San Francisco Film Locations Then & Now

“Telephone poles! So, these are of enormous interest to us, Tim, because?” Well, telephone poles can be interesting, there’s one in Niles that dates back to 1860 when it was a telegraph pole! At top left, a bandaged and, obviously, hurt Humphrey Bogart is being heckled by strangers as he begins his climb up the old wooden Filbert Steps in the 1947 film ‘Dark Passage’. “Hey, Bud, had a rough night?” “Having trouble with the little lady?” Oh, these guys are a riot! A lot of people get killed by Bogie in this movie, but these two got off easy! The wooden portion of the Filbert Steps have been replaced here in the current picture on the right, and I know as much about telephone poles as I do about girls, but by the way this pole leans, I’m going to give the nod to this being the same one. Second from the top, the telephone poles in the film picture on the left and the some location today were just an excuse to post this image from the 1962 film ‘Experiment in Terror’. My Physician, Dr. Knotts in Castro Valley, told me that he was one of the students walking up the hill at George Washington High School when this scene with Lee Remick and Stefanie Powers driving up the street to the school was filmed. I’m not going to argue with him, he’s the one who has to tell me all of the things that are wrong with me! Second from the bottom: Speaking of Niles, the old horse trail still passes between the house that was once Bronco Billy’s office, the first film cowboy superstar, and a telephone pole. To the right of the house is the old Essanay Studios, circa 1915. A fire station now occupies the spot where the studio was. Many people don’t realize it, but at that fire station is where the world first met Charlie Chaplin’s little tramp! At the bottom, Erich Von Stroheim’s ‘Greed’ is considered one of the best silent films ever made. This 1925 tale of murder and pursuit originally ran nearly eight hours, but was eventually cut down to under two and one half hours running time when released. Probably, just as well; that would have been a lot of popcorn to have to consume. The old office building on the corner of Laguna Ave. & Hayes seen in a film image on the left is where the movie’s main protagonist, McTeague, sets up his dental practice before he eventually kills his miserly wife, and flees to Death Valley while being pursued by her lover. The two telephone poles look to be still there today, although, another one has been placed in the middle. (Thumbnail image)

Time, technology, and terrorism have made some San Francisco movie location comparisons impossible for me to line up exactly, but pretty close. Left to right, the woody pulling up to 1360 Montgomery Street on Telegraph hill contains San Quentin escapee Humphrey Bogart, and the young artist who befriends him, Lauren Bacall in the 1947 movie ‘Dark Passage’. Lauren Bacall, actually, lived in this apartment before she broke into Hollywood, so it’s an interesting choice of locations. The movie shot was taken from a camera crane, so my picture is from a lower angle. Second from the left, Burt Lancaster, portraying Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” being released at Pier 41 in the 1962 film of the same name. The landing dock of Pier 41 is gone, so an exact comparison can’t be taken anymore. Interestingly, although the movie was made while Robert Stroud was still alive, he was never allowed to see the film. He died in November of 1963. Second from the right, Edmond O’Brien goes back to the nightclub at Merchant Street and the Embarcadero in the 1950 film ‘D.O.A.’. O’Brien was given a slow acting poison, placed in his drink while he was dancing, and is returning to the Fisherman Nightclub to try to learn why. Most of the prints I’ve seen of this movie are grainy, and difficult to get a clear copy from. This image from D.O.A. is from the City Sleuth – Reel SF page; about the best San Francisco film locations site I’ve seen. This movie made me nervous to leave my drink at the table, that’s why I always take it with me when I go to the restroom. (Not really) Since the development of the Embarcadero Center and Maritime Plaza, Merchant Street no longer cuts through to the Embarcadero. At the right, although many film scholars site ‘Vertigo’ as the quintessential San Francisco movie locations flick, my pick is “Dark Passage’ from 1947. This film has more off beat and lesser know settings, such as the Filbert Steps on Telegraph Hill or the Golden Gate Bridge tollbooths. Here, Humphrey Bogart has been waylaid and forced to drive to a spot directly underneath the Golden Gate Bridge by a shady little creep for some serious blackmail talk. You know Bogie’s going to get the drop on this punk before the encounter is over. This area is strictly off limits since 9/11 for obvious reasons, but can be viewed from the hiking trail that runs along the hill above the area. (Thumbnail image)

San Francisco Blondes – Dedicated to three pretty blondes I’ve spent time in the City with, Cindy Chavarria, Melody Royal, and Amber Bennett. Amber says she’s not a blonde, but I think she is, and just doesn’t know it! At left, Lee Remick chases after Jack Lemmon, whose feelings she’s hurt in the depressing movie ‘The Days of Wine and Roses’ from 1962. Hey, look, the Embarcadero Freeway in the background! Aw, I miss it – NOT! This scene was filmed in front of the PG&E Building on Market Street. A Facebook friend of mine, Mary Mckay worked in the building for years. Left center, a distraught Kim Novak leaves Rita Hayworth’s mansion in tears after learning that Rita’s going to take Frank Sinatra away from her in the 1957 movie ’Pal Joey’. Hey wait a minute; Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Balclutha Sailing Ship, telescopes disguised to look like little trees, that’s not Rita’s mansion, that’s Coit Tower! Right center, Catherine Hicks offers a lift to two strangers at the Marina Green. Nothing too special about this spot that would make oddballs like me look for it, except, the two strangers were Kirk and Spock in the 1986 film ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’. At right, Barbra Streisand has never looked prettier than in the 1972 movie ‘What’s Up. Doc?’ with Ryan O’Neal. She plays a scatterbrained blonde who does dippy things, like, crossing a sidewalk against the light causing two motorcycle riders to crash at Jones and Bush. Even Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd put in an appearance in this one!

MURDER IN SAN FRANCISCO – Long ago, authors and filmmakers realized that San Francisco was a delicious place for bumping people off. It ranks right up there with Gotham City as the quintessential local for murder and mayhem. At left, Clint Eastwood as “Dirty Harry”, or “Dirty Harold” as Borat calls him, investigating the murder of a child at Texas and Sierra below Potrero Hill, and Potrero Hill from Texas and Sierra today minus the ugly water tower. A building today now occupies the exact spot where Eastwood was standing in the 1971 first and best movie of the series ‘Dirty Harry’. Left center Eli Wallach going into the YMCA Building on the Embarcadero (Called the Seaman’s Club in the movie) to commit the first of many murders he’ll do throughout San Francisco in the 1958 movie ‘The Lineup’. He plays a wonderful villain in this who goes by the name of “Dancer”. Right Center, sometimes you have to put a little effort into catching a San Francisco murderer as Ella Raines finds when she chases Anna May Wong, who’s not really a murderess, but knows who the guilty one is, through Chinatown in the 1949 movie ‘Impact’. The pursuit turns south onto Grant from Washington which would be against traffic today. The girls eventually end up in a foot chase through Chinatown alleys in a perfectly atmospheric place for a San Francisco mystery movie to end. Right, you can’t have a San Francisco murder movie collection without Humphrey Bogart, it, simply, isn’t done! Bogie didn’t, actually, commit murder here because the punk went for the gun, but the cops will never believe it. This 1947 scene from ‘Dark Passage’ was filmed in a area below the Golden Gate Bridge now closed off to the public since 9/11, but the roof of Fort Point puts you almost level with the filming spot for as close of a comparison as possible. That shot of Bogart and the bridge is, probably, my all time favorite San Francisco movie image.

Four non blondes. No, not 4 Non Blondes the San Francisco band, four other non blondes. Blondes are not the only ladies who get into trouble in San Francisco movies. Top panel, left to right, Diane Keaton about to begin an extra marital affair with Woody Allen in a scene filmed at the old band concourse in Golden Gate Park from ‘Play It Again, Sam’ made in 1972. Woody Allen as a cure for loneliness; she’s in trouble! Second from top, left to right, Cindy Williams being audio eavesdropped on by Gene Hackman in Union Square in the creepy and ugly movie ‘The Conversation’ from 1974, and Gene Hackman at Stockton and Geary in front of the old I Magnin’s after hearing something that he shouldn’t have heard! Many film critics site this movie as one of the best films from the 1970’s. Second from the bottom, Joan Crawford, trying to be discreet, about to break in to Jack Palance’s apartment on Russian Hill to find out why he’s trying to kill her in the 1952 movie ‘Sudden Fear’. Joan, what difference does it make why he’s trying to kill you…… he’s trying to kill you! Do you, really, want to go in there? Humphrey Bogart accidently killed Agnes Mooorehead from the roof of this same apartment building in ‘Dark Passage’ from 1947. We all have accidents, but Bogie’s are a little extreme! Bottom panel, Tyne Daly gets into the ultimate trouble when she steps into the line of fire to save Clint Eastwood’s life out on Alcatraz in the 1976 movie ‘The Enforcer’. Third in the “Dirty Harry” series, and the second best, it’s exciting, well made, although, in comic book style, has terrific San Francisco locations, and the saddest ending from any Clint Eastwood movie that I can think of.

Stars in Motion: At the left, Orson Welles escapes from the old Hall of Justice Building and bolts across Kearny Street to Portsmouth Square and the never changing Chinatown in the 1948 film, ‘The Lady From Shanghai’. Second from the left, Woody Allen running across upper Kearny in North Beach in the 1972 movie ‘Play It Again, Sam’. Woody plays a slimy fellow who betrays a friend because of his amorous adventures. Boy, how out of character is that! Second from the right, Barbara Lawrence in the center heading down the stairs at the Ferry Building in the 1949 film ‘Thieves Highway’. There’s a bit of history in this scene. The old ferry boats had two levels, and passengers on the top level off boarded into the second story of the Ferry Building, traveled down a corridor, and exited to the Embarcadero down these stairs! Wow, have they seen some traffic! At the right is the plaza beneath the Bank of America tower in the 1974 blockbuster, ‘The Towering Inferno’. That’s Fred Astaire dancing up the steps on the right, and “that’s entertainment!”

San Francisco Studs. Well, it is the “Year of the Horse”. Top row, left to right, Jimmy Stewart stalking Kim Novak, (Well, that’s what he was doing, but it was nice guy stalking) to Fort Point in the 1958 film ‘Vertigo’ When she jumps into the water in an attempt to kill herself, Jimmy leaps into the choppy water, and rescues her. What a stud! Second from top, Clint Eastwood, “Dirty Harry” dispatches three hold up men in an extremely violent, but very satisfying scene, (If you like seeing a bad guy getting emasculated by a Magnum ’44) from the 1976 film ‘The Enforcer’ at 2nd and Minna Streets. What a stud! Yes, a violent stud, but nevertheless…… Incidentally, Buster Keaton used this off beat location for the start of the chase scene in his 1922 movie ‘Daydreams’. Second row from the bottom, Lee Marvin, who has been double crossed, shot and left in an empty cell on Alcatraz, swims back to San Francisco to seek revenge in the 1967 film ‘Point Blank’. What a stud! I mean, I can’t swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco with three bullet holes in me! Bottom row, Crème de la Stud, Clark Gable, watches Downtown San Francisco burn to the ground in the 1936 film ‘San Francisco’. Tough guy, “Blackie” Norton, humbled by Mother Nature; he knows when he’s met his match. What a stud!