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Packards in movies


Jay and Pat

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I can remember that a few weeks ago I saw a list of movies (flicks in todays parlance) that had Packards of any year or model appearing in them. The list appeared to be abreaviated as I thought it should be longer. Anyway, there is one titled "QUICKSAND" starring Mickey Rooney, Peter Lorre, Barbara Bates and an old man and his 1950 Custom Sedan. There are some very nice shots of it,too

The movie was made in 1950. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> LeRaysville Dude, Jay Hennigan

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Guest imported_Speedster

Yes, Packards were also used to Make movies. I have friends that were movie producers during the '50s and '60s, and they were telling about cutting holes in the tops of Packard Sedans to mount the cameras on top of car, for a mobile but very stable camera platform. For chase scenes, etc. I saw some pictures of the cars and they had Very Large Holes in them <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> with back seats removed so camera man could stand in rear.

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Jay and Pat:

If you saw that in the CNB, then yes it was abbreviated. The editor does not have enough space to print the whole list at one time so he is doing as many as he can for each issue. The whole list may wind up on the Packard Club web site in the future as I have sent the entire list that I have to Marshall Katz at his request. I am the official roster keeper for Packards in the Movies for PAC. I got the idea one night while watching a movie called Calendar Girl and in the opening sequence a 56 Patrician rolls by the drug store window. From then on I started looking for them and before I knew it I had 30 or 40 titles. then I put the word out thru CNB for people to send in any that they spotted and the ball just kept rolling. I have got over 100 titles now and more coming. I now watch TCM a lot becuase in the early morning they show a lot of the old 30's and 40's films.

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Guest imported_49packard

Not exactly a movie-Brooks Brothers used a 48-50 Packard station wagon in some of its in store large picture ads.

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TWITCH:

Did you personally see this episode or is it a case of someone told you about it

etc. etc. I am trying to make sure that the entries in the roster are actual first hand accounts that people have actually seen and not hear-say.

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  • 1 month later...
Guest Randy Berger

I just saw a promo for a new movie "All the King's Men" with Sean Penn.

There was a 1953 Clipper in the promo. I might have to go see the movie

just to see the Packard and if there are any more.

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It was the only time I've ever heard anyone in that era of TV actually call a car by name. </div></div>

Funny you should mention that. I was vegetating on the couch over the weekend and TCM ran To Have and Have Not with Humphery Bogart and L. Bacall. In they specifically mentioned the Packard by name and not just once but I know for a fact twice but I believe there was a 3rd mention as well. Packard must have paid them alot for that plug. I believe the reason for not mentioning specific makes and/or models is because it could be viewed as free advertising and then they would have to do it for everyone and all movies would have nothing but cars in them that had to be mentioned. The script writers would commit suicide.

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  • 4 weeks later...

IIRC,

There were several Packards in the original black & white "Untouchables" film, scenes from which became stock footage used in the 1960's TV series of the same name. At least one Packard, probably from 31-32, was destroyed in making the film , a closed body car, which at the time was still considered parts-car material for restoration of open cars.

Packards also appear in "The Great Gatsby" I believe, and I want to remember (it seems to me) that several Disney films of the late-50's through the 60's, including "Follow Me Boys" featured elderly people of means driving, or being driven in Packards.

Of course, by the 50's, a lot depended on what was available in the inventories of the LA area movie car prop rental firms and on studio back lots.

Art

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