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The definitive Departed filming guide for Boston

By Tom Acitelli
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By Tom Acitelli
5 comments / new

It's been nearly a decade since The Departed racked up Best Picture and Best Director Oscars, but the film remains the finest one set in Boston in the 21st century (sorry, Ted).

Martin Scorsese's suspenseful portrait of two moles, one for the mob (played by Matt Damon), one for the staties (Leonardo DiCaprio), drank in the city's skyline, waterfront and architecture like few before or since (sorry, Ted).

Yes, a lot of the movie, which also starred the Red Line, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin, was shot in New York City; but a ton was shot right here.

Herewith, then, 12 spots around the city to return to for The Departed.

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120 Tremont Street

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Matt Damon's fabulous apartment in the film is actually the top floor of the library at Suffolk University Law School. (In a bit of an ironic twist, his character was a student there.) It's also where Marky Mark clips him at the end.
120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108

12 Farnsworth Street

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The rooftop here was used for two different scenes: When Leonardo DiCaprio meets with Martin Sheen; and when DiCaprio confronts Matt Damon.
12 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210

Charles Street Cleaners

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It was here, in a Charles Street Cleaners made over to look like a bistro, that Jack Nicholson and Ray Winstone thoroughly freaked out Leonardo DiCaprio.
17 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114

Long Wharf

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Here's where Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg confronted Jack Nicholson and vice versa. It's a mob flick: There have to be dockside scenes.
1-65 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02109

Flagship Wharf

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This is where Jack Nicholson takes the wedding ring off a severed hand and Leonardo DiCaprio is none too reassured.
197 8th Street, Boston, MA 02129

Chinatown

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Leonardo DiCaprio chases Matt Damon through Chinatown, mostly down Tyler Street.
Kneeland Street & Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111

Charles F. Hurley Building

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The exterior of this state government building was used for the exterior of Mass. State Police HQ.
19 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse

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Leonardo DiCaprio makes a phone call from outside the federal courthouse.
Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 261-2440
(617) 261-2440

Boston Common

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The opening rugby scene was filmed at the Common.
Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 635-4505
(617) 635-4505

Also featured in:

South Station

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Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Sheen get on the Red Line here and the train is oddly efficient.
700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111

90 Merrimac Street

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Vera Farmiga (the shrink) awaits Leonardo DiCaprio outside this address.
90 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114

Mary Ellen McCormack Housing

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This affordable-housing site was used as the backdrop for the drive-by with Jack Nicholson and Ray Winstone as Matt Damon investigates a recent murder.
10 Kemp Street, Boston, MA 02127

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120 Tremont Street

120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
Matt Damon's fabulous apartment in the film is actually the top floor of the library at Suffolk University Law School. (In a bit of an ironic twist, his character was a student there.) It's also where Marky Mark clips him at the end.
120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108

12 Farnsworth Street

12 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210
The rooftop here was used for two different scenes: When Leonardo DiCaprio meets with Martin Sheen; and when DiCaprio confronts Matt Damon.
12 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210

Charles Street Cleaners

17 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
It was here, in a Charles Street Cleaners made over to look like a bistro, that Jack Nicholson and Ray Winstone thoroughly freaked out Leonardo DiCaprio.
17 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114

Long Wharf

1-65 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02109
Here's where Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg confronted Jack Nicholson and vice versa. It's a mob flick: There have to be dockside scenes.
1-65 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02109

Flagship Wharf

197 8th Street, Boston, MA 02129
This is where Jack Nicholson takes the wedding ring off a severed hand and Leonardo DiCaprio is none too reassured.
197 8th Street, Boston, MA 02129

Chinatown

Kneeland Street & Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111
Leonardo DiCaprio chases Matt Damon through Chinatown, mostly down Tyler Street.
Kneeland Street & Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111

Charles F. Hurley Building

19 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114
The exterior of this state government building was used for the exterior of Mass. State Police HQ.
19 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse

Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
Leonardo DiCaprio makes a phone call from outside the federal courthouse.
Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 261-2440
(617) 261-2440

Boston Common

Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
The opening rugby scene was filmed at the Common.
Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 635-4505
(617) 635-4505

South Station

700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Sheen get on the Red Line here and the train is oddly efficient.
700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111

90 Merrimac Street

90 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114
Vera Farmiga (the shrink) awaits Leonardo DiCaprio outside this address.
90 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114

Mary Ellen McCormack Housing

10 Kemp Street, Boston, MA 02127
This affordable-housing site was used as the backdrop for the drive-by with Jack Nicholson and Ray Winstone as Matt Damon investigates a recent murder.
10 Kemp Street, Boston, MA 02127