Maps of Movies
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
Where Cast a Giant Shadow says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A New York lawyer becomes Israel's first general, and the Battle of Jerusalem was filmed in Italy
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Scenes and places
The Haganah recruiter at Macy's (1948)
Colonel Marcus, a New York lawyer fresh out of uniform, is cornered by Major Safir of the Haganah. Safir asks him to train an army that barely exists.
Set in Macy's Herald Square, New York — Major Safir approaches Colonel Marcus, a New York lawyer, and asks him to help the new state's army. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Macy's flagship department store at Herald Square in Midtown Manhattan.
Filmed at Macy's Herald Square (Manhattan · Herald Square, New York, United States) — Wikipedia says Macy's Herald Square was shown in the film; it does not say which scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The Pentagon says no (1948)
Marcus asks his old commander for leave to go. He is refused, unless he travels as a civilian.
Set in The Pentagon, Washington — A general refuses to lend a reserve officer to a country expected to be overrun. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The headquarters of the US Department of Defense, just outside Washington.
Arrival as Michael Stone (1948)
Marcus faces an immigration officer as Michael Stone. A Haganah member greets him like an old friend and takes him in.
Set in Arrival in Palestine — Marcus lands under the false name Michael Stone and is met by a woman he must pretend to know.
The film does not name the port or airport in the sources used here.
Illegal refugees come ashore (1948)
Marcus helps refugees get ashore as British troops move on the beach. The effort wins over soldiers who had doubted him.
Set in Palmahim Beach — A ship of refugees reaches the shore while British troops head for the beach. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A beach on the Mediterranean coast south of Tel Aviv.
Filmed at Palmachim — Wikipedia lists Palmachim as a place where shooting took place; the script names Palmahim Beach as the landing area, but no source ties the two scenes together. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Commando raid on an arms dump (1948)
Marcus leads a commando raid on an Arab arms dump. The soldiers who distrusted him begin to accept him.
Set in Arab arms dump — Marcus leads a commando raid on a store of weapons.
The sources used here do not say where the arms dump was.
Home to New York (1948)
Marcus returns to New York after writing training manuals. His wife Emma tells him of the loss she went through while he was away.
Set in Marcus's home, Brooklyn — Marcus returns to his wife Emma, who has suffered a miscarriage. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Brooklyn, the borough where Marcus's real house stood. The coordinates are the borough centre.
Command of the Jerusalem front (1948)
Marcus is handed unified command of the Jerusalem front with a rank not used since biblical days. He protests that it comes too late to prepare.
Set in Jerusalem front — Marcus is given command of all forces on the Jerusalem front with the biblical rank of Aluf. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The old capital, under siege in the film's war.
Filmed at Jerusalem — Wikipedia lists Jerusalem among the places where shooting took place; no particular spot is given. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The Burma Road bypass (1948)
Marcus oversees a road bypassing Latrun so that convoys can reach Jerusalem. UN observers come to see whether it is passable.
Set in Burma Road — A bypass built to get convoys past Latrun into besieged Jerusalem. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A real wartime road in the Judean foothills that bypassed the Latrun police fort.
The battle for besieged Jerusalem (1948)
Marcus's untrained troops fight to keep Jerusalem alive. The battle scenes are not in Jerusalem at all.
Set in Besieged Jerusalem — Fighting for a city cut off from supplies. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A hill city whose siege drives the film's last act.
Filmed at Alban Hills, Frascati (Alban Hills, Frascati, Italy) — Wikipedia says the Battle of Jerusalem scenes were shot in the Alban Hills at Frascati, near Rome. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Negev — Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Nazareth — Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Galilee — Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Cinecittà Studios, Rome — Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Mickey Marcus — A New York lawyer and US Army reserve colonel who goes to Israel to help build an army.
- Magda Simon — A Haganah member who meets Marcus on arrival and helps him settle in.
- Emma Marcus — Marcus's wife in New York.