Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Stepmom (1998)




The tagline read: "Be there for the joy.  Be there for the tears.  Be there for each other."  Schmaltz. City.  I'll own it though - Stepmom made me bawl. In a few different spots.  Julia Roberts, never looking better, followed up her career-reviving My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) with this melodramatic tearjerker as she battles the quintessential Mother of the Year for the affection of her fiance's children.  Susan Sarandon's character is almost too mean-spirited to care for once she receives her diagnosis and Ed Harris has little to do in a thankless role, but Stepmom is a touching film to watch as long as you are stocked up on Kleenex.

Stepmom was filmed in Tappan, Nyack, Bronxville, Rye and New York, NY & Morristown and Montclair, NJ

Location: Isabel & Luke's Loft
Address: 139 Spring Street, New York, NY








Location: The Harrison House
Address: 501 N Broadway, Nyack, NY

A dream house for many nestled along the Hudson River...

2016






2020







Location: Luke, Anna & Ben Go Sailing
Address: Conservatory Water, Central Park, New York, NY  (enter at E 72nd St)

It's here that Luke breaks the news to his kids that he's leaving them with Isabel for the weekend...




This location was also used in Weekend At Bernie's (1989) when Richard and Larry walk to work and in the sixth season opening credits of Gimme A Break! (1981-1987).

Location: Isabel's Central Park Photo Shoot
Address: Belvedere Castle, Central Park, NY  (enter at 79th Street)













Location: Horseback Riding
Address: 787 S Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, NY  

Sunnyfield Farm







Location: Jackie & Luke's Restaurant
Address: 227 67th Street, New York, NY

Formerly L'Absinthe Restaurant which closed in 2014.  This was where Jackie was going to tell Luke she has cancer but Luke steals her thunder and tells her he's proposing to Isabel...




Location: The Tavern
Address: 110 Main Street, Tappan, NY  The Old '76 House

The Old '76 House is New York's oldest tavern rich with history.   Here is where Jackie finally tells Luke she is sick...





It is seen again later when Jackie and Isabel turn on the waterworks...




Location: Isabel's Historic Photo Shoot
Address: Washington Square Park North, New York, NY



This was also Robert's townhouse in I Am Legend (2007)


Location: Anna & Ben's Elementary School
Address: 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY   Bronxville High School




















Location: The Skating Rink 
Address: E 62nd Street, Central Park, New York, NY  Wollman Rink 




This was also the skating rink from Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)


Locations Visited: November 2015, August 2016, December 2020