Thursday, November 9, 2017

The Ice Storm (1997)






The Ice Storm is a chilly look at suburban marriage and family life amidst many social changes of the early 1970s.  Taking place Thanksgiving weekend 1973 in New Canaan, CT, the Hood and Carver families are dealing with adultery, drugs, booze and sexual experimentation. The drifting families and neighbors are brought together by a tragic accident after an ice storm envelops their seemingly idyllic suburb. 

Based on the 1994 novel by Rick Moody, the film features a stellar ensemble cast (including Joan Allen, the late 90s go-to actress to portray a repressed housewife).  It's hard to believe the film was overlooked during award season.  But then again, I'm impartial for suburbia-gone-wrong films like  Pleasantville (1998), American Beauty (1999), and Far From Heaven (2002).  There's just something about dysfunctional life behind the white picket fences I find fascinating.


The Ice Storm was filmed in New Canaan, CT, much to the dismay of local residents.


Location: The Railroad Station
Address: 198 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT  

This is the New Canaan stop on Metro North Railroad's New Haven line...














Location: Wendy Rides Her Bike
Address: Chichester Road, New Canaan, CT






Location: The Library
Address: 151 Main Street, New Canaan, CT







Elena then sees Wendy riding her bike down Main Street...









Location: The Carver House
Address: 581 Laurel Road, New Canaan, CT  





Location: Paul's School
Address: 468 South Avenue, New Canaan, CT Saxe Middle School





Location: Varnum's Pharmacy
Address: 91 Main Street, New Canaan, CT

Wendy continues long Main Street...














Location: The Football Game
Address: 381 South Avenue, New Canaan, CT  Waveny Park










Location: Lundy Toys
Address: East Avenue & Forest Street, New Canaan, CT








Locations Visited: June 2017 

Still Need To Locate:

The Hood House  
The Key Party House
The Dinner Party House


12 comments:

  1. I located the key party house. I actually visited most of these locations while in New Caanan last November. The Dinner Party House was in the glass living room of the Carver house.

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    1. Thanks for the information. Would you mind sharing the location of the key party house?

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    2. It is Just Up Laurel Road from the Carver House. About 311 (?) Laurel Road or so, on the Left. It is in the 300 block of Laurel road for sure. I have pictures but I can't post them on the reply. Compared the pics I took to the movie and it is the location. Kevin Cline parked the 71 Riviera right where I took the pictures from.

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    3. Thanks so much for the information!

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    4. The key party house was filmed on Dairy Rd in Greenwich, exterior shots only. The living room areas were a set that followed the lines of the home (a family member of mine grew up there) pretty closely.

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    5. Thanks for writing. I had checked out Laurel Road last week that another poster had suggested but none of the houses seemed to match up. I just looked at Dairy Rd on Google Maps but didn't see any houses that matched either, unless they were maybe renovated?

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    6. Yes, the house went through a major renovation in the later 1990/s. It’s been nearly 30 years since I was at the house . If I recall correctly the house number was 21, the estate was called Sonhill.

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  2. The Carver house and setting at 581 Laurel Rd. looks very familiar to me. I may have spent a weekend here with a school friend and his family in 1970. Is this house unique, or are there more that are vaguely like it in New Canaan?

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    1. This house was unique but there are definitely a few in the area that have the a similar vibe.

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  3. Thanks. I will continue to be mildly perplexed.

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  4. There were about 120 modernist houses like the Carver House built in New Canaan. About 90 still exist, of which perhaps 75 are still in recognizable condition. The Historical Society sponsors a New Canaan Modern House Tour about every two years.

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