Then ... Elizabeth is scared. She shares her fears with Matthew as they drive around the city. Her fragile psyche is augmented by the fragmentation of his shattered windscreen, damaged earlier in the movie.
... and Now, they are heading west on Turk Street as viewed from Leavenworth in the Tenderloin district (map). Approaching on the left is the tall arched entrance of the Oasis Apartments at 351 Turk, built in 1928 and formerly a YMCA hotel.
Then ... She tells him that Geoffrey has been furtively meeting with total strangers. She is becoming paranoid; convinced that everyone around her has changed overnight.
... and Now, still in the Tenderloin, they are traveling east on Golden Gate Avenue; Market Street is ahead (map). The Golden Gate Theatre marquee is on the left; the theatre was being renovated when this photo was taken.
Then ... Matthew, disbelieving but wanting to help, again encourages her to meet with his psychiatrist friend David Kibner.
... and Now, still heading east on Golden Gate, they have backtracked four blocks, crossing Larkin (map). Driving continuity in movies is rarely accurate. The corner store on the left is now peddling croissants instead of loans.
Then ... With a start Matthew jumps on his brakes as a man suddenly appears in front of them.
... and Now, this is the junction of Leavenworth and Eddy Streets. The upscale Black Cat Jazz Supper Club, a recent bold addition to the Tenderloin, currently occupies the northwest corner site (map).
The terrified man screams out at them ... "They're coming! They're coming! You're next! You're next!". For this cameo, director Kaufman, in a nod of appreciation, chose Kevin McCarthy, who played the lead role in the original 1956 black-and-white version of this movie.
Here he is screaming the same warning 22 years earlier.
Then ... The man rushes down Eddy ahead of a crowd of pursuers.
... and Now, Another new addition, the Tenderloin Museum, is on the northeast corner (opposite the Back Cat) where the Ringside Smoke Shop used to be.
Then ... A squeal of brakes, a thudding crash; just around the corner they see a body lying at the kerb ringed by a crowd in front of the Hamlin Hotel.
... and Now, This view looks east down Eddy with Market Street in the distance. The Hamlin is still there on the right, at 385 Eddy where a metal balcony over the entrance has since replaced the two masonry ones seen in the movie shot. Still there is the cleaners store further down the block.
The messenger lies dead, to the impassive satisfaction of his pursuers. If you won't join them ...
Then ... The search continues for a new girlfriend for Allan ... Linda thinks an art gallery might be a good place. They visit the West Gallery at the San Francisco Museum of Art, (renamed the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art three years later), which at that time was on the fourth floor of the War Memorial Veteran's Building in the Civic Center (map).
... and Now, the museum has since moved to grander, dedicated quarters; this space is currently occupied by San Francisco Opera's Costume Studio. The wall at left has been opened up and the tall opening to the next gallery at right on the back wall has been partially filled in.
Linda spots a potential candidate (Diana Davila) standing at the end of the gallery in front of the Jackson Pollock painting ‘Guardians of the Secret’; she urges Allan to go over and ask her out.
Then ... He asks what she thinks of the Pollock whereupon she delivers a dark esoteric monolog. Unfazed, he delivers the funniest line in the movie ...
"What are you doing Saturday?"
"Committing suicide".
"What about Friday night?"
... and Now, more wall changes are visible in today's matching view.
... a vintage photo ... here's a 1958 photo of the West Gallery taken from the same spot as the shot above. The museum was housed in this and other galleries on the 4th floor of the Veteran's Building from 1935 to 1994 after which it moved to its current home, the Mario Botta designed Museum of Modern Art, on 3rd Street in SoMa.
After Allan strikes out with Sharon, Linda tries again, recommending Jennifer but cautioning him that she's a nymphomaniac. He is undeterred.
He approaches a cab, waiting while it disgorges a group of grass-smoking hippies ...
Then ... but quickly regrets getting in, having to immediately leap out to escape the acrid fumes.
... and Now, this was filmed on Buchanan Street in Pacific Heights looking south towards Jackson (map). The bricked building at left is 2518 Buchanan.
He finally meets Jennifer (Viva) and after spending all evening hearing that all she's interested in is sex, sex and more sex, he makes his move, only to be rebuffed with a shriek.
Then ... He descends the outside steps totally confused, wondering how he could have misread her.
... and Now, Jennifer's place is at 2065 Vallejo Street, in Cow Hollow (map), just a couple of blocks from the cab episode location above. Clearly the occupants here have no need of a fitness club membership.
Then ... When Matthew spills coffee on his shirt he takes it to his favorite Chinese laundry. We see him here passing the Four Seas restaurant in Chinatown.
... and Now, the same entrance today, at 731 Grant Avenue (map), has retained the wall decoration but the doors have been replaced.
... and Now, the Four Seas took over the restaurant from the original Hang Far Low in the early 1960s, serving the neighborhood for decades until it closed in 2014. It recently reopened as Mr. Jiu's who moved the entrance to the rear of the building at 28 Waverly Place. The recent photo below shows the prominent Four Seas sign is still there on Grant, above the front entrance.
Then ... He continues down Grant, here crossing Sacramento Street.
... and Now, the same junction today.
Then ... But as he enters the laundry it is clear from the Victorian houses reflected in the side window that this place is not in Chinatown.
... and Now, in fact, it's miles away in the Haight district, at 1515 Waller Street (map). It was called Russ Cleaners back then and it's still Russ Cleaners today. But at least it's Chinese owned.
Then ... The owner, thinking Matthew is a doctor, beckons him over to tell him he's very concerned - his wife "she different", "not my wife".
... and Now, on a recent visit, based on the many racks filling the space, CitySleuth concludes the locals launder their shirts more often than they used to.
Then ... When he leaves, a wider view of the laundry reveals more details that enabled CitySleuth to find this place. Not for the first time the audience is left puzzling over what is being disposed of in the garbage truck.
... and Now, the same view of 1515 Waller Street today.
Russ Cleaners took over from Waller-Clayton Street Cleaning and Dyeing works in the 1950s and has been in business continuously under this name since then.