Nothing in Common, the last of Jackie Gleason’s 52 movies and television series, included an important scene filmed at Marina City in 1985. Gleason played Max Basner, the father of a successful ad agency creative director, played by Tom Hanks, who according to The Internet Movie Database, “must juggle his ever-demanding career while his parents’ marriage breaks up.” (Left) Nothing in Common poster.

The film was directed by Garry Marshall and also starred Eva Marie Saint. It was released by Tri-Star Pictures, Inc., on July 30, 1986, and grossed $32.3 million (equal to $100.8 million in 2024). While it may not have been a great financial success, the film marked the pivotal transition of Hanks from comedic to serious movie roles.

Marina City makes its first of two appearances during the opening credits. As Christopher Cross sings “Loving Strangers,” 29-year-old Tom Hanks drives a Jeep Laredo up the east tower ramp.

The bigger scene – although lasting no more than one-and-a-half minutes on screen – was filmed in mid-1985 on the 19th floor of the east tower ramp. With Aretha Franklin singing “Until You Say You Love Me” in the background, Gleason gets into the Jeep with Hanks and tells him he has lost his job as a clothing salesman.

Actors Jackie Gleason (left) and Tom Hanks in a scene filmed in mid-1985 at Marina City for the 1986 film Nothing in Common. They are on the 19th floor of the east tower parking ramp. The west tower is in the background.

Closer angle of Gleason and Hanks.

Hanks has gotten out of the Jeep to digest the news Gleason’s character has told him.

Reverse angle of Hanks and Gleason.

In his review of the film, Roger Ebert wrote, “Half the characters are refugees from a Eugene O’Neill play, and the others walked over from Second City. There are good things in ‘Nothing in Common’ – good ideas, good lines of dialogue, good performances. But here is a movie where the title says it all.”

Gleason died on June 24, 1987. Hanks would go on to star in Dragnet in 1987 and in the following year, Big.