Maps of Movies

Doubt (2008)

Where Doubt says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Bronx parish school in 1964, filmed partly in Manhattan's Greenwich Village and a Riverdale college

Scenes and places

Father Flynn's sermon on doubt (1964)

Father Flynn opens the film with a sermon on doubt, set in 1964. His words about carrying a private worry alone give the story its theme.

Set in St. Nicholas Church, the Bronx — Morning mass at the parish church, where Father Flynn preaches about what to do when you are not sure.

The parish church of the film's fictional St. Nicholas parish; the sources name no filming location for it.

The schoolyard (1964)

Sister Aloysius, the strict principal, keeps watch over the school grounds, noticing every boy and every adult near him. Her suspicion starts here.

Set in St. Nicholas School, the Bronx — The school yard and exterior of the parish school.

The film's school is modeled on a real Bronx parish school whose exterior is used.

Filmed at St. Anthony's School, Bronx — The school exterior used in the film. The coordinate is that of St. Anthony's church, not the school building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Sister James's classroom (1964)

Sister James teaches while Donald Miller is sent to the principal's office, and the lockers become part of the principal's case. The gentle young teacher is pulled between kindness and Aloysius's suspicion.

Set in Classroom, St. Nicholas School — Sister James teaches her class; a boy is sent down from lessons and a locker turns up something that worries the principal.

Classroom scenes are spread across two real schools, one in the Bronx and one in Manhattan.

Filmed at St. Anthony's Catholic School, Bronx — Wikipedia says St. Anthony's Catholic School in the Bronx and St. Luke's School in Manhattan both feature heavily; it does not say which rooms are which. The coordinate is St. Anthony's church. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The rectory (1964)

Father Flynn calls Donald Miller to the rectory, and what happened there becomes the question the film keeps asking. Sister James notices the boy afterwards and cannot stop thinking about it.

Set in The rectory, St. Nicholas — The priests' residence beside the church, where Father Flynn calls Donald Miller.

The priests' house of the fictional parish; no filming location is given in the sources.

The principal's office (1964)

Sister Aloysius quizzes Sister James about the boy and about Father Flynn, and turns a nervous remark into an accusation she will not let go. She decides to act.

Set in Principal's office, St. Nicholas School — Sister Aloysius questions the teachers in her office.

The school's office, home of the principal's authority; no filming location is given in the sources.

Aloysius walks with Mrs. Miller (1964)

Sister Aloysius tells Donald's mother she is worried about his bond with Father Flynn. Mrs. Miller answers that all she wants is for her son to get through to June.

Set in Behind the school, the Bronx — Sister Aloysius walks with Donald's mother behind the school building and tells her what she fears.

A residential stretch of the Parkchester housing complex in the Bronx.

Filmed at Parkchester, the Bronx (behind 2051 St. Raymond Avenue) — Wikipedia's Parkchester page says Aloysius and Mrs. Miller walk behind the building at 2051 St. Raymond Avenue. The coordinate is the neighbourhood, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The school chapel (1964)

Characters gather in the school's chapel, where faith and the question of certainty sit at the centre of the story.

Set in School chapel, St. Nicholas — A chapel inside the school building.

A college chapel in Riverdale stands in for the school's own.

Filmed at College of Mount Saint Vincent, Founders Hall chapel, Riverdale — Wikipedia gives the second-floor chapel of Founders Hall at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. The coordinate is the campus. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The garden (1964)

In the garden the two sides of the argument face each other, and each defends why they believe what they believe. The film keeps open who is right.

Set in Garden, St. Nicholas — The garden between the church and the school.

A Greenwich Village church garden plays the school's Bronx garden.

Filmed at Church of St. Luke in the Fields garden, Greenwich Village, Manhattan — The church garden on Hudson Street was a filming location; the Bronx story is shot in Manhattan here. The coordinate is the church. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn — A neighbourhood street scene; Wikipedia lists the location but does not say which scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Sister Aloysius — The strict principal of St. Nicholas School.
• Father Flynn — The parish priest.
• Sister James — A young teacher.
• Mrs. Miller — Mother of Donald Miller.