Residences featured in Robert De Niro movies seem to be having their moment in the real estate spotlight as of late. First, the charming Victorian the legendary actor broke into in the 2015 dramedy “The Intern” hit the market in February for $3.85 million. Then, the sleek modern beach pad he called home in the 1995 action classic “Heat” was listed at just a shot over $21.5 million in April. And now, the stunning lakeside estate where his sculptor character Don Griffin lived in the 2013 comedy “The Big Wedding” is up for grabs!
Not exactly a hit, the Justin Zackham-directed sleeper, which is based upon the 2006 French film “Mon Frère se Marie” (translation – “My Brother Is Getting Married”), centers around Don and his ex-wife Ellie (Diane Keaton), who come together for the first time in 10 years to celebrate the nuptials of their adopted son, Alejandro (Ben Barnes). When it is discovered that Al’s biological mother, the devoutly religious Madonna (Patricia Rae), will also be attending the nuptials and that she considers divorce a sin, the long-estranged couple agrees to pretend to still be married for the duration of the festivities. The only caveat? Don is currently living with his girlfriend, Bebe McBride (Susan Sarandon), aka Ellie’s former best friend, with whom he once had an affair. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
Despite an unbelievable cast of A-listers that, along with De Niro and Keaton, also includes such Hollywood heavyweights as Robin Williams, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried and Topher Grace, “The Big Wedding” proved an all-around disappointment, with Business Insider declaring it “a massive flop.” Critics weren’t any kinder. Joseph Walsh called the flick “pure claw-your-eyes-out cinema,” while Trevor Johnson deemed it “utterly worthless fodder,” and Richard Crouse summarized it as being “as appealing as a cash bar at a wedding.” Ouch! I didn’t find it nearly as offensive. Though not an awards contender by any means, “The Big Wedding” makes for an enjoyable summer stream, largely thanks to its impressive scenery. Shot primarily in Greenwich, Connecticut, the film makes use of several handsome local sites, including Christ Church Greenwich, Burning Tree Country Club and the now-defunct Gabriele’s of Greenwich steakhouse.
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Image Credit: MLS And playing front and center in the storyline is the former marital home of Ellie and Don, a gorgeous lakeside estate where the latter now lives with Bebe. Featuring a multi-peaked roofline and brilliant shingled façade, the Adirondack-style dwelling is just as idyllic in real life as it appeared to be onscreen. Situated at the end of a long driveway on the southern edge of Frye Lake at 314 Stanwich Rd., just 10 minutes from downtown Greenwich, the pad looks straight out of the pages of a home design magazine. (Please remember this is a private house. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.)
And it can now be yours for a cool $8,250,000! Repped by John McAtee of New England Land Company, the property hit the market for the first time in 20 years in mid-June, with the listing fully embracing its cinematic stint!
Originally built in 2004 to replace a smaller, one-story residence that originally stood on the premises, the stately pad was designed by the Haverson Architecture firm (which, coincidentally, was also behind the aforementioned Gabriele’s steakhouse) and boasts four bedrooms and six baths spread throughout two stories and an impressive 7,958 square feet.
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Image Credit: MLS The dwelling is just as gorgeous inside as it is out, with tasteful interiors accented by cedar beamed ceilings, cherry wainscoting and hardwood flooring, and all rooms strategically positioned to take full advantage of the alluring lake views.
The plush but inviting living spaces include a formal dining room, a large living room/sun room with a rock fireplace and wet bar, a family room with a second rock fireplace, two offices lined with built-ins, a den and a partially finished basement.
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Image Credit: MLS A kitchen is said to be the heart of a home and that is definitely the case with 314 Stanwich. Open to most of the other common areas with an expansive island, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, professional appliances, an integrated refrigerator and a butler’s pantry, the sunny enclave was built for gathering.
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Image Credit: MLS All four bedrooms are located upstairs, including the owners’ suite, a glorious oversized affair made complete by vaulted ceilings and French doors leading out to a private deck overlooking the water. The attached bath boasts a spa tub, a dual vanity, a warming towel rack and a plethora of cabinetry.
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Image Credit: MLS The home’s exterior was also fashioned to take full advantage of the waterside location. Boasting 400 feet of lake frontage, the extensive 3.12-acre property features a dock, a large grassy expanse, multiple patios, a built-in BBQ and “exclusive ownership of Jackson’s Island,” a tiny islet situated in the middle of the lake.
There is also a detached three-car garage with an upstairs studio currently outfitted as a gym on the premises.
And virtually all of it appears in “The Big Wedding.”
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Image Credit: MLS The lakeside abode figures prominently in the movie, with nearly all of the action taking place on the lush grounds, including the titular “big wedding.” The home also plays a significant role in the storyline itself. As the estranged Griffins recount to a table full of guests at the rehearsal dinner, in the early days of their relationship, Don scoured the New England countryside for the perfect plot of land to both build a house and propose to Ellie. He wound up securing a pristine waterfront parcel and promptly escorted Ellie there, getting down on one knee to ask for her hand, later planting an acorn in the exact spot where she said yes.
In the ensuing years, the couple built a house on the premises “in the shade of the tree,” adding on to it as Don found more and more success as an artist, ultimately constructing the sprawling and idyllic homestead that became their family residence.
Of scouting properties for the film, production designer Andrew Jackness told Elle Decor, “There were several requirements for Don’s house. It needed to suit a successful sculptor and have enough property around it to put up a wedding tent, yet not be too ostentatious, to fit with his character.” 314 Stanwich perfectly fit that bill.
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Image Credit: Lionsgate Films -
Image Credit: MLS In an unusual move, especially for a production boasting a cast of “The Big Wedding’s” caliber, filmmakers chose to shoot interior scenes on location at the residence, as well, instead of on a studio-built set. The pad certainly proved a worthy backdrop, though.
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Image Credit: MLS Little of the home’s design had to be altered for the production, with Jackness and his team, which included set decorator David Schlesinger, simply bringing in character-appropriate furnishings and ornamentation to dress the already beautiful palette. Of the place’s onscreen aesthetic, Andrew told Elle Decor, “The idea behind the house is that Don had, for the most part, left the decor that his former wife chose. Tasteful, comfortable, and understated.”
To liven up the largely neutral backdrop, paintings and other pieces from a wide array of artists were displayed throughout the interior. Jackness explained, “We figured Don, as an artist himself, would have friends’ work on display.”
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Image Credit: Lionsgate Films -
Image Credit: MLS Incredibly, many set pieces used in the production remain on the premises today! A close look at the listing photos reveals that the Griffins’ kitchen island seating, family room chairs and even the tufted leaf-embellished bed that Don and Ellie slept on are all still in place! The property as it stands truly is a movie set come to life!