Miss Liberty: The Statue of Liberty on Film
Ranked #10,454 in Entertainment, #116,710 overall
Ever Noticed Filmmakers Obsession with Miss Liberty?
Planet of the Apes. X-Men. The Day After Tomorrow. Even Ghostbusters 2.
There seems to some fixation with Miss Liberty. On some level, it's understandable. She stands for what this country was meant to be. She's pretty. And she has a crown. Always a plus.
But seriously, what's the deal? Hopefully this lens can at least highlight the films in which Miss Liberty has played a major role and, in the process, figure out what it's such a big deal.
First of All, Who Is She?
Presented to the United States by the French in 1886 to celebrate the Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence, The Statue of Liberty is the second tallest statue in the world (the first is Motherland Is Calling in Russia). While the statue itself was sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the internal structure of the statue was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel , who you may have guessed is also the engineer behind The Eiffel Tower. The statue alone (not including pedestal) stands at a little over 151 feet.
She's Ready For Her Close-Up
Lady Liberty has inspired poets, writers, artists and filmmakers for over a century. However, since this lens is all about films, here's a list of films in which Lady Liberty has appeared prominently. In no particular order.
Planet of the Apes
Perhaps one of the most famous scenes of all time involving The Statue of Liberty is this one, the finale of Planet of the Apes. For filmgoers who were able to see this for the first time without being spoiled, this must have been an interesting revelation. Liberty plays a key role in Planet of the Apes as she's the one who delivers the final blow to Charlton Heston's character with the revelation she provides.
Planet of the Apes on Amazon
Escape From New York
While The Statue of Liberty was never seen demolished in Escape From New York as she is in this promotional poster, Liberty Island still plays a pivotal role in the film.
The Day After Tomorrow
A unique take on using Lady Liberty as a symbol for the ending of civilization as we know it, The Day After Tomorrow finds The Statue of Liberty entrenched in snow, brought on by Global Warming.
The Day After Tomorrow on Amazon
Cloverfield
Film fans are all abuzz about next year's film with the code name of "Cloverfield."
In the trailer for the film, the head of Liberty is shown tossed about as citizens attempt to avoid the wreckage. The Statue is also shown as being demolished in the film's promotional poster here:
In the trailer for the film, the head of Liberty is shown tossed about as citizens attempt to avoid the wreckage. The Statue is also shown as being demolished in the film's promotional poster here:
Saboteur
The climatic ending of Alfred Hitchcock's "Saboteur" takes place on Lady Liberty's torch.
X-Men
Ever noticed how so many of these films use The Statue of Liberty for their finales? X-Men is no exception as the X-Men battle Magneto atop her crown.
X-Men on Amazon
Ghostbusters II
You may recall this somewhat over-the-top scene in Ghostbusters 2 where The Statue of Liberty actually becomes an animated character in the film. Through some sort of energy induced Ectoplasm, Liberty comes to life and stalks through the streets of New York. You can view the actual scene in the YouTube embed just below.
Ghostbusters II on Amazon
Resident Evil 3: Extinction
Here's a new one.
In the trailers for Resident Evil 3, we once again see Lady Liberty as a symbol of a prior civilization. However, it's a bit skewed. First, the film is set in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. So, that's not the real Miss Liberty, but her faux counterpart at the New York, New York Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Still, it's interesting to see how they focused on her first when fast forwarding to the scenes of post-apocalyptic America.
In the trailers for Resident Evil 3, we once again see Lady Liberty as a symbol of a prior civilization. However, it's a bit skewed. First, the film is set in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. So, that's not the real Miss Liberty, but her faux counterpart at the New York, New York Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Still, it's interesting to see how they focused on her first when fast forwarding to the scenes of post-apocalyptic America.
Statue of Liberty Books & DVDs
Be Lady Liberty
Statue of Liberty Costume and Novelty Wear
Statue of Liberty Links
- Reopen Liberty's Crown
- This site is currently campaigning to get Lady Liberty's crown reopened to the public - an act which has been declared too dangerous by the U.S. Government.
- Statue of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
- The official site for The Statue of Liberty.
- Save Ellis Island
- A campaign "to raise the funds necessary to rehabilitate, restore and put to beneficial reuse the currently deteriorated and unused buildings of Ellis Island."
- The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation
- An organization dedicated to preserving America's two most prominent symbols of liberty and freedom.
- EarthCam - Statue of Liberty
- EarthCam brings you the best, unmatched view of the Statue of Liberty, looking directly across the New York Harbor from Cornell Paper and Box Company, Inc. in Brooklyn, New York.
Why do you think Lady Liberty plays such an important part in films?
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dagsmith
Oct 24, 2009 @ 6:30 pm | delete
- Great lens! Now I am trying to remember what other movies have featured this great lady - I'm sure there are more!
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TheGreenerMe
Dec 6, 2008 @ 1:33 pm | delete
- I guess there is a lot of use of the Statue of Liberty in film! I've seen all of these movies, but I think my favorite is Cloverfield.
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rms
Apr 13, 2008 @ 8:11 am | delete
- This is wonderful. I've given it a roll on my Long Island a Tribute lens.
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thomasz
Jan 30, 2008 @ 4:33 pm | delete
- Nice Lens. Yea the planet of the apes clips was pretty shocking.
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Pierce_This_2
Sep 19, 2007 @ 3:22 pm | delete
- Love the planet of the ape's scene. It was stunning, the first time seen. How to measure a belly button ring
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blondeheroine
Kel has a love of the 80s, Muppets, Disney and other assorted madness. You can usually find her flitting between the 80s and present day in her Delorian.... more »
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