Just watched OPEN YOUR EYES, the Euriginal of VANILLA SKY. The latter has a shot of a character all alone in Times Square, NYC. The former, Madrid. Which put me in mind of the scene in 28 DAYS LATER in the heart of London.
I know the first two used no computer tricks to achieve their effect. Don't know about the latter.
Anybody think of any other such scenes?
Full Version: Big City, Empty Streets
In Dark City, Rufus Sewell runs frantic down empty streets at night. The scene is a deliberate nod to the Twilight Zone episode.
How about the X-Files episode where Mulder meets a genie and wishes for peace on earth? Suddenly the streets are empty of anyone but Mulder.
Dark City was all shot on soundstages, wasn't it? Not sure that that would count as the sort of thing Ron is looking for.
I vaguely recall some very empty streets in The Omega Man -- a clip of Charlton Heston driving through them was used in Los Angeles Plays Itself, but I haven't watched the actual movie in years. I THINK there is a similar shot in the trailer for the remake, I Am Legend.
I vaguely recall some very empty streets in The Omega Man -- a clip of Charlton Heston driving through them was used in Los Angeles Plays Itself, but I haven't watched the actual movie in years. I THINK there is a similar shot in the trailer for the remake, I Am Legend.
Skimming through Godspell (1973) right now, it occurs to me that there are scenes of Jesus and his followers walking down apparently empty streets in downtown New York here. The streets are pretty packed in the prologue and epilogue, before and after the arrival of Jesus, but for the bulk of the film, it is as though the city were completely empty (apart from Jesus's crowd).
The "top 5 'deserted city' scenes in film", with YouTube clips. (Films referenced: Twelve Monkeys, Omega Man, Abre Los Ojos, Vanilla Sky, 28 Days Later.)
Much like the crew in 28 Days Later did, the filming of an empty New York in 1959's The World, the Flesh and the Devil was accomplished by filming in early morning hours before many businesses had opened. Unfortunately, this film, about the last 3 people on earth, is not available on any medium, and seems relegated to playing late at night once or twice a year on AMC or TCM.
Also, an empty Auckland, New Zealand serves as the setting for a little gem from 1985 called The Quiet Earth.
I also seem to remember a teen horror/sci-fi film from the 80's, that had a lot of shots in an empty Los Angeles, but right at the moment I can't remember the title. IIRC, a few people survived some catastrophe by being sheltered in metal buildings, while those that remained outside were reduced to colorful chalky dust. Maybe someone else can come up with a title to that one.
Also, an empty Auckland, New Zealand serves as the setting for a little gem from 1985 called The Quiet Earth.
I also seem to remember a teen horror/sci-fi film from the 80's, that had a lot of shots in an empty Los Angeles, but right at the moment I can't remember the title. IIRC, a few people survived some catastrophe by being sheltered in metal buildings, while those that remained outside were reduced to colorful chalky dust. Maybe someone else can come up with a title to that one.
QUOTE (Baal_T'shuvah @ Dec 24 2007, 08:19 AM) 
...the filming of an empty New York in 1959's The World, the Flesh and the Devil was accomplished by filming in early morning hours before many businesses had opened. Unfortunately, this film, about the last 3 people on earth, is not available on any medium, and seems relegated to playing late at night once or twice a year on AMC or TCM.
I also seem to remember a teen horror/sci-fi film from the 80's, that had a lot of shots in an empty Los Angeles, but right at the moment I can't remember the title. IIRC, a few people survived some catastrophe by being sheltered in metal buildings, while those that remained outside were reduced to colorful chalky dust. Maybe someone else can come up with a title to that one.
I also seem to remember a teen horror/sci-fi film from the 80's, that had a lot of shots in an empty Los Angeles, but right at the moment I can't remember the title. IIRC, a few people survived some catastrophe by being sheltered in metal buildings, while those that remained outside were reduced to colorful chalky dust. Maybe someone else can come up with a title to that one.
I'm answering my own question. This film was Night of the Comet.
For anyone who's interested, Turner Classic Movies is showing an apocalyptic triple feature this Friday night. The titles include the above-mentioned The World, the Flesh, and the Devil - Five - and On the Beach.
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