Movie Magic in Madison, Indiana

May 13, 2022 [email protected]

Did you know that Madison has a history of being the backdrop for several short films and movies? Back in the 1940s, Madison, Indiana, was chosen by the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II as the site to shoot a short film depicting “everyday life” in America called The Town. The film showcases various aspects of day-to-day life including classrooms, the Farmers Market, different professions, and more. This film presents Madison as the “model American town where citizens embodied American ideals and values” (The Town). You can watch the short film here:

The same film scout who worked on The Town was the same one who worked on the 1958 film Some Came Running starring big Hollywood names like Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. Filming locations for this movie included Historic Downtown Madison and Hanover College. Watch this video to learn more about the behind the scenes filming in Jefferson County:

Check out the Madison Treasures Tour on PocketSights to explore the filming locations for Some Came Running!

Later in 2000, Madison was the setting for another movie titled Madison which revolved around the Madison Regatta. Watch the video below to get a behind-the-scenes look on filming Madison in Madison!