CENTERED PHOTO
SPACE
Fans of "The Money Pit" will recognize this facade instantly. The Money Pit House was built in the Federal style for H. W. Warner (listing says 1898, articles say 1906). William McNair bought the house and named it Northway. Eric Riddler Sr., a publisher and gold medal winner of the American yachting team in 1952, was the owner of the house when "The Money Pit" was filmed in 1985. Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, producers of "The Money Pit" needed to find a real life mansion whose owners would consent to partial demolition for shooting exteriors for the film. At the time they were scouting locations, Northway was on the market. When Mrs. Ritter was shocked at the sight of her home semi-demolished, the movie's director, Richard Benjamin persuaded her to appear in the closing scene of the movie, after the home was fully restored by the production.
Below I have included the movie trailer and behind the scenes form the movie, as well as a property video. You will notice many differences. The back has been modified and the grounds updated. The interiors were filmed on a soundstage, although the production did maintain the colonial layout.
LISTING DETAILS
A
1/4 Mile spectacular gated drive introduces "Northway", a stately estate home, lovingly and meticulously restored to modern turnkey eminence. Elaborate moldings, 8 fireplaces and ebony wood floors enrich baronial principal rooms, 7 generous bedroom suites and an opulent 4 room master suite. Paradise found on the brick veranda or in the formal gardens. 6 Car-Garage.
FOR SALE $5,900,000
199 Feeks Ln, Locust Valley, NY 11560
8 beds | 8 Full/2 Half baths | 14,000 sqft | 5.53 acres
LINKS:
Listing Agent, Zillow, Realtor, Property Video, New York Times Article about the Renovation, Zillow Article about the renovation, The Making of The Money Pit, New Milford Original "Dream House", Ottowa Hills "Dream House" (Ohio - Replica),
"The Money Pit" Movie Trailer
The Making Of "The Money Pit"
Property Video
Featured Photos
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| Semi-Demolished look from "The Money Pit" |
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| Tom Hanks in "The Money Pit" |
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| The Back of the House in "The Money Pit" |
Fun fact: Did you know "The Money Pit" is a remake? Did you also know that it's based on the story of a real renovation?
This story of an insanely expensive and drawn out renovation for the love of an old house has been made into several films, radio plays and a radio series over the past nearly 70 years, but it began as a magazine article, Mr. Blandings Builds his Castle, which appeared in the April 1948 issue of Fortune. Later that year, the article's author, Eric Hodgins, released his book "Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House", which is based on his own old home renovation experience in New Milford, Connecticut. The screen rights to the novel were immediately picked up by RKO Pictures. Fans of old, black and white films might remember, "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. The film is about a Manhattan Ad Executive and his family who feel crowded in their New York City apartment and seek a larger home in the suburbs. In the film version, after purchasing the house, the Blandings' discover that the home is unstable and needs to be demolished, so they build a new home on the land. The difference between Hodgins' real experience and what happens in the book and movie is that he built another house, but left the old house standing. Also, spoiler alert, in the movie, the Blandings overcome the financial barriers to the build and move into the house. On the brink of bankruptcy, Hodgins was forced to sell his house and although, after the success of his book and the movie, he hoped to buy the house back, was never able. In 1939, Hodgins original budget for renovations was $11,000 (which today would be $193,217.61, adjusted for inflation). His actual build cost was $56,000 ($983,653.27). He sold the home for $38,000 ($667,479.01). In 2004, the home sold for $1.2 million.
The second remake of Mr. Blandings was Sweden's Drömkåken (1993) and the third, which was the second Hollywood remake, was Are We Done Yet? (2007) starring Ice Cube.
With so much information on Mr. Blandings out there, I will probably expand on this post with information on the inspiration home in Connecticut, the set home in California and the subsequent promotional homes around the country in a future post.
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