Backdraft (1991)
Post date: Jan 16, 2012 2:26:09 AM
Ron Howard's dramatic film follows young firefighter Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) as he follows in the footsteps of his older brother Stephen and deceased father (both played by Kurt Russell) to make it as a Chicago firefighter, in the midst of a series of deadly arson attacks. Locations all over Chicago are utilized for the film. Special thanks to Chas at Itsfilmedthere.com for tracking down most of these locations!
The main fire station seen in the film, and where the opening flashback begins is at 3002 West 42nd Street in Chicago.
On their way to the fire, the truck turns off West Leland Avenue under the El tracks onto North Broadway.
They arrive at the apartment fire at 410 East 43rd Street.
Back in the present day, an explosion tears out the front door of a house at 4244 South Drexel Boulevard.
Meanwhile, Brian and the other firefighters are having a graduation celebration at Emmit's Irish Pub at 495 North Milwaukee Avenue.
Looking for his brother, Brian goes to see Helen (Rebecca De Mornay) at 2834 North Merrimac Avenue.
Stephen works on his boat in an empty lot off South Lumber Street near Canal Street. The Canal Street railroad bridge is in the background.
GPS Coordinates:
41.855766,-87.638063
Brian's apartment is alongside the El tracks in the alley off North Honore Street, between North Wicker Park Avenue & North Milwaukee Avenue.
GPS Coordinates:
41.908753,-87.676009
Exterior view of the firehouse at 3002 West 42nd Street.
Brian hops on the firetruck just as it turns south onto South Archer Avenue off South Sacramento Avenue.
"Bull" is once again a hero at another apartment fire at East 50th Street & South Prairie Avenue. The building is now gone.
Brian walks down South Wentworth Avenue toward the Chinatown fire station at 212 West Cermak Road. This is where he meets his new boss, Donald Rimgale (Robert De Niro).
Brian's first job with Donald is investigating another suspected arson at the Uptown Theater at 4816 North Broadway.
Brian talks to Jennifer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) after he meets Alderman Marty Swayzak (J.T. Walsh) while on a boat going down the Chicago River between the Wabash Avenue bridge & Michigan Avenue bridge in downtown Chicago.
From the boat, Brian sees the firetrucks on their way to a fire on Lower Wacker Drive.
They are responding to a high rise fire at 190 South LaSalle Street.
Brian and Jennifer end up unwillingly tagging along to the fire on top of one of the trucks as it leaves the Chinatown fire station on Cermak Road and turns onto South Wentworth.
Brian and Jennifer talk near the Chess Pavilion along the shores of Lake Michigan.
GPS Coordinates:
41.911304,-87.624732
Swayzak's house is located at 306 1st Street in Hinsdale, IL.
As they turn the corner from South Jefferson Street toward South Lumber Street, Brian's firetruck flips over.
From there, Brian heads east toward the warehouse fire across the river. This building no longer stands.
GPS Coordinates:
41.853196,-87.639345
The funeral procession heads south across the North Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River.
The funeral scene takes place at Graceland Cemetery at 4001 North Clark Street in Chicago.
One final shot of the firehouse on 42nd Street.
The closing shot follows the firetruck as it heads east into the city on Chicago Avenue, starting near North Lawndale Avenue.
Google Map
(See attachment below)