Dirty Harry - A Close Call
Back at the office Callahan is less than enthusiastic when Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni), a college graduate, is assigned to replace his recently injured partner.
Then … The next scene unfolds at a park adjacent to a Catholic church.
… and Now, This is the park at Washington Square in North Beach (map); the church is the twin-spired Saints Peter and Paul Church at 666 Filbert Street. The statue of Benjamin Franklin, seen above in the center of the park, is still there now but surrounded by trees (partially visible below, right of center). The park is a popular hang-out for residents, the crowd below showing a disdain for masks in the early months of the pandemic, an attitude that fortunately changed later on.
Then … The camera then pans to the Dante Building, on the right at 1606 Stockton Street, an office/retail building on the corner of Union Street.
… and Now, trees line the perimeter of the park but the building remains the same, as does the home of the San Francisco Italian Athletic club next to it on the left (where, incidentally, CitySleuth has taken evening classes in Italian). To its left is the local U.S. Post Office and Coit Tower; the sentinel of Telegraph Hill is in the upper left corner.
Then … The Scorpio killer is on the roof of the Dante Building, disgusted at the city’s delaying tactic in coming up with the ransom and determined to carry out his ‘one-a-day’ threat. The Nob Hill skyline includes the Brocklebank at far left - home to Madeleine in Hitchcock’s classic Vertigo.
… and Now, 50 years on the skyline is surprisingly the same but the rooftop only partially so. The gravel roof has been resurfaced and the ductwork is mostly but not all gone. The flagpole survived!
Then … He scans the park for a potential victim.
… and Now, here’s the same view today. The first Saints Peter and Paul church stood a block and a half away on the corner of Filbert and Grant from 1884 until 1906 when it was destroyed by the earthquake and fire. The extant church is approaching its centennial - it was built in 1924.
This recent aerial view shows the Dante Building relative to the park and church.
Then … From a police helicopter passing over North Beach a couple of blocks from the park the policemen spot Scorpio on the Dante building rooftop, just out of this view on the left.
… and Now, this is the junction of Union Street (crossing right to left) and Kearny, seen below in a recent Google satellite view.
Scorpio notices a gay couple crossing the park. When they sit on a park bench he gleefully takes aim but is startled by the police above him and he dashes off, giving them the slip but sparing the target.