DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – From “The Kidnappers Foil” to “Merry Kiss Cam”, the Northland has been the stage for several films.
Melton Barker came to Duluth in October 1940 to cast 150 kids for his Little Rascals knock off.
Parents paid a fee to get their kids in the film and it was shot in Ordean Field.
“The Kidnappers Foil” premiered at the Garrick Theater that November.
After that, Barker went to another city and did the same thing.
It’s said he remade the Kidnappers Foil over a hundred times.
“It makes sense because what other chance did people have to get their voices out there at that time?” said Northern News Now film critic Matt Rasmussen, a native of Virginia, MN.
Real film makers came to the region to use the Glensheen Mansion for the 1972 thriller called “You’ll Like my Mother” starring Patty Duke and Richard Thomas.
Rubber Chicken Comedy Theater founder Brian Matuzsak remembers the buzz the film created.
“Absolutely it did because if that could happen here, anything could happen here.” said Matuszak.
The 1993 movie “The Good Son” featured a scene filmed at Palisade Head near Silver Bay.
The 1994 film “Iron Will” used Duluth, Brookston, Two Harbors and Superior for locations.
Brian Matuzsak got fired from his role as spotlight operator in that production.
“A production assistant came to me and said you can go home and I said I’m fired aren’t I and he said yup, you can fire on out of here.” said Brian.
The 2005 film “North Country” was shot in Eveleth, Virginia, Chisholm and Hibbing.
Fil critic Matt Rasmussen tells us our region is very welcoming to filmmakers like Mandy June Turpin who moved to our region to make films like “Merry Kiss Cam” with me and sports anchor Tom Hansen.
“People from California have been coming out here to pursue their artistic integrities as well so I see more of that in the coming years” said Matt.
Still waiting for an Oscar nod for my role in Merry Kiss Cam, Dave Anderson, Northern News Now.
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