Tacoma on the Silver Screen

Let these films really take you home as you watch the plot unfold throughout Tacoma and nearby locations.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, 1992

Starring:  Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, and Matt McCoy

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Claire seeks careful vengeance after the loss of her child and suicide of her husband.  The movie was primarily filmed in a beautiful Victorian Era home located on Yakima street in Tacoma.

Snow Falling on Cedars, 1999

Starring:  Ethan Hawke, Max von Sydow, and Yuki Kudo

Genre: Drama/Mystery/Romance

Beautifully adapted from David Guterson’s book of the same name, Snow Falling on Cedars tells a gripping story that captures the many facets of life in a small fishing town during post World War II America in the Pacific Northwest. The movie captures the stunning scenery of Port Townsend, WA and Whidbey Island, WA.

Three Fugitives, 1989

Starring: Nick Nolte, Martin Short, and Sarah Rowland Doroff

Genre: Action/Comedy

 Watch a hysterical motley crew, featuring an ex-convict, a father-turned-bank-robber, and his dependent daughter as they find their way through a series of ridiculous events. Enjoy scenes featuring the former Northern Pacific Railroad Northwest Headquarters in Tacoma; the town of Elbe, WA; Gas Works Park, Seattle; and Eatonville, WA.

10 Things I Hate About You, 1999

Starring:  Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Follow a nostalgic cast in this modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew.  Fates collide as Cameron and his best friend devise a plan to date the least obtainable girl at Padua High. Filming took place throughout Seattle and Tacoma, the most notable location being the beautiful Stadium High School (Padua High) which boasted its usual stunning views of the Cascade Mountains and Commencement Bay.

Come See the Paradise, 1990

Starring: Dennis Quaid and Tamlyn Tomita

Genre: Drama/History/ Romance

Come See the Paradise centers on the love and life of an American man and Japanese American women just before the turbulent involvement of the United States in WWII. Jack and his family become separated shortly thereafter when his wife and child are sent to the Japanese American Internment Camps to become prisoners of war. Most of the filming occurred in Portland, Oregon but scenes of Tacoma include the Old Elks Club building on Broadway and Tacoma’s beautiful Spanish Steps.

Get Carter, 2001

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Rachel Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson, Michael Caine, and Mickey Rourke

After a suspicious car crash kills his brother, Jack Carter returns from Las Vegas to his previous home in Seattle to further investigate his brother’s death.  Dark secrets, crime rings, and murder unfold as Jack digs deeper in search of the truth. The film features dynamic scenes of Seattle’s many classic sights. Seattle’s popular streets, such as King Street and 2nd Avenue, are displayed at high speed during the films frequent car chases.

An Officer and A Gentleman, 1982

Starring: Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr., and Debra Winger

Genre: Drama/Romance

In search of a means to escape his troubled upbringing Zack seeks to gain some direction in life by enlisting in the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School Program. Zack works to overcome his demons with the help of his incredibly challenging Sergeant and beautiful girlfriend. An Officer and A Gentleman was primarily filmed in Port Townsend and Bremerton, Washington and used Port Townsend’s Naval Air Station, rooms from the hotel The Tides Inn, and Mountain View Elementary School.