Downtown Newport was abuzz Wednesday — and star struck.
The movie crew for The Old Man and The Gun starring Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck and Danny Glover was there for filming. It has been filming around the area all week.
The crew started setting-up in the 800 block in front of US Bank at 7 a.m. US Bank customers had to use the rear entrance off Orchard Street during the filming.
The movie crew and cast then moved to Heritage Bank at the corner of East 7th and Monmouth where the filming took place inside the bank. Heritage Bank, which became Texas Loan & Commerce, was closed Wednesday, May 3rd for banking services.
Scenes were also shot at US Bank which became “Three Day Bank.”
Redford was the main actor in both of these scenes.
Two additional scenes were added featuring a car ride on Monmouth and the outside brick wall of JerZees Pub and Grub Both scenes featured Casey Affleck and John David Washington.
The 600 – 700 and 800 blocks of Monmouth Street were closed to accommodate the needs of the movie crew and cast. Once the filming is completed and props and equipment are removed from the 800 block, Monmouth Street reopened. to vehicular traffic to East 8th Street and sent over to Saratoga or Washington Streets.
East 8th and East 6th Streets remained open for cross traffic. Vehicles were diverted to Saratoga, Washington or Orchard Streets to proceed north. TANK bus stops were moved.
Pepper Pod Restaurant’s non-smoking banquet room served as the office/snack center for the movie crew. Wooden Cask at 629 York Street was set up for the movie crew’s catering food services. Builder’s Surplus at 20 West 6th Street was Basecamp for the movie crew.
The movie’s story involves an elderly bank robber (Redford), who has escaped from prison over a dozen times in his life before moving to a retirement community. He wants to spice things up with another heist. The movie is a true story about criminal, Forrest Tucker and takes place in the early 1970’s.
