“Man on a Ledge” Directed by Asger Leth, is an action thriller that revolves around ex-cop Nick Cassidy, who is convicted after being wrongly accused of stealing the Monarch diamond. He uses his father’s funeral to escape prison and devise a plan to prove his innocence.
Assuming a different identity, Cassidy enters The Roosevelt Hotel and threatens to jump from the 21st floor. However, this is only meant to create a distraction and distract the public from the secretly executed plan to clear Nick’s name.
As the narrative unfolds, the tension builds and the audience’s heart begins to beat faster. This is especially true for any scene in which Sam Worthington is standing on a ledge. The camera work and sets give the film a gritty tone and we can’t help but wonder how and where the Man on a Ledge film was shot.
Where Was Man on a Ledge Movie Filmed?
The Man on a Ledge action film was shot in several locations throughout New York, New York State. Most of the scenes were directed to emphasize the dangers of standing at such a height.
Filming began in October 2010 and lasted for several months, probably ending in early 2011.
New York
“Man on a Ledge.” Since most of the scenes take place at The Roosevelt Hotel, the production team decided to shoot the Man on a Ledge film at the historic hotel in Manhattan, New York. The “Grand Dame of Madison Avenue,” located between Madison Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue at 45 East 45th Street in midtown Manhattan, has served as a filming location for movies and shows such as “Pose,” “Blue Bloods” “1408,” and “Men in black 3′.
Opened in 1924, the venue was open for almost a century until it closed its doors in 2020 after sales took an irreparable hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Man on a Ledge.”
The story behind why the hotel was chosen is quite fascinating. When director Asger Leth read the story, he knew he wanted the stakes to be as realistic as possible. In addition, he also wanted to shoot in a location where Nick Cassidy’s character was surrounded by the tall and majestic buildings of NYC while also making sure he could see the faces of people standing on the road.
So when Asger Leth was looking for a few ledge locations, he looked at The Roosevelt Hotel and was convinced it was the perfect spot.
During the filming, the technical crew faced several problems. One of the most important was to figure out the logistics of the moving camera and other equipment. The rigging had to be dynamic to capture the essence of each frame – whether it was showing the height, the narrow perimeter of the ledge, or the fear in Nick’s eyes. To solve this problem, a suite of rooms was built on the roof of the hotel.
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However, the challenges were not limited to the crew. Lead actor Sam Worthington found the process challenging as he has a fear of heights. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sam said, “Your palms are sweating, your feet are sore, your eyes are sore. It’s about nerves. It’s not the height you’re afraid of, it’s the fall and what happens when you hit the deck.”
In addition to the hotel, the Rockefeller Center subway stations, 6th Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets, and Lexington Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets also lend their aesthetic and atmosphere to the film’s narrative.
The cast and crew also visited the prominent Old Town Bar and Restaurant to film several scenes of the crime thriller. Located at 45 East 18th Street in the Flatiron District between Park Avenue and Broadway, it is one of the oldest taverns in the Big Apple, serving citizens since 1892.
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The production team built the stunt set at Gold Coast Studios, located at 700 Hicksville Road, Bethpage, Long Island. The production facility doubled as The Roosevelt Hotel for several sequences that involved a higher degree of risk and therefore could not be filmed in the actual hotel.
The soundstage complex has also been used for popular film and television projects. Some of the big productions recorded at the studio are “Uncut Gems”, “Ocean’s Eight” “John Wick 3: Parabellum”, and “The Many Saints of Newark”.
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The funeral scene in “Man on a Ledge” is set against the backdrop of All Faiths Cemetery. Originally named Lutheran Cemetery, the 225-acre property is located at 67-29 Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village in Queens, New York City.
It adds a somber brightness that resonates with Nick Cassidy’s sadness. In addition to “Man on a Ledge,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Abigail” were also filmed at this location.
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