Is it just me or does this house seem oddly familiar? This is La casa de los Tenenbaums. It served as the primary setting for Wes Anderson’s film The Royal Tenenbaums.
Now, let’s talk about this iconic house. The Royal Tenenbaum house stands on 144th Street and Convent Avenue in Harlem. Specifically, it’s known as the Charles H Tuttle Mansion. Anderson’s location scout discovered this gem before the script even took shape.
Initially, Anderson considered filming his fictional New York on a soundstage. However, upon entering this house, the concept of the film materialized. For six months, the house transformed into the Tenenbaum residence we see onscreen.
Imagine the director, Wes Anderson, walking through these doors. He envisioned the eccentric Tenenbaum family inhabiting its rooms. The house was empty during filming. This allowed Anderson to fully immerse himself in his creative process.
The Royal Tenenbaums tells the story of a dysfunctional family. Royal, the patriarch played by Gene Hackman, is at the center. The house at 111 Archer Avenue became the backdrop for their story.
Fun fact: the zebra wallpaper in Margot Tenenbaum’s room has a real-world inspiration. It’s based on the patterns from Gino restaurant. Gino once stood at 780 Lexington Avenue.
After filming, the house returned to its original splendor. It is now a private residence. The new owners even put renovations on hold during filming.
In the film, Alec Baldwin narrates the lives of the Tenenbaum children. Chas, the math genius, makes a real estate deal with his father. He purchases the Tenenbaum summer home on Eagle’s Island.
While Eagle’s Island is fictional, the house is real. It’s located at 21 Tier Street on City Island in the Bronx. This turreted house has graced the screen before. It was the Connecticut home in Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
Another location featured in The Royal Tenenbaums is the Alexander Hamilton Customs House. In the film, it’s known as The Public Archives. Margot and Richie camp out here after running away from home.
The building is now home to the New York branch of the Museum of the American Indian. You might recognize it from other films like Batman Forever and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Royal is evicted from the Lindbergh Palace Hotel. Although, this hotel is actually the Waldorf-Astoria. The Waldorf-Astoria is at 301 Park Avenue. This famous hotel has hosted Marilyn Monroe and Nikola Tesla.
In Battery Park, Royal meets with Pagoda. Pagoda informs him of his wife’s remarriage plans. Anderson intentionally blocked the Statue of Liberty. He didn’t want to make the New York setting too obvious.
The family visits Maddox Hill Cemetery to see Royal’s mother’s grave. This scene was filmed at Trinity Church Cemetery. It is located at 770 Riverside Drive.
Remember Richie’s disastrous tennis match? It was filmed at the West Side Tennis Club. The West Side Tennis Club is at 1 Tennis Place, Forest Hills in Queens.
So, as you stand here in front of La casa de los Tenenbaums, remember its role in cinematic history. The Royal Tenenbaums transformed this private residence into a film icon.