Maps of Movies

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Where Born on the Fourth of July says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Vietnam and Mexico were played by the Philippines, and New York by Dallas.

Scenes and places

Ron's Fourth of July childhood (1956)

Ten-year-old Ron plays war in the woods with his friends. On his birthday, he watches the Independence Day parade with his family and his best friend Donna.

Set in Massapequa, New York — The Long Island town where Ron Kovic grows up. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The recruiters and the prom (1961)

Two Marine recruiters give an impassioned talk, and Ron enlists. At his prom he dances with Donna before leaving for training.

Set in Massapequa High School — Ron's high school in Massapequa; coordinates are those of the town. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The village in South Vietnam (1967)

As a Marine sergeant on his second tour, Ron leads a patrol that goes terribly wrong. The mistake sets the guilt he carries through the rest of the film.

Set in South Vietnam (village) — A village during a combat operation; no specific place is named.

The Bronx Veterans Hospital (1968)

Paralyzed from the chest down, Ron spends months in an understaffed ward. He pushes himself to walk with braces against his doctors' wishes.

Set in Bronx Veterans Hospital, New York — Coordinates are those of the James J. Peters VA Medical Center; that this is the hospital meant is an assumption. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas — Stood in for the Bronx Veterans Hospital. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The parade speech (1969)

Back home in a wheelchair, Ron drinks to cope. Asked to speak at the parade, he cannot finish when a crying baby in the crowd sends him back to Vietnam.

Set in Massapequa, New York — The same Long Island town, now a different homecoming. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Donna and the Syracuse protest (1970)

Ron visits Donna and the two reminisce. At a campus vigil, police arrest Donna and the other protesters and the two are separated.

Set in Syracuse, New York — The upstate university city where Donna studies. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Southern Methodist University, Dallas — Stood in for Syracuse University; single source. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Villa Dulce, the Mexican haven (1970)

Sent away by his father, Ron finds a community of paralyzed veterans. He befriends Charlie, and a night out ends in a roadside fight.

Set in Villa Dulce, Mexico — A haven for wounded Vietnam veterans; no real location is named in the sources.

Venus, Georgia (1971)

Ron travels to confront the guilt he has carried since Vietnam and meets a fallen Marine's family.

Set in Venus, Georgia — Small town in Georgia; no coordinates in the sources.

The 1972 Republican convention (1972)

Now with Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Ron tries to make himself heard as Nixon accepts the nomination. Police move in, and the veterans regroup and charge the hall again.

Set in Miami Beach Convention Center — Coordinates are those of the Miami Beach Convention Center; that this is the exact venue is an assumption. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Dallas Convention Center — Used to re-create the 1972 Republican National Convention. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The 1976 Democratic convention (1976)

Set in Democratic National Convention, New York City — The convention hall in New York City; no exact venue given.

Filmed at The Forum, Inglewood, California — Reshot in July 1989 here; the first shoot was in Dallas. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• Ron Kovic — A Long Island boy who enlists in the Marines and comes home paralyzed.
• Donna — Ron's childhood friend who becomes an anti-war protester.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was the Vietnam in Born on the Fourth of July really filmed?