I Remember Mama - Violets for Dagmar
Then ... Katrin recalls going out with Mama on a walk through the neighborhood to buy flowers for little sister Dagmar's return home from a stay in a hospital. It was a coming-of-age moment as Mama spoke to her as she would an adult.
... and Now, for this shot they were at the top of Green Street where it crests between Montgomery and Kearny on Telegraph Hill (map). It looks so much tidier since the power wires were moved underground.
Then ... They continue downhill ... but this is miles away in a completely different neighborhood - Eureka Valley in the Castro, on Liberty Street, the street where they live. (CitySleuth, a back seat editor, would have begun the scene with this shot then cut to the one above).
... and Now, From left to right are 525, 529, 533 and 537 Liberty Street (interesting that they increment by four). It's great to see so little has changed here, except for the steps leading up to number 525.
Then ... Katrin asks if she is old enough to be allowed to drink coffee - "Comes the day you're grown up, Pop and I will know", Mama replied. Note that in filming these location shots the moviemakers opted to clear the streets (in 1947) rather than include cars from the movie's setting (1910).
... and Now, they were back on Telegraph Hill, from here looking north on Kearny across Union Street. The buildings they walked by are mostly unchanged except for the added fire escape this side of the bay windows with the scalloped trim.
Then ... At the end of that block Mama stops at a stall outside a corner store and buys ten cents worth of "welcome home" violets for Dagmar.
... and Now, the Fog Hill Market is the current tenant at this location, 1300 Kearny at Green (map).
From the store they head up the steep block of Green Street; this is the same block where the first picture in this post was filmed. Behind them there are two wagons parked on the pavement...
... on location ... Eureka! - here's an on-location photo of this very scene being filmed - note the same wagons and the partially visible flower stand. Green Street runs down to North Beach on the left then climbs to Russian Hill in the distance.
... and Now, the Fog Hill market is on the corner to the right and the Russian Hill skyline has sprouted a few more high-rise apartment buildings.
Then ... While continuing up Green from Kearny Katrin promises her Mama that when she becomes rich and famous she will buy lovely clothes and jewelry for her...
... and Now, trees obscure some of the duplicate view but we do see the same tiled awning over the doorway on the left.
Then ... but for Mama, seeking wealth is not why she came to San Francisco; joining the rest of her family was far more important. They are back on Kearny, half a block from the corner store. This view looks south across Vallejo towards the downtown Financial District.
... and Now, once again trees get in the way of the view from the same spot. Newer buildings have replaced those on the left but the rest of the block on that side are the originals, as is the house on the corner of Vallejo at far right. The extent of today's transformed Financial District is hinted at by the office high-rise in the distance.