Chaska and Carver County have worked their way onto the big screen quite a few times. Here are a few movies with area connections.
Cologne: In 2001, the Library of Congress selected this 1939 home movie filmed by Ray and Esther Dowidat of Cologne for its National Film Registry.
Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein: Character actor and Chaska native Edward Van Sloan starred in these classic horror movies.
Drop Dead Gorgeous: This movie included some up-and-coming stars, including Kristen Dunst and The Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's Amy Adams [0]. The movie is possibly the best locally-filmed feature for spotting local landmarks, ranging from the Catholic church in downtown Waconia to the Bongards Creameries’ cow along Highway 212. (Viewers receive extra points for identifying the Chaska Herald building.)
Factotum: Starring Matt Dillon, this movie included a scene at the M.A. Gedney pickle factory in Chanhassen, on the Chaska border.
Fargo: This movie included Chanhassen native Tony Denman. Denman played Scotty Lundegaard, the son of William Macy’s character in “Fargo.”
The movie, written and directed by St. Louis Park-natives Ethan and Joel Coen, and is full of references to Minnesota towns. (One of the prostitutes in the movie is from Chaska.) The American Film Institute named “Fargo” one of the greatest American films ever made.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: According to "Behind the Cameras: Minnesotans in the Movies, Volume 2, film sites for Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter" included Lake Minnewashta in Chanhassen.
Herman U.S.A.: An independent movie filmed in New Germany.
Ice Castles: The 1978 tear-jerker that gave us the song “Through the Eyes of Love” had some of its principal scenes shot at a two-story farm house, located a couple miles west of Carver on County Road 40.
Simple Plan: This movie utilized the Zoar Moravian Church in Laketown Township. Billy Bob Thornton was nominated for an Academy Award for his heart-wrenching role. Many of the “Simple Plan” scenes were shot in Delano.
The Stranger Within: an ABC TV movie shot in Chaska in 1990, starred "Charlie's Angels" actress Kate Jackson and NYPD Blue (or more notably "Silver Spoons") actor Rick(y) Schroeder. A few scenes were shot on Second Street in downtown Chaska at Butch's Restaurant and Tavern and Lano's Supermarket.
Are there movies filmed in Chaska and the surrounding area that should be on the list?
Do you have any good movie star anecdotes? Share them on our Homegrown Movies [0] forum.