San Francisco and the Silver Screen

I had the pleasure of co-conducting a “Tours of the Tales” tour with Larry Rhodes over Memorial Day Weekend to celebrate the 36th Anniversary of “Tales of the City”.  During our tour, we mentioned several films that take place in and around San Francisco, and in particular, places near and dear to the folks at 28 Barbary Lane.  Here is a partial list of the films we discussed.  Please feel free to add more in the comments, San Francisco must be a film-makers dream.

Dark Passage (1947) - Lauren Bacall lives in the Malloch Apartments, these are the same apartments Dede and Beacham reside in the “Tales” novels.

Vertigo (1958) - Kim Novak’s character, Madeline, is scouted by Scotty, James Stewart, at the Brocklebank apartments.  In the “Tales” miniseries, these are the apartments where Dede and Beacham live.

Woman on the Run (1950) - Ann Sheridan and Dennis O’Keefe.  Locations include Washington Square Park and the “meeting of the lines” on Nob Hill.

House on Telegraph Hill (1951) - filmed on location on Telegraph Hill.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Starring Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright, locations include 32 Napier Lane, Alamo Square and the Transamerica Pyramid.

The Conversation (1974) - A Francis Ford Coppola gem featuring Gene Hackman, filmed in Union Square and Embarcadero Center.

D.O.A. (1950) - Film Noir starring Edmond O’Brien, Powell and California Cable Car Line, 

There are literally a ton of movies filmed in location in San Francisco.  Mistersf has a wonderful section on “Cinematic SF”.  Let’s not forget one of my favorites, “What’s Up, Doc?”