From the start, Turteltaub and Bruckheimer wanted to use real historic sites in the film, which takes Cage, as Benjamin Franklin Gates, and his co-stars Justin Bartha and Diane Kruger on a modern-day treasure hunt from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., to the streets of Philadelphia and New York's Trinity Church. There were a few hurdles - they had to re-create their own Liberty Bell, for instance, and the signing room of Independence Hall was off limits, so they shot that in a replica located on Knott's Berry Farm in California. But for the most part, they got access to the landmarks they wanted.
"We pushed and pushed and pushed to make sure everything was honest," said Bruckheimer, whose long list of producing credits includes "Top Gun" and "Black Hawk Down." He says his reputation may have helped facilitate matters. "I've always had good relationships with the military and the government, going back to 'Pearl Harbor' and 'Armageddon.' They're predisposed to like us, and they know we're not going to embarrass them. It makes it a little easier."
The actors and crew spent two weeks in Philadelphia shooting scenes in and around Independence Hall, the Franklin Institute, Headhouse Square and Reading Terminal Market. They even got permission from the National Park Service to film a scene in the tower above Independence Hall where the Liberty Bell was first rung, while tour groups milled about the cobblestones below them.
Turteltaub is still giddy about that one.
"I couldn't believe they said yes," he said. "The main [Park Service] guy took us up there just to see it. We were moving up these staircases and suddenly we're behind these clocks looking down, and it's just gorgeous. We asked if we could shoot up here, and he didn't say no. So instead of the normal hundred people we managed to bring just the three actors, a cameraman and me."
