Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos: Spielberg Turns Brooklyn Into Nostalgic Fantasyland
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 18, 2014
Modified Sep 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 21
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 18, 2014
Modified Sep 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
On Sunday, September 14th, Steven Spielberg filmed scenes for his Cold War-era movie, St. James Place, in DUMBO. We had previously spotted the set as it was being built, but on Sunday everything was in place as Old New York was brought briefly back to life, and crowds gathered around to watch Spielberg & Co. in action. Here's what that looked like.

Spielberg's in the black hat. (Photo via vbadikov's flickr)
The movie, which stars Tom Hanks and was partially-penned by the Coen Brothers (they came on board to revise Matt Charman’s script), is based on the true story of attorney James Donovan (Hanks). It's due out in the Fall of 2015.
Donovan was "enlisted by the CIA during the Cold War to surreptitiously negotiate the 1962 release of Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 spy plane pilot who was shot down over Russia two years earlier." During his lifetime, he also negotiated deals with Fidel Castro during the Bay of Pigs invasion, counseled during the Nuremberg Trials, and in 1962 was backed by Kennedy for as the Democratic candidate for a New York Senate seat (which he lost to Jacob Javits). In the late 1960s, he was the President of Pratt Institute.
Yesterday, the movie was filming in Barreto Park in the Bronx (and you can keep an eye on On Location Vacations for future location spots).
Tagged
dumbo
movie
movie set
st james place
steven spielberg
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
We went fall-maxxing at edge of town.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 1:08 p.m. ET
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
Arts & Entertainment
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
By
Sonia Rao
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .