Saturday, November 1, 2008

San Francisco's "Vertigo"

The October 3rd USA Today had an article by Laura Bly about the role the city of San Francisco played in the Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" which premiered 50 years ago.

The movie starred Jimmy Stweart as a detective afraid of heights and Kim Novak who played two roles. Various places around the city also had starring roles.

The California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, where the portrait was, Fort Point National Historic Site where Kim Novak jumped into the bay with the Golden Gate Bridge above are still there. But, you can't get to the exact spot because of 9-11 security measures.

Other sites are gone including Ernie's Restaurant where the duo first met. The York Hotel (Empire Hotel) in the movie is being restored at the Vertigo Hotel with motto "Equilibrium is Overrated" with free "Vertigo" movies.

Two hours south of San Francisco is San Juan Bautista, the largest of California's 21 missions, which was the setting for the film's finale. The church is there, but the tall tower never existed and was built in a studio.

I always find the filming of a movie almost as interesting as the movie itself.

Oops, That Looks a Little High to Me. --Cooter

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