Where was The Omen filmed
The Omen
Year: 1976
Country: Israel, United Kingdom
<p>A 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by David Seltzer. It is a co-production between the UK and the US, being the first installment of the famous franchise. The plot is about Damien Thorne, a young child who is switched by his father in a maternity hospital after their real newborn dies. The mother, Catherine, is unaware of this. As Damien grows up, strange and tragic events begin to happen around him. In time, it becomes clear that the child is none other than the predicted Antichrist. Principal photography began on October 6, 1975 and lasted 11 weeks, concluding on January 9, 1976. The film was shot on location in London (including Bishops Park in Fulham) and in the county of Surrey - for example, the cathedral scenes were filmed at Guildford Cathedral and the Thorne family's country mansion at Pyrford Court Manor. The church shown in the Bishops Park area is All Saints Church in Fulham. The final scene with the climax was filmed at St. Peter's Church in Staines-upon-Thames. Some scenes were also filmed at Shepperton Studios, as well as in Jerusalem and Rome. One of the most memorable scenes is the scene with the baboons attacking Katherine's car in the zoo. Initially, the film crew tried to provoke the animals by placing food around the car and putting a baby baboon on the back seat with a zoo employee. However, this had no effect. Then, instead of the cub, an alpha baboon was put in the car, which caused real aggression from the pack. As the director later said, the reaction of actress Lee Remick in this scene was absolutely sincere - the fear was real. The film received critical and audience acclaim, and composer Jerry Goldsmith was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Soundtrack.</p>
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Locations
Park
In movie
Scene where Damien and his family are enjoying a peaceful walk through a green park. His father holds the boy in his arms and his mother smiles as she admires the scenery. There are manicured trees, soft grass and a sense of serenity all around.
Real
Scene was shot on Parliament Hill, a picturesque part of Hampstead Heath Park in north London, near Highgate. It is an open hilltop with a wide view of the city center, from where, in clear weather, you can see major London landmarks, including the spire of St. Paul's Cathedral and the skyscrapers of the City.
Robert's office (American Embassy in London).
In movie
Scene where Father Brennan comes to Robert's office to warn him of Damien's true nature. He insinuates that the child is not human but evil incarnate, and insists that Robert take Holy Communion. Brennan claims that Damien is Satan's son and reveals that Catherine is pregnant again. He warns that if nothing is done, Damien will kill his unborn brother and then the parents themselves.
Real
Scene was shot inside the American Embassy building in London's Grosvenor Square, which was used as the official U.S. diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom from 1960 to 2017. The building was designed by renowned modernist architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1960. It was the first modern building in central London to serve the needs of the U.S. Embassy.
Tel Megiddo
In movie
Scene where Robert and Keith travel to Israel. There they meet Karl Bugenhagen, an expert on the exorcism of evil and a specialist on the Antichrist. Bugenhagen explains that if Damien is indeed the Antichrist, he must have a birthmark in the form of three sixes, the mark of the beast. He hands Robert a set of seven sacred daggers with which to kill Damien, but only on sacred ground.
Real
Scene was shot at Tel Megiddo, an archaeological site in northern Israel, near the present-day Kibbutz Megiddo, about 30 kilometers southeast of Haifa. The site, also known by its Greek name Armageddon, is of great historical, strategic and religious significance.