Reel SF

San Francisco movie locations from classic films

San Francisco movie locations from classic films

Vertigo - Madeleine's Apartment

    Madeleine lives at the Brocklebank Apartments at 1000 Mason Street at Sacramento, a venerable and classy building which, together with the Mark Hopkins Hotel, bookends the Fairmont Hotel between them  (map).

Then ... Scottie waits kitty-korner from the Brocklebank in his 1956 De Soto 2-seater Firedome Sportsman.  The fine building on the other side of the fence is the Pacific Union Club, a gentlemen's club since 1889.  Further back is the still-to-be-completed Grace Cathedral with only one of the twin towers built.

... and Now,  the Pacific Union Club looks exactly the same.  Formerly the James C. Flood mansion, it and the Fairmont Hotel opposite were the only two Nob Hill buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire.  The cathedral was more or less complete by 1964 - from this viewpoint the south tower just peeks over the club.

 

Then ... He watches Madeleine exit the building and drive out through the gate ...

.... in her green 1957 Jaguar Mk VIII.

... and Now,  thankfully, some things never change.  Coincidentally Herb Caen, San Francisco's beloved and curmudgeonly city reporter, also lived in this building.  He owned a Jaguar, too, which he often referred to as his 'white rat', a reference to its lack of reliability.

 

    The iconic Fairmont and Mark Hopkins Hotels , both Nob Hill icons, are seen on the left as Scottie pulls out behind the Jaguar on what will be the first of repeated 'wanderings' around the city.

... and Now,  there are newer buildings further back but the Fairmont and the Mark Hopkins remain very popular with well-to-do visitors.

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