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Kevin at Fort Point, July 13, 2002 My Hitchcock Tour of the Bay Area
July 12 - 17, 2002
"In September of 1957, Alfred Hitchcock arrived in San Francisco for location shooting of his new thriller, Vertigo. It is a movie that not only captured San Francisco's scenic backdrops, but also made them an integral part of the story. As a result, Vertigo is certainly one of the best movies that has ever been shot on location in San Francisco."
--Lawrence French
A Virtual Tour of 'Vertigo.'

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In July of 2002, I realized a long-term dream and took a self-guided Hitchcock tour of the San Francisco Bay area. Hitchcock filmed several films on location here, mostly notably, Vertigo, The Birds, Shadow of a Doubt and Family Plot. Many have done what one writer called "The Hitchcock Pilgrimage" and there are quite a few resources available for more information and on guided Vertigo tours of San Francisco:

Widescreen Cinema - Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo
Northern California Movies
Self-Guided Vertigo Movie Tour of San Francisco
Guided Hitchcock's Vertigo Tour

To view the larger photos, just click on the thumbnails below. Mouse over the thumbnail to read the captions. Enjoy the tour!

Friday, July 12: Buena Vista Park (Vertigo)

Drew checks Dan into Park Hill Sanitarium Kevin is cured of his vertigo…well, almost Park Hill Apartments, 351 Buena Vista Avenue East Used as Park Hill Sanitarium in Vertigo Formerly an actual mental hospital, St. Jospeh's Sanitarium Side view of Park Hill Apartments View of the Castro from Buena Vista Park View of Dan and Drew's place (near rainbow mural) from Buena Vista Park View of Mission Dolores from Buena Vista Park

Saturday, July 13: Union Square and Nob Hill

Former location of Ransohoffs clothng store, 259 Post St. Where Scottie recreates Madeline from Judy All interiors shot in Hollywood Flower Stand, 250 Post St., where Scottie buys Judy a flower Where have all the flowers gone? Gumps Department Store, Post St. Used to be next to the flower stand Former location of Podesta Baldocchi Flower Shop, 224 Grant St. Interior shots were filmed on location York Hotel, 940 Sutter St, formerly the Empire Hotel Kim Novak lived here as Judy Used to have a green neon sign Hitchcock chose he location for the sign, which shone into Judy's room Closeup of awning at the york Farewell to the York/Empire Could this be the location of the Argosy bookstore/ Or is it just a coincidence? The Pacific Union Mens Club, 1000 California St., where Scotty meets with Elster The Fairmont Hotel is where Hitchcock, cast and crew stayed during location filming The Fairmont is directly across Mason from the Pacific Union Club And it's just across Sacramento from the Brocklebank The Brocklebank Apts. where Kim Novak stayed as Madeline This is where Scotty begins trailing Madeline Also appears in Tales of the City Brocklebank Apts, 1000 Mason St. at Sacramento Another Brocklebank shot The Pacific Union Mens Club as seen from the Brocklebank

North Beach and Russian Hill

Former site of Ernie's Restaurant, 847 Montgomery St. Ernie's later became the Essex Supper Club, which (obviously) closed for good City Lights Bookstore, Dissent is not Un-American! A shot down hilly Vallejo Street Me with Coit Tower in the background (shot by a friendly lesbian couple) Better without the hat? The road stops but Vallejo keeps going up Looking east from the top of Vallejo The Transamerica Building, San Francisco's Great Pyramid A view of the Bay Bridge Fishermans Wharf and a foggy Bay Another east view from slightly higher up A view of Alcatraz Island from the top of Vallejo As far as I know, Hitchcock never used Alcatraz in his movies Jimmy Stewart's apartment at 900 Lombard Street The front door of 900 Lombard A view of Coit Tower from 900 Lombard (which is shown at the wrong angle in the movie) Those trees weren't there in 1958! Oh, those San Francisco angles! The famous Lombard curves (as seen in What's Up Doc?) Another shot of Coit Tower from the curvy section of Lombard How much you want to bet these cars are all driven by tourists?! Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge from the top of Lombard Lombard Street from the top Cable car coming up ? Street Broadway and Divisadero, where I met up with Dan and Drew (at the top of a frickin' mountain!) The view east from the top of Broadway The view north from the top of Divisadero Dan and Drew down the stairs at Lyon Street The stairs at Lyon Street Me up the stairs at Lyon Street How many dogs can you count?

The Presidio and Fort Point

The Palace of Fine Arts Dan and I recreate Scottie and Madelyn's scene at the Palace of Fine Arts Or was it this way? The arch of the Palace of Fine Arts If anyone here knows why these two should not be wed... Inside the Palace of Fine Arts My first view of the bridgeWhy did I schedule this trip in July?! Me on the Presidio with Alcatraz offshore Dan and Drew on the Presidio with the city as backdrop An artist balances these rocks with no glue or fasteners See? Approaching Fort Point and the South anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge Fort Point, location for Vertigo and High Anxiety The Golden Gate Bridge towers over Fort Point Dan and Drew at Fort PointKevin recreates Kim Novak jumping into the Bay That chain link fence wasn't here for Jimmy Stewart?! The city as seen from Fort Point (in a heavy fog) Climbing above Fort Point to get to the bridge Looking through the fog at Saucalito On the Golden Gate Bridge Looking down on Fort Point from the bridge Jimmy Stewart drove down this road following Kim Novak

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