Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released into theaters on March 30th, 1990. Filming locations include Castle Hayne, Currie and Wilmington, NC. and Brooklyn and New York, NY. Filming ran from July 10th, 1989 to September 9th, 1989. It was directed by Steve Barron, in what was his first feature film. However, he was a music video directing machine during the 80's with fifty-six of them to his credit. The film was based more so on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics rather than the animated television show that ran from December 28th, 1987 to November 2nd, 1996. The Ninja Turtles' costumes were absolutely amazing, the level of detail and the range of their facial expressions were exceptional for that time period. They were created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop in London. They were first made out of fiberglass, then remodeled out of clay. They were produced as molds to cast the whole body in foam rubber latex. It took around eighteen weeks for them to be completed. Henson stated that the creatures were the most advanced that he had ever worked with. Sadly, Henson passed away on May 16th, 1990, roughly one and a half months after the film was released. As a young child, I loved watching Fraggle Rock, another one of Jim Henson's brilliant creations. I'll also never forget always watching the Pizza Hut baseball commercial followed by the FHE logo that preceded the film, on the VHS tape.
A Number of scenes were shot at the old North Carolina Film Studios in Wilmington, today called EUE/Screen Gems Studios. Some of the scenes included the sewers, roof top fights, 2nd Time Around Antiques (interior & exterior), pizza delivery scene and when they return to the city when it's raining. Unfortunately, the backlot where most of these scenes took place was demolished in the late 90's. Stage 10 now sits where the street set once was. The film has a solid soundtrack with my personal favorite song being Let the Walls Come Down by Johnny Kemp. It also features a phenomenal score by John Du Prez. The films first DVD release was on February 24th, 1998.
WTRL 3 - 13 Dock St. Wilmington, NC. 28401
The telephone pole has been removed and one of the windows has been converted into another door.
The Foot hideout (exterior) - Next to* S. Loop Rd. New York, NY. 10044
(City Hospital)
Also known as Penitentiary Hospital, Island Hospital and Charity Hospital. It was located on the southern portion of Roosevelt Island, in between Goldwater Memorial Hospital and the Smallpox Hospital. It was designed by architect James Renwick Jr. and built in 1861. On March 16th, 1972 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, but oddly enough it wasn't given protected landmark status and was demolished in 1994. Some of the stones from the hospital were salvaged and used to line the paths in Four Freedoms Park, on the south tip of Roosevelt Island. Today, the exact spot of the portion of the building that was seen in the film is occupied by Southpoint Park.
2020
The Foot hideout (interior) - 6411 Ideal Cement Rd. Castle Hayne, NC. 28429
(Roanoke Cement Company)
Formerly the Ideal Cement plant, it was constructed in 1963 and closed in November of 1982. It sits next to the Cape Fear River. Almost all of the cement stairs leading from the first floor to the second floor have been demolished, in order to deter people from advancing to the upper levels of the plant. This place is massive and an urban explorers dream. It wouldn't be a stretch to say someone could spend an entire day exploring the location. Other productions filmed at the location over the years include Cyborg, Super Mario Brothers and an episode of the television show FEAR, where it was reported the crew left live animals in cages to starve to death at the site.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.
Raphael blows off some steam - Central Park W. and W. 61st St. New York, NY. 10023
He exits out of what used to be the Loews/Paramount Theater in the old Gulf Western building. This is almost the exact same spot where we see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man walking down the street from, in Ghostbusters. In 1995, Donald Trump took over the forty-four story building and today it's the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Raphael then crosses Central Park W. to the sidewalk that borders the park, where he stops a purse snatching.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
Chief of Police's office - 60 Centre St. New York, NY. 10007
(New York State Supreme Court)
Designed by architect Guy Lowell, the building opened in February of 1927 as the New York County Courthouse. The exterior was designated a New York City Landmark on February 1st, 1966 and the interior was designated a New York City Landmark on March 24th, 1981. The building has been in a number of productions through the years, some of which include the steps where Barzini gets assassinated in The Godfather and also the building shown in the title sequence of the television show Night Court.
2019
Rafael retrieves his sai - Hoyt St. and Schermerhorn St. Brooklyn, NY. 11201
(Hoyt-Schermerhorn Subway Station)
The station opened on April 9th, 1936. It consists of six tracks and four island platforms. Each platform is 660 feet long (east to west) and the entire station is 143 feet wide (north to south). The two outermost tracks have been out of operation since 1981. The scenes for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were filmed on the southern most track. Other notable productions filmed here over the years include Coming to America, Crocodile Dundee, The Warriors and Michael Jackson's music video, Bad.
2019
Danny runs away - Bleecker St. and Lafayette St. New York, NY. 10012
He jumps out and runs east, eventually into the Bleecker St. Station. The Noho Star restaurant can be seen in the background behind him, and although the signs were still there at the time of my visit (2019), the restaurant itself permanently closed on December 31st, 2017.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
Farmhouse - 27770 Borough Rd. Currie, NC. 28435
The house has been there since at least the early 50's. The turtles continued their training exercises in the field, just to the left of the house. The porch swing was on the back porch. Oddly, during the scene where April and Casey Jones are arguing, they're doing so on the first floor but when it cuts to the swing falling with Casey sitting on it, the scene was shot on the second floor porch.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.
Thanks for the his bud. Would be cool to visit that house!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea the value of this contribution man... thank you so much.
ReplyDeletethanks
ReplyDeleteHello, how did you gain access to the farmhouse property? is there a way to find out who the owners are contact them? Im traveling to Wilmington soon to go see filming locations from TMNT and it would be amazing to spend sometime on the property and take some pictures.
ReplyDeleteMessege me on IG , Huntertaker123
DeleteGot some cool stuff going on at the farm house in May!!
Can you go to the warehouse that was in the movie
ReplyDeleteYes, but if you do It'd probably be best to be discreet.
DeleteIt looks like the house has been purchased since the photos, at least based on Google maps photos
ReplyDeleteTurned into a wedding venue. https://www.thelucasfarmnc.com/
ReplyDelete