Maps of Movies

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Where Catch Me If You Can says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A con man's chase across continents, filmed on stand-in locations from Los Angeles to Quebec City, with Montreal as the final shooting stop

Scenes and places

The prison in Marseille

FBI agent Carl Hanratty arrives in Marseille in 1969 to pick up prisoner Frank Abagnale Jr., who has fallen ill from the prison's poor conditions. The film then tells how Frank got there in a flashback.

Set in Baumettes Prison, Marseille — The French prison where agent Carl Hanratty comes in 1969 to collect the sick prisoner Frank Abagnale Jr. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The family home in New Rochelle

Frank grows up in New Rochelle in 1963, watching his father's many techniques for conning people. Frank Sr.'s tax problems with the IRS eventually push the family out of their house and into a small apartment.

Set in New Rochelle, New York — The New York suburb where young Frank lives with his parents in 1963, watching his father's cons, until tax trouble forces the family into a small apartment. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Park Avenue, Manhattan

Set in Park Avenue, Manhattan — Manhattan street stand-in for the film's New York scenes; which scene it matches is an estimate. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The avenue runs through Midtown Manhattan, and the Waldorf Astoria on it is a landmark hotel.

Filmed at Park Avenue outside the Waldorf Astoria — Filming ran April 25 to 30 on Park Avenue, just outside the Waldorf-Astoria. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The Pan Am payroll forgeries

Frank poses as a Pan Am pilot named Frank Taylor and forges payroll checks from Pan Am. His forgeries soon add up to millions of dollars.

Set in Pan Am payroll forgeries — Frank poses as Pan Am pilot Frank Taylor and forges payroll checks from the airline; the film does not tie it to one named place.

Filmed at Ambassador Hotel (former building), Los Angeles — The hotel's article lists the film among productions shot here; which scene was filmed here rests on one film blog. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The motel and the fake Secret Service agent

Carl finds Frank at a motel, but Frank tricks him into believing he is a Secret Service agent named Barry Allen. He escapes before Carl realizes the deception.

Set in A motel — Carl catches up with Frank at a motel; Frank talks his way out by posing as a Secret Service agent.

Filmed at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles — The hotel entrance is reported as the motel entrance; the hotel's article names the film, the scene match rests on one film blog. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The bank check scam

Frank's cons grow bolder and he cashes forged checks across the country.

Set in A bank — One of Frank's check scams at a bank; the film's bank is not named in the sources used.

Filmed at Union Station, Los Angeles — Reported as the bank location by one film blog; the station's own article does not mention the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Brenda's engagement party

Posing as Dr. Frank Conners, Frank falls for Brenda, a naive young hospital nurse, and asks her attorney father for her hand and help with the Louisiana State Bar exam. Carl tracks him to the engagement party, but Frank escapes through a bedroom window.

Set in The home of Brenda's family — Frank, now posing as Dr. Frank Conners, gets engaged to hospital nurse Brenda; Carl tracks him to the party.

Miami International Airport

At the airport Frank spots Brenda but also plainclothes agents. He realizes she has been followed and drives away, then escapes the agents on a flight to Madrid.

Set in Miami International Airport — Where Frank told Brenda to meet him; he spots plainclothes agents and drives away. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Miami International is a major hub for flights to Latin America and Europe.

Filmed at Ontario International Airport, California — Stood in for Miami International Airport. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Montrichard, France

In 1967 Carl tracks Frank down in his mother's hometown and convinces him to surrender to the French police. Frank is arrested and taken into custody, but Carl assures him he will be extradited to the U.S.

Set in Montrichard, France — Frank's mother's hometown, where Carl tracks him down in 1967. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The film was shot in Quebec City, chosen for its atmosphere.

Filmed at Place Royale, Quebec City — Old Quebec's Place Royale stands in for Montrichard. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, Quebec City — The church in the background of the arrest scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Bank and courthouse scenes in the U.S.

Set in A bank and courthouse in the U.S. — Later scenes in the U.S. involve a bank and a courthouse; the sources do not name the buildings.

Filmed at Brooklyn, New York — Production returned to Brooklyn for bank and courthouse scenes; the buildings are not named. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The TWA terminal at JFK

Set in An airport — An airport scene whose place in the story is an estimate.

The 1962 terminal by Eero Saarinen is known for its sweeping curved roof.

Filmed at TWA Flight Center, JFK Airport — The headhouse was used for filming. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• Frank Abagnale Jr. — A teenager who runs away and cons his way through false identities.
• Carl Hanratty — The FBI agent who tracks Frank across years and countries.
• Brenda Strong — A young hospital nurse Frank falls in love with.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was the French village in Catch Me If You Can really filmed?
• Which California airport played Miami in Catch Me If You Can?