Contents
Discover the filming locations for Dead Poets Society, including locations in New England and Wales.
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Introduction
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir, written by Tom Schulman, and starring Robin Williams. Set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative Vermont boarding school Welton Academy, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry.
The film was shot on location at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware, and also features scenes filmed at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The Filming Locations
The majority of the film was shot on location at St. Andrew’s College, in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The college served as both the Welton Academy and boarding school in the film.
The opening scene, where Neil comes out to meet his father and Keating for the first time, was filmed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
The interior shots of Neil’s house were filmed in a real house located in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
Several other scenes were shot in New York City, including the scene where Charlie takes Neil to see Dead Poets Society perform and the scene where Keating is fired.
The School
Dead Poets Society was filmed predominately in two locations. The first, and most prominent, is St. Andrews School in Middletown, Rhode Island. The school, which was founded in 1869, is a beautifully manicured private college prep school that boasts picturesque New England style architecture.
The Dormitories
At Welton, the boys live in a number of different dormitories. The first year students (the freshmen) live in one dorm, the second years (the sophomores) in another, and so on. The different dorms are located in different parts of the school grounds.
The Classrooms
The classrooms in Dead Poets Society were filmed in the boys’ school at Welton Academy.
The Great Hall
Dead Poet’s Society was filmed on location at Welton Academy, which is actually St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware.
The school’s most recognizable landmark is The Great Hall, where many of the film’s scenes were shot. The Great Hall is a large and ornate space that features a grand staircase, cathedral windows, and a fireplace.
The Chapel
Chapel of The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a Catholic church in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built in 1876 and is located at 10 Gibbs Avenue. The church was used as a filming location for the 1989 film Dead Poets Society.
The Boathouse
The Boathouse is one of the key locations in the film Dead Poets Society. It is where Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) and Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) meet for their regular rowing sessions, and it is also where Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen) makes his famous prank call.
The Boathouse was actually filmed at the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. The school’s boathouse was built in 1884 and is a National Historic Landmark.
The Gardens
The Gardens featured prominently in Dead Poets Society are actually Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. The Palace gardens served as the location for many of the film’s key scenes, including the infamous “marching through shadow” scene.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the original Dead Poets Society was not filmed on location at Welton Academy, it is safe to say that the film did an excellent job of representing the spirit of the school. Many of the same values that are important to the students at Welton are also important to the characters in the film, and that is what makes Dead Poets Society such a timeless classic.
