Times Square, possibly the most famous street in the world worldknown for its incessant movement and urban bustle, became the unusual setting for a striking scene in ‘Vanilla Sky’, released 23 years ago and starring Tom Cruise.
The film is notable for its opening scene, in which Times Square appears deserted, a marked contrast to its usual hustle and bustle.
Director reveals details in interview
Tom Cruise manages to leave Times Square empty for a scene in ‘Vanilla Sky’ – Image: Reproduction
In a recent interview with Vulture, director and writer Cameron Crowe shared the behind-the-scenes look at this iconic shoot.
Crowe revealed that the idea for an empty Times Square has been around since Cruise acquired the rights to remake ‘Trapped in Darkness’ (1997).
The inspiration came from a similar scene in Madrid, present in the original film. Cruise, along with producers Don Lee and Paula Wagner, approached then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for permission.
Surprisingly, Giuliani agreed to a peculiar condition regarding the film’s director. Crowe recalled:
“I said, ‘Great news! What is the condition?’ And they said, ‘You! Someone there did some research on you and heard that you do a lot of takes,’” they responded to the filmmaker.
The situation left Crowe surprised, questioning how this information was in the mayor’s office.
Therefore, to alleviate concerns, the production meticulously planned the filming day to ensure efficiency.
They managed to capture all the necessary scenes and still had an hour to spare, which they used to film Tom Cruise running through Times Square.
Thus, this was the only time Times Square was emptied for the production of a film.
Synopsis of the feature
‘Vanilla Sky’ presents the story of David, a privileged young man who seemingly has everything, but feels a void in his life.
Throughout the film, one night, he meets the woman of his dreams, believing he has found the missing piece.
In addition to Cruise, the cast includes Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell, Timothy Spall, Tilda Swinton, among other talents.
Although the content is not available in the country, it can be rented online at Prime VideoApple TV or Google, offering viewers the opportunity to enjoy this unique cinematic work.
