The Lady From Shanghai - Opening Scene
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.