San Francisco movie locations from classic films
San Francisco movie locations from classic films
The enigmatic pursuit continues - this time Madeleine leads Scottie to a mysterious hotel, the McKittrick. Every block traversed is listed and described sequentially. An asterick (*) indicates a route discontinuity, ie a location jump.
Below, director Peter Yates captures one of San Francisco's many vistas on a misty morning as Bullitt heads east down Broadway from Taylor on his way to his apartment (locals will recognize he's actually heading away from his apartment).
Then ... The Bay Bridge is in the distance and there's a small twin-domed church on the left.
He drives his Mustang down Clay Street, crosses Taylor, then makes a slick reverse (below) in front of the cream Austin Healey (CitySleuth is salivating - he used to own one). Bullitt's apartment house, 1153 Taylor Street, is the dark blue house on the corner of Clay - his place is on the top floor.
Then ... looking up Clay.
Then ... At the corner market opposite his apartment he isn't above helping himself to a newspaper when he's short of change.
Then ... In the composited image below, Bullitt crosses Taylor and climbs the front steps to his apartment door.
... and Now, below are the entrance steps of 1153 Taylor leading to the building's three apartments, 1153, 1155 and 1157. Bullitt's was 1153, the door on the left, which leads up to the top floor.
Inside the apartment Cathy has breakfast in the living room. The corner window view looks east down Clay Street - San Francisco Bay and part of Yerba Buena Island can be seen in the distance.
A cable car (it is San Francisco after all) is next seen clanging down a steep hill.
Then ... This is Washington Street near Mason looking up two blocks to Jones (map). The structure on the right is the cable car museum and the building at the top of the hill is the 1360 Jones apartments (incidentally, the roof of which was used to take a view across the city in the movie Lady From Shanghai).
... and Now, the corner building on the left and the railing on the right are recent additions but all else, including the cable car, is as it was. It's reassuring to see that San Francisco drivers still know how to curb their wheels.
The police have put the word out about a bandage found near the sniper's 4th victim. Below, a man on the cable car reads the article in his newspaper out loud and is overheard by Miller's workplace supervisor (Geraldine Carr) who realises that her introverted employee may be the killer - she has seen him with a bandaged hand. She jumps off the cable car at the next stop to look for a telephone.
Then ... She crosses Powell at the junction with Washington, finds a phone and reports her suspicions to the police.
... and Now
In his letter Frank tells Eleanor he can be found "out in the open in a place where I first lost you". To jog her memory she and Leggett visit places she went to with Frank, places that inspired his painting. The director chose a series of well-known tourist spots, beginning with Fisherman's Wharf.
Then ... They begin by strolling down a boardwalk with a white building off to the right.
... from 1951 ... below is an aerial photo of Fisherman's Wharf taken one year after the movie was shot. They were walking along the boardwalk in the center of the harbor. The same white building is there (arrowed) and above that is the twin Pier 45, Sheds A and B.
... and Now, the white building has been replaced by the Fisherman's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel but Pier 45 Shed B can still be seen behind it.
Next they go to Pioneer Park at the top of Telegraph Hill with its sweeping Bay vistas.
Then ... They have an unobstructed view of Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island and the Oakland Hills beyond.
... and Now, ah, an opportunity for CitySleuth to vent a pet peeve. The expansive views today are blocked by the overgrown trees. CitySleuth sees this again and again, all over town. Why do the City Elders allow this to happen? If for no other reason, visitors to our glorious city deserve to experience it in all its glory. Case in point, this tourist is fortunate to find a place where she can get a partial view.
And here they are at Larkin and Fulton at the garden between the War Memorial Opera House on the right and the almost identical War Memorial Veteran's Building on the left. The two buildings form bookends framing City Hall in all its majesty across Van Ness Avenue.
Then ...
... and Now, this photo could have been taken 60 years ago. Are those really the same pollarded trees lining the garden? CitySleuth would guess yes.
Finally they try their luck at St. Mary's Square on California Street heading towards Chinatown's Sing Chong Building and the 1854 St. Mary's Catholic Church facing each other across Grant Street. The Sing Chong Building was one of the very first structures rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake by Chinese owners; they hired white architects but specified its oriental look. Its sister, the Sing Fat Building, is opposite it across California, just out of this view.
Then ...
... and Now
We next see an attractive woman, Rica (Valentina Cortese) , sauntering towards the Oregon Restaurant to the strains of a popular tune of the day - "I'll never be the same", perhaps anticipating the turn for the better her life will make in the movie.
Then ... Note the number 524 on the door.
Rica strikes up a conversation with Nick who is almost out on his feet as he downs coffee to stay awake while waiting for his trucker partner Ed to arrive with his truckload of apples.
Then ... Unbeknownst to Nick she has been hired by Mike Figlia and his cronies to distract him while they sell off his apples. It's not specifically mentioned but it's obvious she's a lady of the night. She offers Nick the use of her hotel room to get some sleep and he reluctantly accepts. Below, they are seen at the corner of Oregon and Front with the restaurant behind them.
