The Lineup (1958)
The Movie
The Lineup, influenced by the earlier TV series of the same name, starts off as a typical police investigation of smuggled heroin but becomes far more interesting after it segues into an intriguing character study of the criminals involved. Director Don Siegel uses his camera to maximum effect to capture mid-century San Francisco, using many popular locations that are no longer there today, a record of the past, and for good measure he throws in an exciting car chase which predates by a decade the better-known one in the movie Bullitt. The movie was released in the U.S. on June 11, 1958.
The Story
An odd trio of crooks seek out returning travelers who had unwittingly carried planted heroin back to San Francisco. Their pathological hitman, Dancer (a malevolent Eli Wallach), systematically eliminates the innocent carriers as they retrieve the loot until of all things a child’s doll gets in their way. The denouement includes a hair-raising high speed car chase across the city as the police investigation closes in …
The Locations
- Bungled Heist Pier 41, the Embarcadero at Jefferson
- First Responders Cole Street at Carmel Street--- Great Highway at Lincoln Way--- Wisconsin Street near 22nd Street--- El Camino Del Mar at 32nd Street--- Embarcadero at Jefferson Street
- Police Headquarters Hall of Justice, 750 Kearny Street
- Window Views Financial Center Building at 500 California Street--- Russian Hill as viewed from Coit Tower
- Opera House War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave at Grove Street
- Customs Office U.S. Custom House, 555 Battery Street near Jackson
- Lineup Studio set based on the Hall of Justice's Show-Up Room
- Lefty Jenkins' Room View down Mason Street past Filbert--- Kent Street off Mason Street, Russian Hill
- Dead Porter The pier at the Pearce Street beach, The Presidio
- Arrival in San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge flyover--- Terminal 2, San Francisco Airport
- Motel With A View Bayside Motel, 2011 Bayshore Boulevard at Hester, Bayshore Heights, Visitacion Valley
- Passenger Terminal Mission Rock Terminal, Pier 50, Mission Bay
- Seaman's Club Embarcadero YMCA, The Embarcadero near Howard Street
- Sanders' Residence Whittier Mansion, 2090 Jackson Street at Laguna, Pacific Heights
- Mark Hopkins Hotel One Nob Hill, California and Mason
- Steinhart Aquarium and de Young Museum Golden Gate Park
- Sutro's and Cliff House Point Lobos Avenue, Land's End
- Car Chase, Lands End--- Lincoln Park--- Sea Cliff--- Presidio--- Marina--- Embarcadero at North Beach--- Rincon Hill
- Dancer's Demise I-480 Freeway, above First Street alongside Folsom Street