Missouri Travel Guide
The Silver Screen Embraces Midwest Movie Legends
Hollywood has created numerous films on
Kansas City's Historic Characters;
including Amelia Earhart and Jesse James. Whether based on actual events or
pure make believe, Film Maker's know how to tell a story. It's no wonder
they've picked Kansas City because it has many stories to tell, and you can
go behind the scenes of six Kansas City movies by retracing the people and
places that inspired them.
Among these movies are - Amelia - that stars
Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the role of Atchison, Kansas, native Amelia
Earhart. Known as one of the world’s most celebrated aviators, Earhart was
the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in
Atchison provides an insightful look at the
pilot's early life, from childhood mementos to family photos, plus
information about her 1937 disappearance. The city’s
Amelia Earhart Festival each July
celebrates her legacy with aviation displays, aerobatic performances and
live concerts.
The movie, - Kansas City
- which is of course set in Kansas City, showcases the Jazz Age of the
1930's; a time of organized crime and political corruption. Starring
Jennifer Jason Leigh and Miranda Richardson, Kansas City was written and
directed by the late Robert Altman, a KC native. The film was shot in KC’s
18th & Vine Historic Jazz District, where
painted streetscapes that served as backdrops for some scenes are still
visible today. Also in the district is the
American Jazz Museum, which celebrates the artistic, historical, and
cultural contributions of the genre.
Follow the path of Jesse James and visit his home
while traveling in Missouri. In - The
Assassination of Jesse James - by the Coward Robert Ford, Brad Pitt
plays the part of the infamous James, which is one of more than 20 movies to
feature the American outlaw. You can travel in Jesse's footsteps at the
Jesse James Farm & Museum in Kearney, Mo.,
and his home in St. Joseph, Mo., which
features the bullet hole from his assassination. Another noteworthy site is
the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty,
Mo., where the James gang executed the first U.S. daylight bank robbery
during peacetime.
Discover the life and history of
Trumen in
Independence, Missouri. In 1995, Gary Sinise earned a Golden Globe
and an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Harry S. Truman in the HBO film,
- Truman -, that chronicles the politician’s rise to the presidency from his
small-town beginnings in Independence, Mo. To experience his life, visit the
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, the
Truman Home and the Truman Office & Courtroom,
which are all located in nearby Independence. Tours are also available of
the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Mo.
The Day After -, filmed in 1983 is a
chilling fictional drama starring Jason Robards, Steve Guttenberg and John
Lithgow, and explores the effects of a devastating nuclear holocaust on
residents of a small town in eastern Kansas. Featuring thousands of local
citizens as extras, the made-for-television movie was shot in Lawrence,
Kan., Kansas City and Harrisonville, Mo. Broadcast by ABC on Nov. 20, 1983,
the film drew 100 million viewers and sparked a national debate on nuclear
war.
Another favorite for movie fans is -
Ride with the Devil -, starring Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich, which
was filmed in and around Kansas City. This drama about the Civil War in the
Midwest and Quantrill’s Raid on nearby
Lawrence, Kansas. As the movie’s plot suggests, the Kansas City area was a
hotbed of activity during the Civil War, and history buffs will still find
plenty to keep themselves busy. The U.S. Government recently designated 41
counties in Kansas and Missouri as the Freedom’s
Frontier National Heritage Area in recognition of the Border War
between the Kansas Jayhawkers and the Missouri Bushwhackers.
By Leroy Worley
Getting There: Discover all the festive events, attractions, getaway option for your trip visit the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association at www.VisitKC.com.