San Francisco movie locations from classic films
San Francisco movie locations from classic films
In the famous car chase Bullitt's Mustang 390 GT pursues the bad guys' Dodge Charger 440 Magnum through several San Francisco neighborhoods before ending with a fiery conclusion outside the city. This post takes sixteen of the highlights and presents them in a 'Then' and 'Now' format.
Two of Mike Figlia's henchmen mug Nick in front of the Colchester Hotel on the Embarcadero (the hotel was described earlier). When Nick's wallet falls to the ground Rica grabs it and takes off, with the thugs in close pursuit. They catch up with her in Ceylon Street, a narrow alley near Front Street between Clay and Washington which no longer exists after the Golden Gateway Project redevelopment. The map below shows where Ceylon used to be and where the scenes were filmed. The Colchester Hotel was at location 1 and Rica was cornered at location 2.
The chase starts in front of the Colchester Hotel, below.
... a vintage photo ... here's the Colchester in an undated photo taken before this block was demolished.
Rica is next seen at the south end of Ceylon Street which tees with Clay Street behind her. The small sign says 'Allied Produce Co' - this was the back door of the business of that name at 313 Davis Street.
Then ... The thugs close in on Rica and take the wallet from her. This panoramic composite looks north along Ceylon to where it tees into Washington; a large truck is parked across the intersection. A 'John DeMartini Co' sign is behind Rica at a side entrance to the DeMartini building on Washington which spanned Ceylon to Davis.
... and Now, the Golden Gateway Garage has been built where Ceylon Street used to be. The photo below shows the same view today, but taken on the garage's roof garden.
... an archival photo of Ceylon Street ... CitySleuth has combined two archival photos (below) to show how the Washington/Ceylon corner used to look before the area was redeveloped. On the left, from the 1950s, is a view east down Washington. On the right, from 1944, a view south down Ceylon. This is the opposite direction from the 'Then' movie view along Ceylon, above, but a comparison of the corner building's windows and awning shows it to be the same building.
The movie opens with two twilight views in succession, establishing the location as New York City. The views are at locations A and B on the map below.
Then ... First is a view of Brooklyn Bridge taken from the Brooklyn side looking across the East River to Manhattan (location A on the map).
... and Now, below is a recent photo taken from the same spot. There are many new buildings in this view but sadly, the most dominant of the newer additions - the twin towers of the World Trade Center, are missing.
... before 9/11/2001 ... This earlier photo shows the same view when the towers were still there.
Then ... The second view is from Central Park (location B in the map above) and establishes the setting for the opening action which follows. Note the two twin tower apartment buildings on the skyline.
... and Now, this matching photo was taken from the Sheep Meadow in Central Park. The two classic buildings stand as sentinels representing a side of the city unchanged in the 64 years since the movie was made. At center the Majestic Apartments at 115 Central Park West and to its right the San Remo Apartments at 145 Central Park West where coincidentally the star of the movie, Rita Hayworth, resided at the time of her death from Alzheimers in 1987. Other celebrities who have lived here are Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, Bono and Demi Moore with Bruce Willis.
... and Now, below, this aerial photo looking south down Central Park shows the Sheep Meadow, location B, with arrows pointing to the two apartment buildings. That's the Metroplitan Museum of Art in the center foreround.
The story suddenly takes a dark turn when Archie returns to his apartment and finds Petulia bleeding and unconcious on the floor, the victim of a brutal beating at the hands of her husband David who is nowhere to be seen.
Then ... A distraught Archie leads the way as the paramedics carry her out out of the building on a stretcher.
... and Now, this is the rear exit from 307 Filbert. The stairs lead to Alta Street, a cul-de-sac off Montgomery between the Filbert Steps and Union Street. In the recent photo below, the cottage seen above, #106, has been replaced by another building.
Then ... The stretcher is loaded onto an ambulance as a bunch of curious onlookers (members and friends of the Grateful Dead band) crowd around and gawk. From the left, Jerry Garcia (pre-beard), Bob Weir, Rosie McGee (a friend of the band) and Danny Rifkin, the band's manager. The person next to him is unidentified and the cop at right is Morgan Upton of the Committee improv group.
... and Now, the ambulance was parked in front of 103/105 Alta Street, looking much the same now as it did then.
In the briefest of cameo roles Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead bid her a bemused farewell with Bob saying "Goodbye, Mama". Interesting choice of drink for Jerry ... coke. Somebody has a sense of humor.