Where Was On Golden Pond Filmed? Oscar-Winning Drama From 1981!!

If you’re looking for a classic Katharine Hepburn film, then you’ve come to the right place, guys! Today I am going to give you a brief overview of an intense drama film, On Golden Pond, starring Katharine Hepburn alongside Henry Fonda and also let you in on where was On Golden Pond filmed.

The American romantic-drama film, On Golden Pond released in 1981 was inspired by a play by Earnest Thompson, staged 2 years prior to the film. Director Mark Rydell, in his rendition of the film, slightly deviated from the original story and added a few unique elements to make the premise more captivating. The story of On Golden Pond is centered around the members of the Thayer family, as they rediscover the strained family relationship. 

On Golden Pond received a number of nominations and went on to win 14 prestigious awards, including 3 Oscars. This family-drama film exceeded the expectations of the makers, commercially as well. On Golden Pond grossed over $119 million in total box office collections against the production budget of $15 million. 

Now, before I acquaint you with the plot of this heart-warming film, let’s explore where was On Golden Pond filmed. So that you can analyze the filming locations up close.

Where Was On Golden Pond Filmed? Let’s Know This Intense Drama Film Closely!

The makers of On Golden Pond initially desired to shoot the film in and around the southern state of Alabama in America. However, after Mark Rydell joined the project, he visited the potential filming locations, during the stages of pre-production. But unfortunately, the director wasn’t satisfied with the appearance of the overall setting. Thus, after much debate, the production members finally agreed to film on location.

Potential shooting sites around the New England region of America were scouted, but thankfully this time around Rydell approved the locations and prepared for shooting. The principal photography began in July 1980 and was completed by the final week of September, in the same year. Important to mention that, the majority of the outdoor sequences were filmed around the state of New Hampshire, as the director only wanted to shoot on location.

However, a few interior sequences were later filmed in California, inside a well-equipped studio, before the post-production began. So without waiting any longer, let’s discuss in detail, where was On Golden Pond filmed, and find out more intriguing facts about the specific shooting sites.

New Hampshire | USA

The opening scene of the movie, where we see Norman and Ethel moving to their summer cottage, was actually filmed near the Lake Region, specifically around Squam Lake. This beautiful lake is situated on the foothills of the White Mountains and offers a stunning and picturesque background. The production member constructed a make-believe wooden cottage from scratch, which was later used for capturing the exterior scenes of Thayers’ family vacation home. 

Special cameras with wide-angle lenses were mounted on a small boat, for capturing the beautiful exterior shots of Squam Lake, which Norman described as the “Golden Pond” in the film. The filming crew also had to arrange special lighting equipment to shoot the outdoor scenes during the night. 

However, to film the sequence of the boat race shown in the movie, the production members used a much larger lake. Although, while performing the sequence of the boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee,  a notable actor was injured. Everyone on the set panicked, as the boat overturned and one of the actors got trapped inside it. But luckily the lifeguards present on set, helped the actor to escape. The shooting was paused for a couple of days, as the notable actor requested some time off. After the filming crew resumed shooting and captured the remaining shots, the crew returned back to California.

California | USA

Only a handful of interior sequences were required to be filmed, as the majority of them were already filmed inside the cottage in New Hampshire. However, in order to recreate the remaining scenes, the director used a renowned studio in Los Angeles. Filming lasted for about two and a half weeks in California, after which the crew began working on other areas of post-production.

Now, if you’re all set to make a trip to California in the upcoming days, then you can certainly look up Big Bear Lake, Ventura, Death Valley National Park, Oxnard, Joshua Tree National Park and Solvang. The aforementioned places in California, offer a wide variety of tourist attractions, which I believe you’d definitely enjoy.

Alright guys, so let’s discuss the plot of On Golden Pond so that you can get a fair idea about the basic storyline of this film. Meanwhile, you can check out Connect, Big Mouth and King Richard as well.

Plot Of On Golden Pond | What’s It About

The central story of On Golden Pond is centered around the characters of Norman and Ethel Thayer, an aging couple, who love each other unconditionally. At the very beginning of the movie, the Thayers are shown going for a summer trip to their vacation cottage in New England. The aging couple is soon visited by their young daughter and her fiance, Bill.

Norman, disapproving at first, later welcomed the couple to his home. However, Chelsea and her fiance soon leave for a trip to Europe, letting her son stay with Norman and Ethel. Soon the young lad built up a rapport with the senile and introverted male lead and went on fishing trips. Watch On Golden Pond to witness the heart-touching story of the Thayer’s.

Final Words

Alright amigos, so I hope now you finally know where was On Golden Pond filmed. Let us know if you enjoyed the read, in the comments section below. You can also add the names of your favorite films and shows that you’d want us to cover. That’s all from my side for now, but don’t forget to check out other entertaining articles on Viebly, which are equally intriguing.