Cape Girardeau portrays a suffering town in movie

When viewers take their theater seats to watch the feature film "Gone Girl," which premiered during a special Thursday night showing, they are first treated to an ominous shot of a foggy Mississippi River.

Cape Girardeau's floodwall makes a quick appearance before the film kicks into a montage of the city. Broadway and Spanish streets are shown in the film's initial moments, followed by a rush of homes -- some with cheerful gardens and others barren with overgrown weeds, sporting "For Sale" signs. The iconic downtown clock also gets a little attention.

The first time viewers get a longer look of Cape Girardeau comes when Ben Affleck -- playing main character Nick Dunne -- makes his way to The Bar on Spanish and Themis streets. The camera slides along past the building and pauses on a group of homeless people making their way across a nearby intersection.

Toward the middle of the film, scenes cut back and forth between Missouri and New York, where Nick and Amy Dunne -- played by Rosamund Pike -- lived before moving to Nick's hometown of North Carthage in the Show Me State. Once the Dunnes are established in their new home and the story line of Amy's disappearance takes off, the most heavily featured locations are private homes on Keystone Drive, Albert Rasche Drive and Ranney Avenue. They serve, respectively, as the homes of Nick, his sister, Margo, and his father.

Nick's home on Keystone Drive is well-manicured and sunny, if constantly covered with paparazzi. Many shots of Cape Girardeau come across as quaint rather than shabby. Outdoor scenes are abundant, showing off the city's appealing natural aesthetics. The Mississippi River is shown frequently enough to nearly be considered a secondary character. The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge can be seen in the background of many a shot, glowing in nighttime scenes.

Despite its consistent presence, the river isn't always depicted admirably. In one scene in which search parties have gathered to look for Amy, her mother -- played by Lisa Banes -- says "this place truly smells like feces."

Ultimately, the city seems to have been the filming location for some of the movie's most critical scenes. A call center to take tips relating to Amy's disappearance is set up at Drury Lodge, which also features Mayor Harry Rediger and Convention and Visitor's Bureau executive director Chuck Martin as extras seen shaking Nick's hand.

The old federal building on Broadway serves as the North Carthage Police Station, a place frequently visited by Affleck's character. Nearby, the Common Pleas Courthouse lawn and gazebo set the scene for a candlelight vigil held in Amy's honor. The scene features dozens of local extras, a brief monologue by Nick and a surprising revelation that changes the tone of the rest of the film.

Rhodes 101 on South Sprigg Street also makes a quick appearance, and Andy's Frozen Custard on Kingshighway is shown in a still photo of Amy.

While many of the local filming locations are easy to spot, those attending to look for themselves, friends or family may still want to catch a second viewing to pick up on some of the faster-moving scenes.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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