Despite being 2,000 miles from Hollywood, Notre Dame is no stranger to filmmaking, with University administration granting campus access for two movies: “Knute Rockne, All American” (1940) and “Rudy” (1993). These films are beloved by students and Irish fans alike, but where on campus did the camera roll?
The theatrical trailer for “Knute Rockne, All American” proudly proclaims being “Authentically filmed at the scene of the ‘Rock’s’ mightiest triumphs!” On-campus filming occurred in fall 1939 and crews were careful to show only buildings around in Rockne’s day. Campus’s film debut is a wide shot of God Quad, capturing the Main Building, the Basilica and Washington Hall. Much of the quad is similar to how it looks today, excluding slight sidewalk and foliage changes. Rockne’s (Pat O’Brien) first on-screen campus appearance is at the Fr. Sorin statue at the end of God Quad.
During a montage showing his student career, Rockne studies in front of the St. Edward statue on the quad between Cavanaugh, Zahm and St. Ed’s. This spot still proves to be a popular study locale for students living in these dorms. Interestingly, the statue’s orientation has changed from looking west in 1940 to now facing south.
In addition to being a football coach, Rockne was trained in chemistry. Crowley Hall gets a quick feature in the film during an establishing shot as the building where Rockne gives a chemistry lecture.
The final shot of “Rockne” showcases the Knute Rockne Memorial Gymnasium at the end of South Quad. Dubbed by students “The Rock,” the gymnasium’s exterior has barely changed since 1939. Inside is a bronze bust of Rockne; his nose is traditionally rubbed by students for good luck before an exam or, during football weekends, by fans for victory.
“Rudy” is a football season staple: It is shown in the football stadium yearly and the sounds of Jerry Goldsmith’s score continually fill campus. When Rudy (Sean Astin) leaves Joliet for Notre Dame, he enters campus via a peculiar route: around St. Mary’s Lake. It’s understandable why the filmmakers chose this: for a brilliant view and a reveal of the Dome. To recreate this shot, place a camera on Holy Cross Hill. Now, if you are looking for the gate he enters through, it is worth noting that the gatehouse and sign he passes were a set created for the movie.
In the film, Rudy studies at Holy Cross College, but the sequences set there were filmed in Notre Dame’s O’Shaughnessy Hall. The lecture scene where Rudy meets TA and friend D-Bob (Jon Favreau) was shot in classroom 118. The hallways today look fairly similar to how they do in the film with one major exception: the mailroom where Rudy gets his acceptance letter has been removed.
Lyons Hall, the only dorm featured in “Rudy,” and its arch are the backdrop for several clips of Rudy trying to find D-Bob a date. Campus legend says a couple who walks around the lakes holding hands and kisses under the arch will get married. Hesburgh Library is shown in the film several times, but a replicable shot is when Rudy, during the montage, sits at the bottom left corner of the reflecting pool wall talking to classmates. In one scene, Rudy and D-Bob eat in the west dining room of South Dining Hall and D-Bob meets his soon-to-be-girlfriend. For those wanting to sit at their table, begin at the high table, go three rows back and find the center column of tables.
If you ever wondered what dorm Rudy lives in during the film, it’s Moreau Seminary, just off St. Joseph’s Lake. The famous scene when Rudy opens his acceptance letter happens on a bench in front of Moreau. While the bench does not exist today, one fairly close in location can be found immediately west of the flagpole next to the seminary.
Several locations are shared between both films, most notably Notre Dame Stadium. “Rudy” spends significant time on the field and provides glimpses of the locker room and the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign. The game where Rudy plays (Notre Dame against Georgia Tech) was shot during the Boston College game at halftime on November 7, 1992. “Rockne,” however, shows actual archival game-play footage. The stadium has changed significantly since both films, featuring new additions from the Campus Crossroads project, but the field and spirit are still the same.
Both movies filmed at old Corby Hall, which was demolished in 2018. Rockne historically lived in Corby while studying at Notre Dame. In the film, Rockne, on his first day, is seen entering the building via the front porch and stairs. 53 years later, Rudy, upon his own campus arrival, followed in the coach’s footsteps, walking up the steps to Corby for his meeting with Fr. Cavanaugh.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the spiritual heart of Notre Dame, so it fits that both filmed inside. Across the movies, it’s fascinating to see the changes over the years. Coach Rockne’s funeral occurred in the Basilica (then Sacred Heart Church) on April 4, 1931, and the film recreates this. In “Rudy,” Rudy prays in the Basilica for his acceptance to Notre Dame. Fr. Cavanaugh, who talks with Fr. Hesburgh in a cameo appearance, notices Rudy and sits with him, providing comforting words. Should you want to sit in Rudy’s pew for Mass, he sat on the east side of the main nave, second row from the front, two seats in. Another faith-related moment is Rudy at the Grotto: he prays just to the right of the plaque at the center of the kneeler.
It is worth mentioning that a third film, “The Spirit of Notre Dame” (1931), is set at the University; however, it was made on replica sets in Hollywood and no photography, except for b-roll, was filmed on campus.
