Toronto on film: 5 iconic scenes shot at city hall

Toronto’s City Hall celebrates its 50th birthday this weekend and in the half-century since it was constructed in 1965, it’s become a celebrity of its own.

There will be a party at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday to mark the occasion. In addition to the free concert and treats on offer outside, OCAD student Monica Virtue is constructing an exhibit at City Hall called Beam Me Up that looks at City Hall on film.

Virtue has a background in film and is completing her Masters in digital futures. Part of the program includes an internship and hers is at City Hall.

“I wanted to do something film-inspired and with some pop culture references,” Virtue said.

“Beam Me Up will use sensors and projection-mapping to create an installtion inspired by the 1965 Star Trek set. We will playing movie clips of movies that were shot over the years as well as showing images from the reference library and the archives.”

The exhibit only lasts as long as the party, from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Until then, take a look at how the Viljo Revell-designed building has made its mark on pop culture, appearing in everything from cop shows to sci-fi flicks.

Here’s a look at five scenes where city hall has a starring role.

The Vow (2012)
Director: Michael Sucsy
Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum meet at the City Hall rotunda (3:35) and marry at the AGO.

The Sentinel (2006)
Director: Clark Johnson
City Hall appears at 1:39, alongside fellow Canadian icon Kiefer Sutherland

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
Director: Alexander Witt

Flashpoint (TV show, 2008-2012)
The show was filmed in and set in Toronto. City Hall makes an appearance at 15:05.

The Kidnapping of the President (1980)
Director:George Mendeluk
City Hall appears at 7:44, and William Shatner is in the whole thing.

The Tuxedo (2002)
Director: Kevin Donovan
Rest assured, City Hall does make an appearance in the film, but not in this segment. Instead, enjoy a close-up look at the RC Harris Filtration Plant.

Here’s a bonus seventh scene, starring Old City Hall.

Boondock Saints (1999)
Director: Troy Duffy