Frank Lloyd Wright in the Movies

Iconic California Sites on Film

Mark Anthony Wilson

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2025
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781467173148
• Subtopic: History of Architecture
• Index: History

What do Vincent Price, Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan, and Uma Thurman all have in common with Frank Lloyd Wright? Answer: The Movies. The influence of Frank Lloyd Wright on architecture can't be overstated, and his unique creations have also left a lasting impression on movie audiences. From the Marin County Civic Center's starring role in George Lucas's first feature film to the famous Ennis House appearing in multiple movies, eight of Wright's California buildings have served as dramatic settings for stories about power, wealth and dystopian futures. Inspiring generations of filmmakers, these sites—both public and private—remain some of the most iconic places captured on film. With behind-the-scenes production facts and a peek into Wright's design process, author Mark Anthony Wilson recounts the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture in the movies. This book features: - 120 color and black and white images, including scenes from popular Hollywood films such as Blade Runner, Black Rain and A Summer Place, as well as cult favorites like House on Haunted Hill, Permanent Midnight, and Cannibal Women in The Avocado Jungle of Death. - Little known facts about how Frank Lloyd Wright's work influenced Alfred Hitchcock and about Wright's friendship with Walt Disney and his comments about some of Disney's most famous films. - Detailed information about how to visit those Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in this book that are open to the public. - The controversies created by several of these films that caused members of some audiences to leave the theater in moral outrage and caused other audiences to scream in horror. - Behind-the-scenes comments by Hollywood directors and producers about why they chose to use Frank Lloyd Wright buildings or design features in their films. - A look at how Frank Lloyd Wright's design philosophy influenced the style of Hollywood films and how some of his strong-willed female clients got him to change the design of their homes. - Why Frank Lloyd Wright was accused of being a "communist sympathizer" and "un-American" near the end of his career, and why this nearly derailed the construction of one of his most famous buildings.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Books by Mark Anthony Wilson
• Contents
• List of Movies and TV Series Described in This Book
• Foreword, by Marc Wanamaker
• Introduction
• 1. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy in the History of American Film
• 2. Vincent Price’s Deceptive Invitation and Harrison Ford’s Reluctant Narration: The Ennis House, Hollywood Hills
• 3. Ben Stiller’s Total Meltdown: The Pearce House, Bradbury
• 4. Cannibal Women Chase Bill Maher Around a Millionaire Communist’s House: The Hollyhock House, Hollywood
• 5. From Westworld to Deep Space Nine: The Millard House, Pasadena
• 6. Home Base of the Venture Brothers’ Nemesis: The John Storer House, Los Angeles
• 7. A Dystopian Desert Setting in the Hills Above Malibu: The Oboler House, Santa Monica Mountains
• 8. Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Our House—Oops!: The Walker House, Carme
• 9. Ethan Hawke and Jude Law Aim for Outer Space: The Marin County Courthouse, San Rafael
• 10. The Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock Connections
• Appendix: How to Visit These Wright Buildings Open to the Public
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author and Photographer