`Ashecliffe’ Scene Gets a Little Nutty As Wind Wreaks Havoc

“Ashecliffe” director Martin Scorsese moved leading man Leonardo DiCaprio and his crew to East Boston yesterday to shoot scenes on a vintage World War II Navy torpedo retriever.

As per usual, the set was in lock-down mode, but there was some drama visible from the street. A pair of cranes hoisting a huge black screen over the water lost control of the gigantic sunblocker in yesterday’s strong winds.

You’re not in La-La anymore, Marty!

“It took off like a kite and crashed into the back of the boat, damaging the American flag,” said our spy on the scene. “They decided it was too dangerous in the 30 knot winds, so they dismantled it.”

Smart move, because Boston Harbor hasn’t always been good to Tinseltown. You may recall that back in 1993 the “Blown Away” crew exploded an old boat in the harbor and producers had to pony up for 8,000 new windows in nearby Eastie homes . . .

BTW, “Ashecliffe’s” vintage war ship is owned, we hear, by the North Shore water transport titans the Rockmore Co. and is doubling as a ferry that travels between Boston and the island that houses the Ashecliffe mental hospital. In case you were wondering.

After Scorsese wraps on the seaside scene, the shoot moves to a warehouse in Hyde Park where the production has set up a soundstage. Other scary scenes will be filmed in Nahant and at Medfield State Hospital.

Last weekend, Scorsese and stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo and other “Ashecliffe” casties and crew members kicked back and celebrated the kick-off of the production at the Barking Crab in the Seaport District.

They’re in town until June. As always, report all sightings to the Track . . . .

CAPTION: Uberdirector Martin Scorcese turned out in `Gorky Park’- like outerwear yesterday for the filming of `Ashecliffe’ in East Boston. Filming was delayed for a few hours when a huge black screen, being hoisted by two cranes in strong winds, crashed into the back of the old Navy vessel being used for filming. STAFF PHOTOS BY MARK GARFINKEL

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