Where Was Public Enemies Filmed? Michael Mann’s Critically Acclaimed Crime Drama Film!

Are you a fan of period dramas? Well, if you are, I’m sure you’ve seen the movie Public Enemies (2009). The crime drama film is set in the 1930s and follows John Dillinger, a robber who robbed big businesses and banks in America during the Great Depression. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Public Enemies filmed.

Public Enemies stars several A-lister actors like Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, and Marion Cotillard in the lead. The other central and vital characters are played by Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff, Jason Clarke, David Wenham, and Stephen Lang. Those who have already watched the film know that there are several intense and nail-biting scenes in the movie. And most importantly, this was Depp and Bale’s first collaboration.

Now, getting back to your main concern regarding where was Public Enemies filmed, the crime drama movie was filmed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, United States of America.

The crime drama film was directed by Michael Mann, and Ronan Bennett and Ann Biderman wrote the screenplay. It was first screened in Chicago on 19th June 2009, followed by its wide release in the US on 1st July 2009. Public Enemies is a Relativity Media production distributed internationally and in the United States by Universal Pictures. However, let’s move on and learn more about the filming locations.  

Where Was Public Enemies Filmed? Public Enemies Filming Locations!

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies was well-received by critics and was praised for its screenplay, editing, costume design, and, of course, the cast’s fabulous performance. Not to mention the movie also did quite well commercially, earning over $214 million against a production budget of $100 million. Interestingly, Public Enemies is Michael Mann’s first movie shot in HD format instead of the traditional 35 mm film.

The four-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker is widely known for his stylized crime drama films. He is not only a critically acclaimed director but is also a screenwriter, author, and producer. Public Enemies scored 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and rated 7 on IMDb. However, let’s move forward and get into the details of where was Public Enemies filmed. 

Wisconsin, United States Of America

Principal photography of the crime drama film Public Enemies commenced on 17th March 2008 in Wisconsin, United States. The cast and crew also filmed in different cities in Illinois and Indiana. Most of the movie was shot in Wisconsin’s Columbus, followed by Milwaukee, Madison, Oshkosh, Beaver Dam, and Darlington. 

Michael Mann chose to shoot in Columbus mainly because the city is home to numerous historical buildings. As the movie is set in a specific period, he wanted to use those old buildings to bring out the essence of the Depression era. Moreover, Mann was once a student at Wisconsin-Madison University, and he had a good idea of the city, which made it a little easier for the production team to look for relevant locations. 

The exterior shots of the first bank robbery in the movie were filmed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. If you notice carefully, you’ll be able to see the Oshkosh Masonic Center in the background. Remember the scene in which J. Edgar Hoover talks to Melvin Purvis about John Dillinger? That scene was filmed on 2 East. Main Street, Madison, Wisconsin. 

Several sequences, including the second robbery scene, were filmed at the Milwaukee County Historical Society in Milwaukee. John Dillinger’s last robbery scene was shot on Main Street, Oshkosh. Some other scenes were filmed on Maple Avenue in Beaver Dam and at the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters.

Illinois, United States Of America

Illinois was the second location where the production team filmed. The cast and crew shot primarily in Chicago, Lockport, Aurora, and Joliet. The prison shootout scene at the movie’s beginning was filmed at 16830 South Route 53, Crest Hill, Illinois. The scene where Dillinger and his gang members meet up was shot in the village of Saint Anne. Some other scenes were filmed at 210 South Canal Street, Chicago.

The scene in which Dillinger calls up Billie was shot at East 106th Street Bridge close to South Buffalo Avenue, Chicago. Other Chicago scenes were filmed at 949 West Newport Avenue and 435 North. Clark Street.

The scene in which Dillinger reads one of Billie’s letters was shot at 222 East 9th Street, Lockport. A handful of scenes were filmed on Commerce Avenue, Lockport, and at 2433 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. The Liberty High School in Libertyville also served as a filming location for the movie.

Indiana, United States Of America

After filming in Wisconsin and Illinois, the production team moved to Indiana to shoot some of the remaining scenes. Most of the filming in Indiana occurred at the Lake County jail in Crown Point.

Plot Of Public Enemies (2009) | John Dillinger Vs. The FBI!

The story of Public Enemies is set in the 30s and revolves around John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. During the Depression era in America, John Dillinger was the most notorious yet charismatic man in America. He was widely known for robbing banks and big businesses but never harmed a common, ordinary man. When his crew was working in multiple places, bank robberies were at its peak; the FBI decided to bring someone special to get hold of Dillinger and his crew.

The director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, hands over the case to Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale. Purvis was one of the most intelligent FBI officers and was highly manipulative. He even used modern tactics like tapping telephone lines and so on. When Purvis tried to ambush Dillinger at a hotel but failed, he asked Hoover for more experienced agents to work with him.

Final Words

Now that you know about all the filming locations of Public Enemies, I suggest you plan with a couple of your friends and drive up to the different places where the crime drama movie was filmed. It is a must-watch, especially for Johnny Deep and Christian Bale fans. Keep in mind that the movie contains several violent scenes and strong language. Having said that, if you liked going through the article, please let me know.