After the bungled attempt to retrieve the smuggled heroin the drug ring calls in two out-of-town crooks to take over. They fly in from Miami.
Then ... They fly in on a United DC-7 over the Golden Gate Bridge. Marin County to the north is at the top of the frame and the Presidio at the bottom.
... and Now, there's a large tourist parking lot on each side of the bridge and on the northern side there's a marina at Horseshoe Bay, home of the Presidio Yacht Club. Behind that is the former U.S. Army Post, Fort Baker, now housing the Discovery Museum and an upscale hotel - The Lodge At Cavallo Point.
Then ... They land at Terminal 2 at San Francisco Airport, opened 4 years earlier in 1954 and known then as Central Terminal (map).
...and Now, Today there are 4 terminals including the $1B international terminal opened in 2000. Terminal 2 still looks the same from the runway although there's a new control tower being built behind it.
Miller enters a TV arcade and watches the program. He listens to a Mrs Fitzpatrick (Lilian Bond), below on the left, exhorting the viewers to buy charity tickets - she gives out her name and address. Trusting times. There was something about her, maybe because she was a brunette like his first two victims, maybe she reminded him of his abusing mother, whatever it was she was now a marked woman.
The sniper has struck again - Mrs Fitzpatrick has been found shot outside her home.
Then ... Mrs Fitzpatrick's residence was the imposing 55 room mansion at 2080 Washington Street in Pacific Heights (map).
... in 1956 ... the same mansion, known as the Spreckels Mansion, built in 1913 in the French Baroque style by the sugar king Adolph Spreckels.
... and Now, almost hidden and currently the home of author Danielle Steel.
When Eleanor leaves the doctor's office she pretends not to notice the cop assigned to follow her; he's hoping she will lead him to her husband Frank.
Then ... the cop is leaning on the cable car signal booth on the corner of California and Powell. The Fairmont Hotel spans the block up the hill on the right and Grace Cathedral is two blocks up on Taylor, its second tower yet to be constructed.
... and Now, the signal booth is dilapidated but still in use, controlling the two cable car lines that cross at the junction. The Fairmont Hotel looks the same from here, as does the wall and fire hydrant on the corner at left, but a tree mostly blocks the since completed Grace Cathedral.
Then ... The cop tails Eleanor down Powell Street on the block between California and Pine. The tall building on the left down the road is the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Way in the distance are the steep streets on the north face of Potrero Hill.
...and Now, the hotel is still there but hidden behind the modern building... Potrero Hill is still visible from here.
Then ... The cop follows her down the road but this was filmed in a different neighborhood. She's walking south on Montgomery Street between Vallejo and Green on Telegraph Hill; who knows why, perhaps the moviemakers preferred the style of these particular houses.
... and Now, the houses remain unchanged except for those on the corner of Green Street up on the left.
Then ... When she gets to town she suddenly plants a kiss on a complete stranger then hurries off, leaving the cop to apprehend the wrong, albeit appreciative, guy, thinking it's her husband, the man they are looking for. This is Market Street in front of the old Emporium, now the Westfield Center.
... and Now, looking across Market from the same spot; the Stockton Street junction is across the road..
1. View From The Living Room
Then ... In the movie, the exterior view across Irene's patio is a photo backdrop used on the studio soundstage to set the location. In the real apartment at 1360 Montgomery #10 that view would look east across the Bay towards Yerba Buena Island but close examination of the movie view reveals that, although similar, it's different. Finding the explanation was a challenge, and here it is ...
Below is a recent photo taken from the end of Alta Street, a cul-de-sac close to Irene's 1360 Montgomery Street apartment, looking not east, but north across the Bay to Angel Island. This doesn't match the movie view above either but ...
... if this view is reversed (below), we have a match! The contours of Angel Island match perfectly as does the multi-story white building, now with added new structures on either side. So, the director had a photo taken from Alta and reversed it for use in the studio set. Why not use the real view? Who knows, but anals like CitySleuth notice such things.
2. View From The Bedroom
Then ... This looks out across the lower part of Montgomery to where the upper Filbert Steps begin.
... and Now, the building just visible on the left is a private residence now but in 1947 it housed the Shadows Restaurant, a favorite of Bogart and Bacall during filming ...
... and perhaps while dining there they lit up using one of their matchboxes?
3. View From The Front Door
Then ... Irene's view through the apartment's front door peephole when she hears the doorbell ring shows, behind the visitor, the 3rd floor hallway and the stairs leading up to the top floor.
... and Now, exactly the same.