Penn Station, But Deliver Us From Grand Central

These intercut scenes, from Hollywood films shot in New York's Pennsylvania Station before it was demolished in 1963, or on stage sets representing it, form a composited narrative set in Manhattan's great lost architectural masterpiece.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Penn
• Station
• Grand
• Central
• Terminal
• McKim
• Mead
• White
• LIRR
• New
• York
• Pennsylvania
• Railroad
• Film
• Sets
• Kubrick
• Garland

[maintim]

Just found: 'Naked City' has amazing 1948 montage shots around the city including one in the taxi stand portico at Penn Station same setting as 'Strangers on a Train' and 'Applause'.

[molinke]

this is great! thanks!

there's also a little bit of color footage of penn in "the seven year itch"

[maintim]

I believe I have a shot from "The Seven Year Itch" in here, but desaturated for a consistent black and white look.

[eriks74342]

Wow! Terrific idea! And I only wish this video was longer. Imagine, a collection of clips showing the old Pennsylvania station -- it just makes you wish there was more. You know, I recognized a few of the clips -- obviously, the shots of Bergman and Peck come from "Notorious" -- and there is one brief glimpse of Claudette Colbert, which must come from "The Palm Beach Story" -- but I seem to remember the scene ran longer. And what movie contains the pensive man who paces back and forth?

[maintim]

Thanks for your kind comment. I do expect to expand this piece; I've got plenty of additional clips. Bergman and Peck in Penn Station and Grand Central is from Spellbound. That pensive man walking back and forth is from Kubrick's Killer's Kiss. By my estimation, no one shot in Penn Station as well as Stanley.

[letdown201]

The loss of Penn Station makes me angry, and I wasn't even born when it came down. What mindset would foster the thought of demolishing such a place? Who was the person or person responsible for greenlighting the destruction? They should forever be hung in effigy. How about from the MSG scoreboard (beside the Isaiah & Dolan effigies).

And look at how everyone was dressed up, compared to the dressed-down slobs we see today. De-evolution has been in progress for years...right before our eyes.

[timrs2001]

Very good compilation of clips! The loss of this structure was a horrendous disgrace.

[eriks74342]

Say, just caught 'Dear Heart' on TCM -- and naturally had to take another look at this video to see if you used any of its footage of Pennsylvania Station. I see you did -- it's too bad the credits are superimposed over so much of it. You know, the final shots of Cary Grant in Grand Central have always bothered me. A Greyhound promo film on the Internet Archive site might provide a better ending -- a lengthy glimpse of Penn Station from the windshield of a bus tearing out across the street.

[eriks74342]

Say, just caught 'Dear Heart' on TCM -- and naturally had to take another look at this video to see if you used any of its footage of Pennsylvania Station. I see you did -- it's too bad the credits are superimposed over so much of it. You know, the final shots of Cary Grant in Grand Central have always bothered me. An old Greyhound promo film on the Internet Archive site might provide a better ending -- a lengthy glimpse of Penn Station from the windshield of a bus tearing out across the street.

[snowsorceress]

Wow, what a great video! It's such a shame to think that what I go into now to get into the city isn't even a shade what people used to go into. My dad talks about it every time we pull into drab station. Get rid of MSG, that thing is an eye sore. Start from scratch I say :P

[towringer]

THANKS for this compilation! My mom had told me how magnificent Penn Station was, but they started tearing it down the year before I was born. Whereas we walked in like gods, now we scuttle in like rats. Maybe someday soon, NYC may build up the political & financial will to rebuild Penn Station.

[MarkinDC]

THANKS for this GREAT compilation of film footage, really makes it come to life.

[ShadowCatNYC]

Oh WOW!!!! Thank you for posting these! I've been dying to see film footage of this gorgeous structure. You are a saint!

[artnotstandard]

Consider us no better than the Taliban with their destruction of the giant Buddhas. They destroyed in the name of their faith in whatever, we destroyed in the name of our faith in the mighty dollar.