Frisco Vista » film

A Jitney Elopement

xensen — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:00:09 +0000

Just yesterday I was talking about films shot in San Francisco and noting that the San Francisco Chronicle‘s list seemed a little slim. And today Sparkletack posts on a Chaplin film shot in Golden Gate Park, called A Jitney Elopment (more info on the film at Sparkletack).

Movies filmed in San Francisco

xensen — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:00:37 +0000

In the context of an article about filmmakers avoiding SF because of its expense, SFGate has put together a nice interactive map mashup showing the location of several movies filmed in San Francisco.

The map can be dragged. The movies icons are coded by genre. Clicking on an icon brings up information about the movie, its SF locations, and even a link to the trailer.

The list of movies doesn’t seem very complete to me. One I can think of right away that’s missed is Eric von Stroheim’s Greed, which was at least partially shot in the city. The site lists only the following. What else is missing?

D.O.A.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Dirty Harry
Vertigo
What’s Up Doc?
The Conversation
Pal Joey
Bullitt
Petulia
Dark Passage
Flower Drum Song
The Towering Inferno
Zodiac
Milk

San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate

xensen — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:16 +0000

Many people think of Tony Bennett and his left-behind heart when they think of San Francisco tunes. But residents know that our theme song is really “San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate.”

Frisco Vista has suffered some connectivity problems recently (please let me know if you have trouble accessing the site or making comments). I think I have the problems repaired now, so we’re back open for business. On that note, let’s hear the original Jeanette Macdonald version of the city spreading her wings, from the MGM movie San Francisco (1936), starring Clark Gable as Blackie Norton:

Vertigo at Fort Point

xensen — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:00:43 +0000

Fort Point, at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, figures prominently in the Hitchcock film Vertigo. It is here where Kim Novak plunges off the fort into the water and is saved by Jimmy Stewart.

The story is told — I don’t know if it is true or not, although it sounds plausible — that Novak and Hitchcock squabbled throughout the filming of the movie. Novak, it is said, constantly complained that her wardrobe was not glamorous enough.

In the filming of this scene Hitchcock exacted his reverge. Claiming to be dissatisfied with the first couple of dozen takes, he made Novak enter the chilly water 25 times.

Lady from Shanghai

xensen — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:00:02 +0000

I’ve always enjoyed Orson Wells’s The Lady from Shanghai (1948). It was shot in San Francisco and Sausalito (and L.A.). Here are a few images, taken from the excellent site Film in America. At that site there are more images and commentary. I’ve taken the liberty of adjusting the tone of the images for clarity and photographic quality.

The Bay Bridge is visible from this shot in Sausalito

San Francisco north stretching to the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County

Grant Street

Mason Street

Portsmouth Square

Steinhardt Aquarium

Ferry Building and Bay Bridge

SF Trek

xensen — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:00:58 +0000

via Laughing Squid

Oakland Hillbillies

xensen — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:50:00 +0000

The provocative Mr. Charles Barkley, an NBA legend in his own estimation and currently a TNT network commentator, referred a moment ago to “Golden State” as a “a “smoky little town” full of hillbillies. Certainly an original take from Barkley (who was born and raised in rural Leeds, Alabama), as you’d be hard-pressed to find a home in the Oakland Hills for under half a million dollars.

Still, I can think of one Oakland Hillbilly. Max Baer, Jr. (Maximilian Adalbert Baer, Jr.), was born in Oakland in 1937. His father was the heavyweight boxer Max Baer, Sr. At the University of Santa Clara he studied business administration and philosophy, but he ended up pursuing a career as an actor. His best-known role? Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies.

It would be a great part for Barkley — known as the Round Clown of Rebound — if they ever do another remake.