(Above) Marina City’s Smith & Wollensky is the setting for this scene from The Dilemma, starring Jennifer Connelly, Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Winona Ryder. In background at left is the State Street Bridge. Photo by Chuck Hodes. Click on image to view larger version. (Below) The reverse angle that night from the bridge.

January 7, 2011 – Marina City’s upscale Smith & Wollensky restaurant not only made the cut but is in the opening scene of a movie by Ron Howard that will be released next week.

Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, saw the world premier of The Dilemma at a private showing on Thursday and confirmed the restaurant is in the opening scene. Regina Arendt, Smith & Wollensky’s General Manager, says Howard himself told her they would be in the opening scene.

A film crew was at Marina City on May 25, 2010. A scene was filmed on the lower level of the restaurant, overlooking the Chicago River. Filming continued at other locations in Chicago until August.

According to a publicist for the film, the Marina City scene was the first scene shot for the movie.

The film is about two friends, Ronny (played by Vince Vaughn), Nick (Kevin James), and Geneva (Winona Ryder). Ronny’s world, according to Universal Pictures, “is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves into mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own.”

The official release date is January 14.

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