The Woman In Red - "Come And Get it, Cowboy"
Then … Teddy’s persistence has paid off - his fantasy is about to become reality. Charlotte’s limo pulls up to the entrance of her apartment building.
… and Now, This is the iconic Brocklebank Apartments atop Nob Hill, across Sacramento Street from the equally iconic Fairmont Hotel, at far right. In movies this building is most famously remembered as Madeleine’s home in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.
Then … The bedroom scene was filmed in a studio using a photographic backdrop to set the location. Perplexingly though, the photo isn’t a view from a Brocklebank window, instead it was taken from the roof of the neighboring Fairmont Hotel. The building seen on the left beyond Charlotte’s shoulder is the Condominiums at 1001 California Street, the white building to its right is 1055 California and the taller brick building at far right is the Huntington Hotel at 1075 California.
… and Now, this wide view shows the Brocklebank at left, 1001 California Condominiums at right and the Fairmont rooftop from where the above window photo was taken.
Even more surprising: later on in this scene there’s another window view (below) that really was taken from the Brocklebank. It shows the same three California buildings seen through Charlotte’s window in the Then image above. CitySleuth would have used this! Down on the left is the international flag array above the Fairmont’s entrance and, on the right, the Pacific Union Club.
My, oh my … she takes his hand and leads him to the bed where she urges him to “Come and get it, cowboy”. This is it! Dreams come true! But hold on … a call comes over the intercom from the lobby from … wait for it … Charlotte’s husband! He’s on his way up!
Chaos ensues - Teddy hastily dons the husband’s bathrobe then is urged out the window onto the building ledge by a frantic Charlotte (this was the flash-forward scene at the beginning of the film). Across Mason Street is the Park Lane Apartments, built in 1924-25 just one year ahead of the Brocklebank. Its art deco moderne-styled upper floors were added in 1929.
Then … A crowd begins to congregate on the street below, staring up at the man on the 9th floor ledge.
… and Now, here’s today’s match - the street view shows the Pacific Union Club with Grace Cathedral beyond it.
Then … One of the street-side gawkers rushes into a nearby cafe gobbledygooking about a man about to jump - everyone rushes out to join the throng.
… and Now, this was the Nob Hill Cafe at 1152 Taylor Street, still in business to this day. The SF City Directory has listed it there under this name since 1978 (when it took over from Gene’s Nob Hill Coffee Shop). Today a parklet outside partially blocks the view of the houses across the street but the wide set of apartment steps is clearly visible both Then and Now.
Then … A fire department ladder truck responds to an emergency call. Note the Chinese stores across the way, the clue to this location.
… and Now, this is the Chinatown Fire Station 2 at 1340 Powell Street near Broadway.
… and Now, here’s Station 2. The ladder truck in the Then image above exited from the central bay.
And let’s never forget the brave firefighters from Station 2 who, dating all the way back to 1854, gave their lives while protecting their fellow citizens.
Teddy looks down to a huge crowd and a local TV station truck packing the Brocklebank courtyard. The movie ends when he jumps onto a life safety net, but not before he muses in voiceover whether pursuing his fantasy was worth it for just “… a piece of ass”.