Lights, camera ... Tallahassee. Movies love this city | Mark Hinson

In the new road pic “Drive-Away Dolls” by director Ethan Coen (yes, one of the Coen Brothers flying solo), two young women take off on an impromptu trip to Tallahassee. Of course, they pick up the wrong rental car at the agency in Pennsylvania and hoods are soon on their tracks to retrieve a briefcase. Look for the pursuit in theaters Feb. 23.

With “Drive-Away Dolls” on the horizon, now is the time to list a baker’s dozen movies in which screenwriters and filmmakers namechecked Tallahassee.

Sure, musicians have dropped the name Tallahassee for years in songs because, well, it has a musical lilt and is so easy to rhyme (“Tallahassee Lassie,” anybody?).

The long list includes Bing Crosby, Aerosmith, The Mountain Goats, Notorious B.I.G., Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Freddy Cannon, The Rolling Stones, Tallahassee Tight and T-Pain. Even the “T” in T-Pain stands for Tallahassee because the rapper grew up near the FAMU campus.

TV shows have had a field day dropping Tallahassee into the mix. Thank you “The West Wing,” “30 Rock,” “Lost,” “The Office,” “Dexter,” “Alf,” “The X-Files.” “Last Man Standing” and umpteen late-night chat shows.

Musicians: Hit parade: A roll call of musical artists who hit the big time with Tallahassee ties | TLH200

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. shares some hilarious stories about Tallahassee during his college days as a student at FAMU on “Is This Really Happening,” shown on Comedy Central. There’s even a cop show called “Tallahassee 7000” from the early ‘60s starring Walter Matthau.

Oscar shorts: Quiet violence of Oscars' best animated shorts accentuates vulnerability

But today, the subject is movies. Here are the flicks that standout:

'Zombieland' (2009)

In the zombie-apocalypse comedy one of the lead characters is named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), who hails from the Florida capital city. He also harbors a sweet tooth for Twinkies. Tallahassee even brains a zombie with a banjo in a grocery store on his quest to find a Twinkie. Of course, most of the movie was shot in Georgia and nearby Wild Adventures theme park even makes an appearance. Tallahassee returns for more zombie-whacking in the sequel “Zombieland: Double Tap” (2019).

'Dolemite is My Name' (2019)

Eddie Murphy gloriously struts back into adult comedy by playing the title role in this hootfest based on stand-up Rudy Ray Moore, aka Dolemite. In the film, Dolemite is out on the road and stops to play at a club in Tallahassee. Grammy Award-winner Bobby Rush guest stars as the emcee who introduces Dolemite to the stage.

Rush sings “I Ain’t Studdin’ You” and then holds the microphone to the gyrating backside of a female back-up dancer. Dolemite/Murphy quips, “The microphone smells like a--.” Later, in the bar of the Tallahassee club, Dolemite meets and enlists Queen Bee to perform as his opening act and become part of his entourage.

The next day, Dolemite takes a phone call in a motel “outside of Tallahassee” to find out his debut comedy album is climbing the charts. The real Dolemite did play here, BTW. So does Rush, who was a guest at last year’s Word of South festival in Cascades Park.

'Sweet Bird of Youth' (1962)

Even great writers such as Tennessee Williams can’t resist the pull of Tallahassee. Geraldine Page plays a boozy movie star on a bender who hooks up with Paul Newman at his most Brad Pitt-pretty prime. Newman, who has served as her driver to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and been her liquor-fetcher, can’t believe she has no memory of him. “All I remember is us driving through a town called Tallahassee,” she says.

'A Mighty Wind' (2003)

In Christopher Guest’s folk-reunion mockumentary, former adult star Laurie Bohner (Jane Lynch) and current husband (John Michael Higgins) undergo an embarrassing interview at The Tallahassee Amusement Park. There is no such theme park but who cares when the movie is such a stitch.

'The Doors' (1991)

Rock star Jim Morrison is one of the most famous students who ever attended Florida State University. He appeared in a promo film, acted in a Harold Pinter play and, what a shock, got arrested while in Tallahassee. When director Oliver Stone made his bio-pic about Morrison (Val Kilmer, who sounds just like The Lizard King) he flubbed the facts. An interviewer-lover (Kathleen Quinlan) says he went to the University of Florida in Gainesville. UF? The Lizard King was no Gator. That’s a no-no in Tallahassee.

'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' (2004)

In this lampoon of on-air inanity in 1970s local news, egotistical news reader Ron Burgundy ends each broadcast with, “Stay classy, San Diego.” When the movie, which became a hit, was advertised in these parts, it came with the catchphrase, “Stay classy, Tallahassee.” That sounds better anyway.

'True Romance' (1993)

The character Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette) says in director Tony Scott’s crime-thriller, “I had to come all the way from the highways and byways of Tallahassee to Motor City, Detroit to find my true love.” Quentin Tarantino wrote that line of dialog.

'The Creature from the Black Lagoon' (1954)

Happy 70th birthday, Gillman. Probably the most recognized film shot at Wakulla Springs and Wakulla River, just south of Tallahassee. Ricou Browning, who performed all the underwater swimming stunts as the Gillman, was a recent Leon High School graduate from Tallahassee at the time. Browning died on Feb. 27, 2023 at his home in Southwest Ranches, northwest of Miami. He was 93.

'The Green Mile' (1999)

According to the heart-wrenching prison drama written by Stephen King, Tallahassee is home to the small-animal tourist attraction known as Mouseville.  Even Tom Hanks plays along with the fake Mouseville idea to placate a death row inmate.

'Recount' (2008)

An HBO flick about the messy Bush-Gore 2000 presidential election that was filmed mostly in Tallahassee, where the mess was hashed out for weeks.

'Manfast' (2003)

A sex-comedy about straight female college students at fictional Tallahassee State University swearing off men for 100 days is written and directed by Tallahassee’s Tara Judelle. Featuring such names as Eve Plumb (“The Brady Bunch”), Bruce Davison (“Willard”), Lin Shaye (“There’s Something About Mary”) and Jeremy Sisto (“Clueless”). Worth a watch also just to see Tallahassee landmarks such as The Old Coke Plant in All Saints Neighborhood and The Office Lounge, long gone now.

Something Wild (1986)

Tallahassee, Havana and Quincy stood in for the rolling hills of New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the sexy and violent road romp directed by Jonathan Demme (“Silence of the Lambs”). Demme made friends in Tallahassee and the Oscar-winner returned often. “I love that Tallahassee,” Demme once said.

Rachel Hendrix (2023)

Acclaimed Tallahassee director Victor Nunez (“Ulee’s Gold,” “Ruby in Paradise”) is behind the lens once again in this tale of a college professor (Lori Singer). Shot on the FSU campus. No word yet on a wide-release date but it’s been making the rounds on the festival circuit.

That’s a wrap … for now.

Mark Hinson is a former senior writer at the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached at [email protected].

Film screening

What: "Ruby in Paradise," a screening of Ashley Judd’s debut film, directed by Victor Nu?ez. The story of a young woman who moves from Tennessee to begin a new life in coastal Florida. Rated R. The screening is followed by a discussion with the director. As part of FSU's Festival of Creative Arts Festival.

When: 6-8:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24

Where: Askew Student Life Center, 942 Learning Way

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee's in the movie spotlight with Drive-Away Dolls' opening