Forrest Gump




Forrest Gump was released into theaters on July 6th, 1994. Filming locations include Flagstaff and Twin Arrows, Az. Los Angeles and Santa Monica, Ca. Savannah, Ga. Beaufort, Lady's Island, McPhersonville, Varnville and Yemassee, SC. Mexican Hat, Ut. and Washington D.C. There are many more filming locations but I'm only going to list the one's I've personally visited and I'll add more to this page as I continue to do so. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who has directed a number of hollywood blockbusters, including the Back to the Future trilogy. Tom Hanks played the lead of Forrest Gump in what's probably his career defining role. The films' visual effects were ahead of their time. Using CGI, it was possible to depict Gump meeting deceased personages and shaking their hands. Hanks was first shot against a blue screen along with reference markers so that he could line up with the archive footage. To record the voices of historical figures, voice actors were filmed and special effects were used to alter lip-syncing for the new dialogue. Archival footage was used and with the help of such techniques as chroma key, image warping, morphing, rotoscoping, Hanks was integrated into it. 

 The movie is unanimously regarded as one of the greatest films of all-time. It was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, winning six. The wins include Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks), Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), Best Writing, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects. The line "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." was ranked #40 on the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes. It was added to the National Film Registry in December of 2011. The film boasts an extensive soundtrack, showcasing many great songs that had come out over the course of the movies timeline. The solid score was composed by the legendary Alan Silvestri. The films first DVD release was on August 28th, 2001.


Bus stop bench - Bull St. and Hull St. Savannah, Ga. 31401
(Chippewa Square)

The square is named after The Battle of Chippewa, which occurred in 1812. The statue in the center of the square is of General James Oglethorpe. In the film, the bench faced north, looking straight down Bull St. Four fiberglass benches were used to film the scenes, with one of them being donated to the city afterwards. It currently sits in the Savannah History Museum. Replicas of the bench, and in most cases Forrests' shoes, can be found all over the country, mainly at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurants. As of 2020, there are twenty-nine in the United States. The first was opened in Monterey, Ca. in 1996. Currently in the spot where the bench was, sits a garden.


2020

Forrest's view from the bench.


Forrest and his mom walking home/barber shop - 34 Main St. Varnville, SC. 29944

At the time of my visit, it was the Varnville Chiropractic Clinic.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.



Gump house - 3547 Combahee Rd. Yemassee, SC. 29945
(Bluff Plantation)

The house was specifically built for the movie and torn down immediately after filming had wrapped. It took production roughly two months to build the house. In 2007, a new house was built right next to where the Gump house once stood. All of the driveway scenes were also filmed at this location. 


All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.







Forrest graduates Alabama - Childs Way and Trousdale Pkwy. Los Angeles, Ca. 90007
(USC, George Finley Bovard Administration Building)

The building was constructed on June 19th, 1921.


2021


Margaret Mitchell Hall - Childs Way and Pardee Way Los Angeles, Ca. 90007
(USC, David X. Marks Hall)

The building was constructed in 1954.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2021.



Loves - 6817 Chief of Love Rd. Savannah, Ga. 31419

Today it's named Love's Seafood. It's been in operation since 1949. At the time of filming, there were two bridges at this location. The out of commission, smaller bridge that they filmed on, and the newer main bridge that took the Hwy-17 traffic over the Ogeechee River. At some point in the mid to late 90's they expanded the main bridge and removed the out of commission bridge altogether.


2020


Lincoln Memorial - Lincoln Memorial Circle Washington D.C. 20242

Designed by architect Henry Bacon, the Lincoln Memorial was constructed in 1922 to honor Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. It's located on the western end of the National Mall. Beyond the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument can also be seen. The 555 foot tall structure was constructed in 1885 to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. Both the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument were added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15th, 1966.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.



Bubba's grave - 145 Alston Rd. Beaufort, SC. 29907

The 1,240 square foot house was built in 1940. The location of the grave was in the house's back yard.


2020


Four Square Baptist Church - 155 County Rd. S-25-286 Yemassee, SC. 29945
(Stony Creek Independent Presbyterian Chapel)

The church was built in 1833. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22nd, 2002.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.



Gump Medical Center - 805 Carteret St. Beaufort, SC. 29902
(USCB Center for the Arts)

The building has been there since at least the early 50's.


2020


Santa Monica Pier - Ocean Ave. and Colorado Ave. Santa, Monica, Ca. 90401

The pier opened on September 9th, 1909 primarily to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers. Today, it contains a small amusement park, concession stands and areas for views and fishing. It was designated a Santa Monica Historic Landmark on August 17th, 1976. 


All "Now" pictures taken in 2020.


2021


Bridge interview - US-21 Business Beaufort, SC. 29902
(Woods Memorial Bridge)

The bridge was built in 1959 and is named in memory of Richard V. Woods, a South Carolina Highway Patrol Officer killed in the line of duty. In what's supposed to be a bridge crossing over the Mississippi River, the bridge is actually crossing over the Beaufort River in South Carolina. Forrest is running south along the bridge.


2020


"Shit happens" - Aspen Ave. and San Francisco St. Flagstaff, Az. 86001

Forrest is running north on San Francisco St. as he passes Aspen Ave.


2020


"Have a nice day" - Twin Arrows Rd. Twin Arrows, Az. 86004
(Twin Arrows Trading Post)

The trading post opened in the 1940's and closed in 1995. The landmark is predominantly known for it's two 25 foot giant arrows protruding out of the ground. Update: I drove by the landmark on 6/10/22 and one of the arrows was laying on the ground. Forrest is running east along Twin Arrows Road.


2020


Forrest stops running - US-163 Scenic Mexican Hat, Ut. 84531

This section of the highway is known as Forrest Gump Hill. In the distance, the north entrance to Monument Valley can be seen.


2020

10 comments:

  1. Nice work, must have been difficult to get all these together

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    1. Thank you. And yes, there are so many locations for this film which are so spread out. I'll be adding to this page from time to time, as I check them off.

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    2. Yeah, this is a very impressive collection of comparison photos. Good work!

      PS. as a fan of the SC state, I find it so weird they chose a random SC river to be a Mississippi River crossing.

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    3. I've been on "Forrest Gump Hill" several times. That is Utah looking toward Arizona. If you have never been to Monument Valley, photos cannot convey how incredible that area looks.

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  2. Excellent work you have a great heart

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  3. Excellent work thank you soo much

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  4. Awesome Job, thanks for doing this!

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  5. Jennys house is at this location : 32°41'1.64"N 80°43'42.90"W

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  6. Very nice work! I live in Beaufort and every time I cross the Woods Bridge, I get a chuckle.

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  7. I went on a road trip back in 2000 and hit the 48 Continental US in a van we purchased at a police auction. We stopped at the twin arrows and carved out initials into them and not until this very minute did I realize those made an appearance in Forrest Gump. Crazy the things we discover in passing.

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