Nora Prentiss - The Suspect
Then … Following the movie’s opening titles a camera mounted on the roof of the 9 story Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill slowly pans across the city, creating this fine establishing panorama looking out to the Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island. On the left Telegraph Hill rises towards Coit Tower (it’s just outside the frame); in the center are the Appraisers building with the old Hall of Justice in front of it, and the Russ Building - the city’s tallest back then - is at far right.
… and Now, the identical panorama taken from the same rooftop spot today would have most of the left half blocked by the 29 story Fairmont Tower added in 1961-62 but this 23rd floor view from that Tower is a good substitute. Much of Telegraph Hill over to the left is unchanged but the Financial District straight ahead has been transformed. From here one still sees part of the Russ Building at far right.
Then … The Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island are again seen in the background as the Southern Pacific Railroads’ ferryboat Berkeley (it linked San Francisco with the Oakland Pier trains across the Bay) approaches the Ferry Building. On board is a suspect being brought back to face trial for murder. Long since retired from service, this historic steam ferry today resides as the centerpiece display at the San Diego Maritime Museum.
… and Now, there are now a smaller number of piers serving the Ferry Building and today’s ferryboats are faster and have much lower emissions than the old coal-fired steam ferries like the Berkeley.
The Ferry Building is flanked by Piers 1 and 14 - there used to be 10 smaller piers between them. There are now less, they have been reconfigured and Pier 14 is now a skinny version of its former self. (Click or tap the image to toggle between Then and Now).
The ferry passengers exit through the Ferry Building, here walking down from the second level to the gangway. At the front the suspect, escorted by a police guard, keeps his head down and face covered. This part of the building is completely changed, it’s now office space.
A group of reporters bombard him with questions as he passes through a waiting room. According to The IMdB Pro website the SF Chronicle’s beloved Herb Caen (he would have been 30 at the time) was one of them, if so he would be the hatless one behind the suspect.
Then … Outside the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero the reporters continue to hound him until he is bundled into a waiting police car. Recognizable structures from left to right are: the Appraisers Building (even more visible in the opening panorama at the top of the post), the Ferry Station Post Office on Merchant Street, Coit Tower and the Wellman’s Coffee building.
… and Now, the Embarcadero is much changed today; the buildings lining the street above have been replaced by the Embarcadero Plaza, Sue Berman Park and the Bay Club Gateway Tennis and Swim complex (clearly shown in the Then and Now aerial above). Coit Tower is still there but partially blocked by the double-globe lamppost in the center. The office high-rise at far left is Four Embarcadero Center.
Then … The police car arrives at the imposing Hall of Justice at 750 Kearny Street where Chinatown meets the Financial District.
… and Now, The Hall of Justice moved from here to new headquarters on Bryant Street in 1960. A decade later a hotel - the Holiday Inn Hotel Downtown - was built on this site. In 2005 it was taken over by the Hilton chain, refurbished and renamed the Hilton San Francisco Financial District. Here it is today, including the so-called ‘Footbridge to Nowhere’ which spans Kearny Street to Portsmouth Square but is never used. (There are plans afoot to remove it).
The suspect is accused of murdering Richard Talbot, a respected San Francisco doctor. The appointed attorney tries without success to get him to talk about it, telling him that without knowing what happened he cannot mount a defense and a guilty verdict will be certain.