San Francisco movie locations from classic films
San Francisco movie locations from classic films
Archie and Petulia took a cab to the motel from the Fairmont and afterwards she took another cab home. In both cases, the director used the same footage showing the same cab crossing Stockton Street heading east on Broadway.
Then ... the cab on its way from the Fairmont to the motel
... and Now, Broadway, looking east from Stockton.
After checking in at the Hilton Union Square Hotel the free-spirited Petulia disregards a 'Do Not Walk On Ramp' sign and urges Archie up the narrow car ramp.
Then ... This is the ramp between the 4th and 5th floor in what is now the Hilton's Tower 3.
Then ... They reach the 5th floor. In another nod to technology their key activates a flashing light which guides them to their room, No. 549.
They enter the motel room but Petulia changes her mind - they are not about to become lovers after all. Archie is remarkably sanguine under the circumstances, simply telling her that she's 'a kook'.
Archie goes along with Petulia's suggestion that they go to a hotel - they take a cab to a motel with a novel TV check-in kiosk which automatically dispenses their room key. (Note the psychedelic poster on the cab advertising a concert for Eric Burdon and the Animals, a popular British group at that time). This scene was filmed at the garage entrance of the San Francisco Hilton Union Square Hotel at 200 Ellis Street, near Mason. The motel was designed to let guests drive inside the building up to their floor and park close to their room, as they still do today.
Then ...
.... and Now, the check-in window today is a mural sporting a large Hilton Logo.
... and Now, the garage entrance (on the left) on Ellis Street.
An old acquaintance, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), asks Scotty to stop by his office at a shipbuilding company. Director Alfred Hitchcock takes this opportunity to include his customary cameo, filmed at Paramount Studios, passing by the entrance just before Scottie walks in.
Elster has an unusual favor to ask - his wife Madeleine (Kim Novak) has been disappearing for hours at a time and returning with no memory of where she has been. Elster would like Scotty to follow her and find out out where she goes.
Then ...
Elster's office was created and filmed in the studio but the window view of the bustling shipyard was reportedly filmed at Bethlehem Shipyards at Potrero Point on the east side of Potrero Hill (can you, dear reader, verify this?) (map). It was projected onto a background screen during the scene to create a virtual location. The shipyard site was bought by the city in 1982 and continues today as San Francisco Dry Dock. One of the old cranes, rusting and graffitied, can still be seen in this recent photo taken from Illinois Streeet between 18th and 19th.
... and Now
Archie (George C. Scott) , a surgeon, attends a crowded fundraiser in aid of Highway Safety. Petulia (Julie Christie) , recently married, introduces herself then goes out of her way to hit on him. The event was filmed over a one week period between midnight and 6.00 am in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill.
Then ...
... and Now, lighter walls and exposed stone flooring but it still retains its air of grandeur.
The featured band is Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin singing 'Roadblock' and 'Down On Me'. They are performing in front of the grand staircase - see below and in the lobby capture above.
Then ...
... and Now
