One On Top Of The Other - Monica Flies The Coop
Seemingly Director Lucio Fulci was as enamored with New York as he was with San Francisco. When the storyline shifts over there he takes us on an tour through the city.
Then … Following George’s conviction for murdering his wife the police now turn their scrutiny to Monica. But she flees; we see her traveling through New York City by cab, in this shot heading north on 1st Avenue past the United Nations General Assembly building (map).
… and Now, most of the changes here since then seem to be of the foliage kind.
Then … She is reflected in the rear-view mirror as the cab encounters busy traffic. Eagle-eyed observers will see the subway entrance sign on the right, behind the pole - ‘6th Ave Subway’, the clue to this location.
… and Now, Sure enough, they were on E. 42nd Street approaching 6th Ave. Bryant Park is off to the left. Many but not all of the buildings seen along 42nd have been replaced.
How cool is this? CitySeuth came across a matching vintage photo taken from the same spot back in the 1930s, an image dominated by the 42nd Street station on the IRT 6th Avenue elevated railway. The dirty, noisy but nostalgic ‘El’ opened in 1878, eventually being demolished in 1939, replaced by the underground 6th Avenue line.
Then … The huge sign atop the highrise behind her shoulder is the giveaway for this location, this is Essex House, a luxury hotel in New York situated center-block on Central Park South.
… and Now, the cab was in Central Park heading north on Center Drive (map). The Essex House sign, more clearly visible in this photo, has been there since 1932.
Then … She is dropped off at a Midtown post office.
Then … The camera cuts to her entering the post office lobby.
… and Now, the post office, located at 909 3rd Avenue on the corner of E. 54th St. (map), has traded the two double doors for revolving doors. Through the glass two escalators can be seen connecting the lobby to the post office upstairs. It’s interesting to compare the Then and Now reflections of the buildings across the street; the old cheek-by-jowl brick residential buildings were replaced in 1983 by a shiny office tower.
Then … Fulcio cleverly filmed the reflection of Monica in the 2nd floor ceiling as she ascended the up escalator, requiring CitySleuth to invert this image (note the ceiling’s recessed lights). The parallel escalator heads down.
… and Now, again the comparison shows entrance doors replaced by revolving doors (this photo of the escalators was taken in 2018 when the revolving doors, currently bronzed, were gold colored). Downstairs on the left a wall now separates previously open adjacent lobbies.
… and Now, this wider view shows the entrance, left, and the Post Office name, upper right, which were presented separately in the Then shots above. E. 54th is on the right.
Monica opens P.O. Box 802 to retrieve an airplane ticket inside. Her next stop, on the way showing more views of New York City, will be the airport for a flight to Paris, France.
