Madison in the Movies Walking Tour

Madison’s picturesque setting with cliffs and rolling hills offers a diversified scenic area. It is filled with over 1,300 structures from Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian to Prairie style architecture all located along tree-lined streets. The area’s natural environment showcases 400 foot bluffs, meandering creeks, rolling hills, waterfalls, and of course the half mile wide Ohio River. Situated on bluffs overlooking the river are the Madison State Hospital and beautiful, scenic Hanover College. Many of these aspects of Madison combine to be perfect for filming.

This led to the first film being made in Madison in 1943. The Motion Picture Bureau, a section of the U.S. Office of War Information, filmed The Town here. The community was again selected in 1958 for the film Some Came Running which was directed by Vincente Minnelli. It starred old blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, along with Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine. Finally, the movie Madison was filmed in 1999 and released in 2001. It features a true story about the town in the hydroplane circuit.

Madison’s charm captured on film is still present today and has been recognized by national publications as the “Prettiest Small Town in America” and the “best preserved town in the Midwest.” Discover its beauty while reliving scenes from the movies filmed here.