Bigelow has been told he only has days to live because of a poison in his system. In disbelief he rushes to another doctor for a second opinion.
Then ... This is the Southern Pacific Hospital at 1400 Fell Street at Baker in the Haight district, facing Golden Gate Park's Panhandle. It was built in 1908 by the Southern Pacific Railroad as a medical center for its employees throughout the West.
... and Now, the hospital eventually became uneconomical and was sold in 1968, becoming the Harkness Hospital. It was finally closed down after several years of large losses. It now houses Mercy Terrace, a senior housing retirement facility.
... and Now, here's another view of the imposing structure today.
The second doctor confirms the diagnosis. He dramatically turns out the light to show the lab sample glowing in the dark - a luminous toxin. Again, a dumbstruck Bigelow hears that he has at most one week to live. Not one to mince words, the doctor tells him "You've been murdered".
Bigelow has been slipped a Mickey Finn at the Fisherman Club and is not feeling well the next morning. He goes to see a doctor on Nob Hill.
Then ... He takes a cable car from his hotel, the St. Francis, up Powell Street and jumps off at California. The Alta Casa apartment building at 897 California is on the corner behind the cable car, as is the cone-roofed cable car control booth (click image to enlarge).
... and Now, the same view today, east down California, now has modern high-rise offices down California in the Financial District. The Alta Casa apartment house at right has been demolished but the control booth is still there because this cable car line is still in operation, as is the brick-walled University club at left, there since 1908.
Then ... In this south-facing view down Jones Street from Sacramento, Bigelow is about to cross the road to the doctor's office kitty-corner from where he is.
Then ... He reaches the office, at 1298 Sacramento, corner of Jones. The view looks east down Sacramento. Grace Cathedral on the right is under construction with only one tower and the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels can be seen in the distance on Mason Street.
... and Now, the completed cathedral has two towers. The added Fairmont Tower rises behind the hotel, otherwise the view is quite similar.
... and Now, 1298 Sacramento, known as the Chambord Apartments (below left) was built in 1921. Its ornate flowing design by architect James Francis Dunn evokes the style of the Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley of France (below right).
Bigelow is horrified to learn from the doctors (below) that he has a toxic poison in his system and only has days to live. He accuses the doctors of being crazy and storms out of the office.
The plot thickens. Scottie follows Madeleine yet again; she heads to the McKittrick Hotel.
Then ... She is going west on Eddy approaching Gough. The McKittrick Hotel is across Gough on the right, set back just out of this view.
Then ... Scottie watches Madeleine walk towards the hotel entrance. This fine old Victorian was located at 1007 Gough Street on the northwest corner at Eddy in the Western Addition neighborhood (map). It's easy to see why this building, with its brooding air of mystery, would appeal to Hitchcock.
... and Now, the building is no longer there ... built in the 1890s, it was vacant in 1957 when this scene was filmed and was demolished two years later. Today a school sports field covers the corner site where the mansion used to be.
1007 Gough was also known as the Henry F. Fortmann mansion, after its long-term resident. This contemporaneous biography tells us he was the president of the Alaska Packers Association, representing the salmon canning business. He moved into 1007 Gough in 1897 and resided there until his death in 1946. Here's his entry in the 1897 San Francisco Polk's Crocker-Langley city directory.
This fine photograph of the Fortmann mansion was taken by Charles M. Cushman in 1959 shortly before it was demolished. What a waste!
Then ... Scottie gets out of his car and watches as Madeleine opens the curtains in an upstairs room. Behind him is St. Paulus' German Evangelican Lutheran Church (it’s also visible on the left in the first image above).
... and Now, the site of the old church is an empty lot to this day, currently doubling as a community garden. Incidentally, this church and the Fortmann mansion were in a scene eight years earlier in the movie The Man Who Cheated Himself.
... in 1995 ... this vintage photo captured the venerable church being consumed by fire on November 5, 1995.
In the hotel, the manager (Ellen Corby) tells him Madeleine often stops by but hadn't been here today. Incredulous, he insists on seeing her room but finds that she has disappeared. This episode is another trademark Hitchcock 'MacGuffin', a puzzling sequence having no logical explanation. (Go here to see the other one in this movie).
Then ... Scottie's view from the window shows the empty spot where Madeleine's Jaguar had been parked just moments before. That's Jefferson Square Park across Eddy from the hotel.
... and Now, the park, viewed from Eddy, still has a public bench in the same spot.
Then ... Totally confused, Scottie returns to the Brocklebank Apartments. Hitchcock takes the opportunity to show yet another vertiginous view, down the steep block on Mason between Sacramento and Clay (click image to enlarge).
... and Now, a new undistinguished apartment building in the distance at left, the 1960s Royal Towers at 1750 Taylor Street, eyesores the neighborhood. Fortunately, the classy Brocklebank remains unchanged.
Then ... and there, in the courtyard, is Madeleine's Jaguar. By now the perplexed detective can be excused if he thinks he's been imagining things.
... and Now, a different awning and that's about it. Even the large plant pots on either side of the entrance are the same.
The enigmatic pursuit continues - this time Madeleine leads Scottie to a mysterious hotel, the McKittrick. Every block traversed is listed and described sequentially. An asterisk (*) indicates a route discontinuity, ie a location jump.