This Boy’s Life is a 1993 American biographical coming-of-age drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. On the set of the film, a young Leonardo DiCaprio was making his first major film appearance. The movie, based on Tobias Wolff’s memoir, was filmed in 1992 and marked DiCaprio’s big-screen debut opposite Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin. He was chosen for the role after beating out around 400 other young actors.
The real-life dynamic between the young DiCaprio and the seasoned De Niro on set was very professional and, in some ways, mirrored the mentor/rival relationship of their characters. De Niro was reportedly so impressed with DiCaprio’s talent that he recommended him to director Martin Scorsese, which later sparked one of Hollywood’s most enduring collaborations (starting with Gangs of New York).
De Niro reportedly stayed in character as the cruel Dwight Hansen between takes to keep the tension high, a method that likely challenged and brought the best out of the young DiCaprio.
Principal photography began on February 23, 1992, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the dilapidated house set built in the woods outside the city. Filming also took place for ten days in Concrete, Washington, where crews restored the town’s main street to its 1950s appearance. Many of the town’s citizens were used as extras, and all external scenes in Concrete (and some internal scenes, as well) were shot in and around the town, including the former elementary school buildings and the Concrete High School building. Additional scenes were shot in the La Sal Mountains, and Moab and Salt Lake City, Utah.
This was a good movie.
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