52nd City

STL-bound?: "Andy Capp"

Though rumors have been floating around STL filmmaking circles for a few months now, it appears that producers have settled on St. Louis as the primary shooting location for the new, theatrical version of "Andy Capp." The live-action film would chronicle the boozing, North British layabout, who was originally sketched by artist Reg Smythe back in 1953. Since then, the cap-wearing anti-hero has been known to cartoon-page afficianados throughout the British Isles and North America, primarily for his antics in escapting work and the wrath (and rolling pin) of his wife, Flo, all the while taking part in epic benders at the local pub.

Though pre-production work remains somewhat mum, several actors have been linked to the project, for the titular role, including Colin Firth, an interesting choice in that the film would seemingly be "Americanized," what with the St. Louis shooting locales.

Location scouts have quietly turned up throughout several St. Louis neighborhoods recently, attempting to find both appropriate bar settings and streetscapes, as well as warehouses which could be retrofitted to accomodate sets. (Says here that Foley's Bar, in Maplewood, would offer some outstanding "color," as would more obvious picks, like O'Connell's Pub.) Old North St. Louis and the warehouse district of North Broadway have particularly been the target of scouts' eyes, according to film moles. Prop scouts have also been contacting local collectors of antique and period vehicles.

For aspiring local thespians, get those head shots ready and pefect that guttersnipe accent, just in case. Cool.