One On Top Of The Other - Sex In The City
There’s another woman in George’s life: fashionista photographer Jane Bleeker (Italian actress Elsa Martinelli), introduced to us by way of an artistically filmed tête-à-tête accompanied by evocative music by composer Riz Ortolani. You can hear it here, between time points 2:22 - 4:44 on the movie soundtrack.
The action takes place on the mezzanine level in her studio. This, as were the other interior scenes in the movie, was filmed in Italy at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome.
It’s not hard to understand how he would be attracted to such a fashionista. But Jane then surprises him by announcing she is leaving San Francisco - even though she’s in love with him she wants … “a man on my own, I’m the selfish type”. She has already sold her business interest and bought a train ticket to San Luis Obispo.
Then … He offers to drive her to the station … they walk to his car from her place (1083 Lombard, the house at far right), near the top of Lombard Street’s famed ‘Crooked Street” block in the Russian Hill neighborhood (map). This was the setting for her spacious studio - unrealistic at such a residential property. But hey, it’s all about the views.
… and Now, new paint jobs aside, this block, a magnet for tourists, has not seen much change. In the distance Coit Tower presides over Telegraph Hill and beyond that there’s a clear view of the Bay Bridge and the hills of the east bay. (Incidentally, Jack Palance’s character’s apartment in the 1952 movie Sudden Fear was in the grey building next to Jane’s place).
Then … They drive off, pictured here between the fourth and fifth of eight hairpin bends.
… and Now, again, unchanged. The serpentine road was the city planners’ solution in 1922 to an otherwise dangerously steep slope for vehicles.
Then … Driving up Hyde Street, George looks for clarification … “Leaving me, or running away?”
… and Now, the cable car tracks head then and now down Hyde Street and across North Point (map) towards Hyde Street Pier at the bottom of the hill where our eyes are drawn to the distant Alcatraz and Angel Islands.
Then … Locationally unrealistic - now they are driving back into the city across the Golden Gate Bridge! The headlands of Marin County are in the background on the left.
… and Now, two notable safety changes have since been installed: a barrier has been added on each side of the roadway to protect pedestrians and cyclists from the dangerously close traffic whizzing by, and a central divider, repositionable to accommodate changing daily commuter flows, now protects drivers from head-ons. Suicide jumping wasn’t the only bridge hazard it seems.
Then … They arrive at the Southern Pacific depot. The Mission Revival structure was built here at 3rd and Townsend in the Mission Bay neighborhood in 1915 (map).
… and Now, the depot was demolished in 1976 after an architecturally mundane replacement was built a block south, in part to eliminate 4th Street traffic-crossing delays behind the original depot. This modern building took its place.
Then … Jane prefers that they part on the street … “I hate those tearful farewells on railway platforms”. Across 3rd Street behind George’s wistful gaze we see one of the bay area’s Doggie Diner fast food restaurants.
… 1n 1975 … here’s a vintage photo of the depot and the restaurant with its pole mounted giant dachshund head mascot sign - from the rear we see its floppy ears and chef’s hat.
… and Now, The Doggie Diner chain eventually was gobbled up by the competition and all of its San Francisco restaurants are gone; one vestige remains however - preserved by nostalgists is a transplanted lone mascot pole sign on the median near the San Francisco Zoo on Sloat Blvd at 45th Avenue (map).
Then … Jane, stylishly caped, walks along track 2 of the depot past coach SP3705. The reflection in the side of the railcar looks across King Street way over to the east bay hills. But eagle-eyed reader Notcom (see his comment) has some bad news for her - she’s catching a commute train to San Jose, some 185 miles short of her destination.
… in 1975 … rolling stock buffs will recognize the train’s Bilevel Commute Coaches, here’s coach SP3721 photographed in San Jose.
Then … George drives off past a sign advertising Rickey’s Rendezvous Room, a bar and restaurant inside the depot operated by Palo Alto-based Rickey’s Hyatt House. (Trivia time … the image also includes an interesting structure at far left) …
… and Now, the structure is the 3rd Street bridge, a type known as a Bascule drawbridge. Designed by Joseph Strauss - he later became Chief Engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge - it was built in 1933 across the Mission Creek Channel and is still operational. In 1980 it was renamed the Lefty O’Doul bridge in honor of a legendary San Francisco Seals baseball pitcher, prescient indeed because 20 years later the San Francisco Giants ballpark would be built right next to it.
… and Now, a closer look at the Lefty O’Doul Bridge shows the Giants ballpark complex on the left (check out those two massive concrete counterweights - clunky but functional).