I have several photos of Marin movie locations on my website......LINK
Also check out the great work at Reel SF.......Link ....scroll down list to Fairfax, Larkspur, Tiburon, Sausalito and Marin County (not in aphabetical order)
-- Edited by JoeG on Thursday 19th of December 2013 10:36:54 AM
-- Edited by JoeG on Thursday 19th of December 2013 10:42:51 AM
I thought Invasion of the Body Satchers was filmed in Siera Madre. Similar center as Mill Valley but exactly like the movie. Definitly So Cal exteriors.
The tv series''The Fugative'' with David Janssen or Jannsen had an episode filmed at Paradise drive.You could see the whole surrounding area.About four years ago I was on line looking for anything having to do with Marin history,when I typed in ''history of the redwood highway thru marin county''.What came up was a film that somebody shot in 1914 from a car of the redwood highway going north thru marin.Talk about exited.I felt like a kid on Christmas.I clicked on the site,it downloaded then started to play,the person filming from the passenger seat of the car you could see hills and the landscape.After about 6 seconds It shut down because my computor was old, and only had dial up at the time.Talk about crushed.I tried over and over.Couldnt even get back to the site.Shortly after I got a new pc with high speed but still havent been able to find it.Does anybody know anything about this old footage?Frustrating.
The only surviving silent feature length film is "Salome Jane". It is in the archives of the Library of Congress. It was lost until about 8 or 9 years ago.
When it comes to the Lionel Ashcroft book, there are actually two versions. The first was so full of inaccuracies that a certain billionaire paid for it to be rewritten and reprinted. The original copies were destroyed, except for the ones some of us that helped edit the book were able to keep. I treasure mine and am going to be pdfing it soon incase my hardcopy gets damaged.
Of course "American Graffiti" was partially filmed in San Rafael. They were supposed to be there for some time but only lasted one night. You can see glimpses in the opening cruising scene. There were too many complaints from business owners. The production then moved to Petaluma.
And when it comes to the California Motion Picture Corporation location it was where a school is now. In the 1950s a group of boys threw fire crackers inside the film vault not knowing the nitrate is so flammable. The building exploded and all the film destroyed.
And of course there was Essany that started on the east coast before moving to Marin and then to Niles before going to L.A. In Niles children were known to light the films on fire and roll them down the hills. Some do survive but it is unknown if any were done in Marin.
I was lucky enough to be traveling on the road where Clint Eastwood jumped on to the bus from the railroad trestle. Police had the road blocked to shoot the scene, and so we got to watch it. Very cool. Another movie scene that I havnt seen mentioned is that part of The Candidate was shot on Angel Island. The fire scene was actually of them burning some of the old barracks. My father was a ranger on the island, so I got to see that as well.
A few months ago, they took out the "Dirty Harry" railroad bridge on Sir Francis Drake at Larkspur Landing. I can see the practical reasons it was an impediment to traffic and large commercial trucks probably had to detour through San Rafael to get around it. Still, yet another landmark gone. :(
Okay come on! One of the most famous films by one of our infamous writers was filmed in Point reyes. Alfred Hitchcock "The BIRDS" ring a bell...and lets not forget that the ferry terminal parking lot cvering was used in the Star Trek Movie.
Someone just bought me a book about North Bay movie locations. When I get some time I'll incorporate everything written on this site with whatever I get from the book into that Trivia Question in the Trivia section.
Thanks so much for everyone who has sent in answers to this question. Very cool.
Regarding the old San Rafael studio buildings in Sun Valley I mentioned, my sister Rosemary pipes in with the following:
There was a book written about them about 10-12 years ago. Unfortunately it is out of print now. Movie Studios & Movie Theaters in Marin: A History Since 1888by Lionel Ashcroft. I do remember some old buildings. Unfortunately they burned, there was old nitrate film reels in them. Some kids playing with matches. I am not sure if the ones I saw in the 40s are the same ones. I think the ones with the film stored burned earlier.
In case anybody's wondering about the really early films, from the teens of the last century, that are listed in the long post further down this thread, my brother Will has just confirmed my childhood memories of him talking about the remains of an old silent film studio out on west Fifth Ave. in the Sun Valley section of San Rafael. One of his classmates at St. Raphael's elementary school lived in the area, and he remembers seeing what was left of some of the buildings in the late 40s and early 50s. That particular studio was the California Motion Picture Company, one of several that were active in Marin at the time. The first cowboy star, G.M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson, made about 40 films in Marin with his Essanay Studios (Anderson was the "A" of Essanay [S and A, gettit?] before pulling up stakes and moving down across the bay to Niles, where they soon started making comedies with that new Charlie Chaplin guy.
I watched Dirty Harry on DVD and at the end, The last scene was not on the bay as I'd remembered but at a quarry pond up where the lake for the apts is now.
If you hit 2X frame by frame at the end it really gives you a good sense of East Sir Francis Drake from the off ramp (which did not include the option to go to Greenbrae or back to 101 North), the buildings that became Salsa Trading etc., an undeveloped Wood Island (where we used to go up a dirt road and "park" at the top, no ferry or parking lot, the quarry buildings, and excellent shots of the go cart track, and all this on a quaint 2-lane back road with wide dirt shoulders. It makes Victoria's Station seem recent. I'm with Paul. I like the old Marin with a little dirt here and there.
Check it out, but if you don't slow it down, you miss most of it.
While looking for Sausalito (2000) from Hong Kong on imdb I found Sister Sausalito (2003) And an 11 minute documentary from 1948, I would love to see posted here also called Sausalito.
Angel Island: The Other Sister (1999) The Well-Groomed Bride (1946)
Belvedere: Petulia (1968)
Bolinas: Wildflowers (2000) The Fog (1980) Play it Again, Sam (1972)
Corte Madera: Wildflowers (2000)
Dillon Beach: The Zodiac (2005) Bandits (2001)
Fairfax: Farmer and Chase (1997) Flubber (1997) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Experiment in Terror (1962) Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner (1911)
Fort Baker: House of Sand and Fog (2003) Crazy in Alabama (1999) Final Analysis (1992) Play it Again, Sam (1972) Dirty Harry (1971) Dark Passage (1947)
Greenbrae: Mother (1996)
Inverness: Village of the Damned (1995) The Fog (1980)
Kentfield: The Californians (2004) Nutcracker (2000)
Lagunitas: The Californians (2004) Cupid Angling (1918)
Larkspur: Nutcracker (2000) Dirty Harry (1971) Impact (1949)
Marin Headlands: "The Bachelorette" (2003) "Presidio Med" (2002-2003) The Sweetest Thing (2002) Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) Monkeybone (2001) Boys and Girls (2000) Mission (2000) Playing Mona Lisa (2000) Sausalito (2000) The Other Sister (1999) Wildflowers (2000) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Copycat (1995) Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) Basic Instinct (1992) Leonard Part 6 (1987) Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Foul Play (1978) Magnum Force (1973) Dirty Harry (1971)
MMWD: Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) What Dreams May Come (1998) Ratboy (1986) On the Edge (1985)
Marshall: Bandits (2001) I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Mill Valley: Bandits (2001) Nutcracker (2000) Wildflowers (2000) Basic Instinct (1992) The Doctor (1991) Night of the Living Dead (1990) Serial (1980) American Graffiti (1973) Dirty Harry (1971)
Mt. Tam: Jack (1996) Shattered (1991) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) On the Edge (1985)
Muir Woods: Wildflowers (2000) What Dream May Come (1998) Outbreak (1995) Time After Time (1979)
Nicasio: The Sweetest Thing (2002) Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) Bicentennial Man (1999) Village of the Damned (1995) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) The People (1972, TV)
Point Reyes: Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) Desperate Measures (1998) "Nash Bridges" (1996-2001) Village of the Damned (1995) Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) The Fog (1980)
Ross: Jack (1996) Sibling Rivalry (1990) The Godfather (1972) The Candidate (1972)
Samuel P. Taylor State Park: Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) Around the Fire (1998)
San Anselmo: Bandits (2001) Farmer and Chase (1997) Flubber (1997) A Smile Like Yours (1997) Jack (1996) Sibling Rivalry (1990) Eye on the Sparrow (1987, TV)
San Geronimo: The Californians (2004) Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001) Shoot the Moon (1982)
San Quentin: Black August (2004) Redemption: The Stan "Tookie" Williams Story (2004, TV) True Crime (1999) Weeds (1987) Take the Money and Run (1969) I Want to Live! (1958) Dark Passage (1947)
San Rafael: Star Wars: Episode III - Untitled (2005) Black August (2004) The Californians (2004) Swing (2004) "The Bachelorette" (2003) Dopamine (2003) Happily Even After (2003) Hulk (2003) High Crimes (2002) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) The Sweetest Thing (2002) Bartleby (2001) Sweet November (2001) Jane (2000) Nutcracker (2000) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) True Crime (1999) Around the Fire (1998) What Dreams May Come (1998) Farmer and Chase (1997) Flubber (1997) Gattaca (1997) Inventing the Abbbotts (1997) Out on a Limb (1992) Sibling Rivalry (1990) "Options" (1989-) Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Massive Retaliation (1984) Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) "What's Up Broadcasting" (1982-) Devices (1980) Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) American Graffiti (1973) The People (1972, TV) THX-1138 (1970) Blood Alley (1955) Mignon (1915) Salomy Jane (1914) Alkali Ike's Auto (1911) Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner (1911)
Sausalito: Mission (2000) Sausalito (2000) The Sculptress (2000) Wildflowers (2000) The Other Sister (1999) Where's George (1999) Jack (1996) Mother (1996) "Nash Bridges" (1996-2001) The Rock (1996) Final Analysis (1992) Shattered (1991) The Dead Pool (1988) Lady of the House (1978, TV) Foul Play (1978) Play it Again, Sam (1972) Dear Brigitte (1965) Impact (1949) The Lady From Shanghai (1948)
Stinson Beach: The Californians (2004) Wildflowers (2000) Basic Instinct (1992) Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) The Fog (1980) Play it Again, Sam (1972)
Tennessee Valley: Shoot the Moon (1982)
Tiburon: The Californians (2004) High Crimes (2002) Nutcracker (2000) Nine Months (1995) An Eye For an Eye (1981) Foul Play (1978) Magnum Force (1973) Her First Mate (1973) Moran of the Lady Letty (1922)
Tomales: Bandits (2001) Mumford (1999) Scream (1996) Radio Flyer (1992)
Unknown locations in Marin: By Hook Or By Crook (2000) Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) Wildfire (1988) Heat and Sunlight (1987) Tell Me a Riddle (1980) The Cowpuncher's Law (1911) The Hidden Mine (1911) The Two-Gun Man (1911)
Unknown GGNRA in Marin or SF:Hulk (2003) Just One Night (2000) Skeleton Woman (2000) Stigmata (1999) Doctor Dolittle (1998) How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) Little City (1998) The Parent Trap (1998) Stepmom (1998) G.I. Jane (1997) The Game (1997) Metro (1997) Mother (1996) Phenomenon (1996) Jade (1995) Nine Months (1995) Getting Even With Dad (1994) Interview With the Vampire (1994) Junior (1994) Jack the Bear (1993) The Joy Luck Club (1993) Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) The Presidio (1988) Willow (1988) The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Enemy Mine (1985) A View to a Kill (1985) Poltergeist (1982) The Enforcer (1976)
here's the link where you can get detailed info on each film:
Okay, if you click "Trivia & Polls" on the top bar of MarinNostalgia.org you'll see a new trivia question called "Marin Movies". It's still under construction...but can anyone help me create a definitive list of films shot in Marin over the last 10 years?
The kid in that scene on the bicycle was a friend of mine from grade school who was always interested in theater and acting. I think he's a producer now in Los Angeles.
Don't know if I missed it in this string, but there is a scene in the Godfather that was filmed in front of Ross School and also on Shady Lane. In the scene in front of the school there was a meeting between two people - possibley RD and a woman. A boy riding a bike passes by and say's "Hello" to the woman.
Tyler wrote: My dad says part of one of the CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON films was filmed in Marin.. But noone car seem to Verify it...
Check out this thread here. It looks like the misunderstanding comes from there being another Paradise Cove down in SoCal. It's unlikely they'd send a crew up here just to film something that could just as easily (and more cheaply) been filmed closer to home.
Laura Dern was in a movie called "Smooth Talk" in the 80's. She is lying out at China Camp beach, and then drives over the Richmond Bridge to get to the Santa Rosa mall! Later she is hanging out a place that is along the freeway in Ignacio. I think it is a restaurant or store now.
Yeah, I know you were kidding, but it does sort of point out my ignorance of what's actually there at the moment. I haven't been down to Larkspur in a couple years. The last time, the building right on the corner was still a raw food restaurant. Is that now Picco's? Or is it in one of the adjoining newer ("newer" to me meaning dating from the 60s) storefronts to the south? One of them was a laundromat when those were first built.
I'm extrapolating the exact location of that Impact newlywed shot from the rock wall across the street; I walked past that, and the Costello house behind it, a zillion times when I was a kid, on my way to St. Patrick's or downtown.
Paul, I was kidding because the "just married" pic was clearly taken in front of the current Picco Pizzeria and they're heading south. Katherine Euebanks was north of there, wasn't it, where the current sign is at say about 478 ?
SteveC wrote: WOW Paul Penna, Those are great. Thanks for posting. I noticed the newlyweds are shown leaving Picco Restaurant. Good choice. I'll bet they had the mini-burgers!!!
Actually, the groom is heading for the Golden Gate Cleaners. Or at least it was in the 50s. Dunno about 1948. Even later would have been more appropriate, when it was Katherine Eubanks' florist shop.
WOW Paul Penna, Those are great. Thanks for posting. I noticed the newlyweds are shown leaving Picco Restaurant. Good choice. I'll bet they had the mini-burgers!!!
"Tucker"! I, too, was an extra in that. The "public un-veiling" scene was shot outside of the old Ford assembly plant on the Richmond waterfront. Lots of standing around waiting. Free coffee, juice, and doughnuts. There was a scene shot in the lobby of the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, too.
THX1138. George Lucas' master's thesis at UCLA film school. Interior shots at Marin Civic Center. Exterior shots on bottom deck of the Richmond bridge, at night.
"American Graffiti" - I'm sure everyone knows about this one. The dance was shot in the Tamalpais High School boys gym when I was a student there in the early 70's. A lot of my friends and classmates are in that scene. My husband just informed me he was too, but we didn't meet until years later. They also filmed the cruising scene on 4th street in San Rafael.
"Tucker"- The airplane scene was filmed at Hamilton Air Force Base. Rick was an extra in that movie too.
"Dirty Harry" - A chase scene and shoot-out was filmed at the old Hutchison Quarry in Larkspur.
Wasn't 'Village Of The Damned' shot in West Marin, Nicasio & Pt. Reyes? Original version of 'The Fog' shot in Pt. Reyes area too. The Money Tree about pot farming on Mt. Tam, also.
Jason, Foul Play, I believe also shows Tiburon or Belevedere and doesn't Goldie drive the coast between Muir and Stinson Beaches ?
In Mother, They left home by way of Princess Av in Saus to go to the market but went home down Tamalpais Dr. in CM ending up at a house on Magnolia Ave in Larkspur right near the CM border.
Isn't the Californians filmed in the Dominican area of SR and made by that real estate developer that has the building on 5th between A & B (The Old IJ loc.) who made Bartleby which shows a street scene at the back door of Hilary's House of Bagels at 4th & Tamalpais. Inside shots were filmed in vacant store front in the strip mall by the creek in Ignacio.
For anyone who's worked in an office Bartleby was good but I haven't seen The Californians.
Off the top of my head here are a few movies I remember with Marin scenes:
1) Foul Play - doesn't Chevy's character own a boat in Sausalito? 2) Mother - Albert Brooks' character is shopping at Mollie Stones in Sausalito 3) Star Trek IV - They say they're in Sausalito looking at whales although I think they were actually in Monterey. 4) 48 Hours - Isn't there a San Quentin scene? 5) The Californians - a recent independent movie starring Noah Wylie about real estate development.
I'm surprised I couldn't find a thread on this. Some are posted in bits elsewhere on this site but I thought it deserved it's own. I'm sure there are lots more to post.
I watched Magnum Force on tv tonight. I get the Harry Callahan movies mixed up. There is the one with the Larkspur railroad trestle and the "Do you feel lucky, punk?" scene nearby where the ferry is now. Also the scene on Panoramic Hwy between Shoreline and Four Corners.
But I'm now clear on Magnum Force. Early on there is a scene in the Tiburon hills (If I had the dvd I could decide which street it is precisely) which was fun to see. Then several on Alexander Ave. Sausalito and the access road going down to Ft Baker (closed to cars since 9/11).
About an hour later Harry is driving around Strawberry Point which hit home because it was shot after Eichler Homes graded the lots but never built (except one cul-de-sac) and we used to ride dirt bikes out there and do jumps on the slopes between lots. There was also a straigt up hill-climb between streets. We would also take girls and "park" out there at the best view of the city/bay.
On the Fourth of July hundreds of people would watch the fireworks from there.
Some San Fran notes. Later a chase starts on The Embarcadero Freeway. (I loved driving on it, hated looking at it) In an instant Harry is on Potrero Hill driving down the REAL Crookedest street (not Lombard) which is Vermont St. between 20th St and 22nd St. Check it out someday. And then on the pier (70?) and then the movie ends at China Basin.