LA, The Real Star In 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Just a few years after starring in “La La Land,” Los Angeles has landed a new leading role, this time in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood” coming out this summer. The trailer was released this week, and it’s clear that LA shines.

Though Tinseltown makes seemingly endless cameos in film and TV, it’s the rare movie that makes a true star out of the City Of Angels. “La La Land,” a veritable parade of iconic Los Angeles landmarks did it with endearing sentimentality. One would expect Tarantino, the master of modern pulp, to do it with the edgy affection of a native son. Indeed, with filming wrapped up and the first trailer out this week, we get a glimpse into the glitzy but slightly smudged Hollywood of the summer of 1969.

The movie, which follows the travails of a Western TV actor trying to make it on the big screen, is set in 1969 Hollywood during the horrifying summer of the Manson murders. Naturally, it features a replica of Spahn Ranch, the old western movie set that served as home to the Manson Family. Only “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” wasn’t actually filmed at Spahn Ranch, which burnt down years ago. Instead, Spahn Ranch was painstakingly recreated at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley.

But other shooting locations feature real LA landmarks, many of which were restored to their 1960s glory for the filming.

Namely, the film features iconic theaters throughout the city from the Old Fox Westwood to Cinerama Dome. Angelenos will also recognize shots of the Van Nuys Drive-In, Grauman's Chinese, Pantages, Vine, Vigue, Ritz and Earl Carroll and Pussycat theatres, all reported shooting locations for the film.

Throughout the filming last summer and fall, fans dropped by LA locations for a chance to see some of the star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie (as Sharon Tate), Al Pacino, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern, Lena Dunham, the late Luke Perry and Emile Hirsch.

Here’s a glimpse of the trailer out this week.