Harvard and Hollywood Just Don't Get Along

Anticipating the upcoming release of "The Social Network," The Boston Globe reviewed Harvard's relationship with Hollywood, finding that while many movies purport to be at Harvard, few actually make it within the gates.

In light of the release of the movie Friday and the publication of the article, we thought we'd take a look at a little bit of the history of America’s oldest university and the various issues it’s had with Tinseltown over the years.

Love Story (1970) – The classic tale of dumb rich Harvard jock falls for smart scholarship Radcliffe girl, "Love Story"—written by Erich W. Segal ’58—was essentially the last movie to include full footage of the Harvard campus.

A Small Circle of Friends (1980) – Although director Ben Cohen did sneak onto campus for footage, the majority of this film about three students at Harvard in the 1960s was shot at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass.

The Bostonians (1984) – As an adaptation of the Henry James short story, this film, a period piece, used exterior shots of Memorial Hall, as well as other Victorian-looking places in Boston.

Soul Man (1986) – The story of a wealthy California kid who, after his father cuts him off, pretends to be black in order to receive an Harvard Law School scholarship reserved for African-Americans, "Soul Man" has few bits of actual footage beside the requisite panorama shots of Harvard Square.

The Firm (1993) – Tom Cruise’s character is about to graduate from Harvard Law School, but the University passed on allowing this Sydney Pollack film to be filmed on campus.

Harvard Man (2001) – Although this movie’s about the point guard on the Harvard basketball team getting mixed up with organized crime through his girlfriend (Sarah Michelle Gellar!), there’s also little actual footage of campus aside from street shots in the square.

Legally Blonde (2001) – Although Elle Woods won a place at Harvard Law School, the camera crews for this blockbuster film did not. A majority of the campus scenes were shot at the University of Southern California, where fall foliage was imported to simulate the New England feel.

The Great Debaters (2007) – The culminating debate in this film actually does take place in Sanders Theatre. This does not violate the policy, according to Harvard spokesman Kevin Galvin, who told The Boston Globe that the theater is normally rented out as a concert hall and used for presentations.

Photo courtesy of Owen Renn/Creative Commons.