a baseball bat. It is a warning to every subordinate in the room.

Set in Mob banquet — The organizational dinner where Capone speaks to his men.

A 1909 hotel on Michigan Avenue, built for John and Tracy Drake.

Filmed at The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago (South Loop, Chicago, United States) — Filmed here as the mob banquet.

How to get there: Michigan Avenue in Chicago's South Loop; it is a working hotel.

The bridge raid on the border (1930)

With Mounties in support, Ness and his team intercept a liquor shipment at the border and capture a Capone bookkeeper named George. George agrees to testify against his employer.

Set in US-Canada border bridge — A bridge on the Canadian border where Ness's team intercepts an incoming liquor shipment.

A 1930s-period steel bridge over the Missouri River, chosen by the Montana film office and closed for two weeks to shoot.

Filmed at Hardy Bridge, near Cascade, Montana (Missouri River, Cascade, Montana, United States) — Filmed here, over the Missouri River, standing in for the border crossing.

How to get there:

Ness's police headquarters (1930)

Back in Chicago, Nitti dresses as a policeman and murders Wallace and the bookkeeper George in the elevator of the police station. He leaves a taunting message for Ness.

Set in Police headquarters — Ness's police headquarters in the film.

An 1888 office building in the Loop.

Filmed at The Rookery Building, Chicago (The Loop, Chicago, United States) — Filmed here as Ness's police headquarters.

How to get there: LaSalle Street, in the Loop; the lobby is open to visitors.

Capone's Lexington Hotel (1930)

After the murders, Ness confronts Capone at the Lexington Hotel. Malone steps in and urges him to focus on persuading the district attorney not to dismiss the charges.

Set in Lexington Hotel — Capone's residence, where Ness confronts him after the murders.

The Chicago hotel Capone really used as his base, closed since 1980 and portrayed by two other buildings.

Filmed at Roosevelt University, Chicago (South Loop, Chicago, United States) — Used for the hotel exterior and lower lobby. The coordinate is the university's, so the exact building may be a few dozen metres away.

How to get there:

Filmed at Chicago Theatre, upper foyer (The Loop, Chicago, United States) — Used for Capone's suite.

How to get there:

The station stairs (1930)

Ness and Stone wait for Capone's accountant Walter Payne. Ness stops to help a young mother carry her baby carriage up the lobby steps, and the gangsters guarding Payne arrive just as they reach the top.

Set in Chicago Union Station — Where Ness and Stone wait for Capone's accountant Walter Payne.

Chicago's main rail terminal, with a Great Hall of marble and skylights.

Filmed at Chicago Union Station (West Loop, Chicago, United States) — Filmed here. The shootout is a homage to the Odessa Steps in Battleship Potemkin.

How to get there: Canal Street; the Great Hall is open to the public.

The courthouse lobby (1930)

At Capone's trial, Ness sees Nitti wearing a gun, has him removed and searches him outside. The note he finds is signed by the mayor.

Set in Courthouse lobby — Outside the courtroom, Ness searches Nitti after Payne testifies at Capone's trial.

A former central library on Michigan Avenue, known for its stained-glass domes.

Filmed at Chicago Cultural Center (The Loop, Chicago, United States) — Filmed here as the courthouse lobby.

How to get there: Michigan Avenue at Washington Street; free to enter.

The chase to the courthouse roof (1930)

Nitti shoots the bailiff and flees to the courthouse roof, with Ness behind him. Ness eventually apprehends him.

Set in Courthouse roof — Where Ness chases Nitti after he shoots a bailiff.

The roof scenes are set at the courthouse, filmed at the cultural center.

Filmed at Chicago Cultural Center (The Loop, Chicago, United States) — Filmed here as the rooftop chase.

How to get there: Michigan Avenue at Washington Street; free to enter.

Filmed at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica (West Side, Chicago, United States) — The church scene

Filmed at DuSable Bridge (Michigan Avenue, Chicago, United States) — A bridge in downtown Chicago

Filmed at LaSalle Street (The Loop, Chicago, United States) — A downtown street

Characters

• Eliot Ness — A Bureau of Prohibition agent tasked with halting Capone's liquor business in Chicago.
• James Malone — A veteran Irish-American officer who opposes the corruption and offers to help Ness.
• Al Capone — The gangland boss who supplies illegal liquor and controls most of Chicago.
• George Stone — An Italian-American police trainee recruited for his marksmanship and integrity.
• Oscar Wallace — An accountant who suggests building a tax evasion case against Capone.
• Frank Nitti — Capone's enforcer, who threatens Ness's family.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was Capone's hotel in The Untouchables really filmed?
• Where is the stair shootout in The Untouchables?
• Which bridge played the Canadian border in The Untouchables?
• Which Chicago building is Ness's police headquarters in The Untouchables?