May 25, 2012

Trafalgar Square

by MovieMaker Staff | Published January 2, 2007

(C) Gerry Lynch, 2005 There are many spots on London’s map that make up the city’s famous landscape, but one of the most famous is no doubt the pigeon-bedecked Trafalgar Square. Built to commemorate the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, the square sits in the heart of the Charing Cross neighborhood and boasts an impressive collection of political figures as well as the famed bronze lions.

On the silver screen, Trafalgar Square has appeared in over three dozen films, from Scott Hicksâ€™ acclaimed Shine, to the original 1967 version of Casino Royale. With the beautiful architecture of the National Gallery gracing the north side of the Square, the now iconic spot is a perfect establishing shot of England’s capital city, a feature that was never more eerily evoked than its desolate appearance in Danny Boyle’s zombie hit, 28 Days Laterâ€¦ Next up, the square takes another sci-fi turn in Alfonso CuarÃ³nâ€™s unsettling futuristic vision, Children of Men, which opened in limited release on December 25.

Short of visiting the famed London hotspot yourself, you can get a glimpse of Trafalgar Square in:
V for Vendetta
Love Actually
Arabesque
101 Dalmatians
The Living Daylights
84 Charing Cross Road
The Ipcress File

SOUND OFF QUESTION: From 28 Days Laterâ€¦ to the recently released Children of Men, London seems to have become a hot spot for apocalyptic sci-fi tales. Why do you think moviemakers keep choosing England’s capital city as the site of futuristic catastrophes? Talk back in the comments section!