From San Francisco classic Bullitt to the depiction of a 1970s Castro district in Milk, seeing a movie that takes place in San Francisco really makes us burst with City pride. Here are 7 San Francisco-based movies you might not have heard of yet, but are sure to make you love SF even more.
Sudden Fear(1952)
Directed by David Miller
It’s only right that Sudden Fear’s twist-laden and suspense-filled plot would unravel on the zigzagging streets of San Francisco’s Russian Hill. That neighborhood’s many narrow-winding paths, along with famously crooked Lombard, serve as the perfect backdrop for this noir fashioned story of love, betrayal, and murder.
Joan Crawford earned her third Oscar nomination for her depiction as a wealthy playwright who falls in love with and marries an actor, played by Jack Palance. For his portrayal as a scheming husband in pursuit of his wife’s fortune, he would also earn a richly deserved Oscar nomination. Both actors are so convincing in their roles, and do such superb jobs at rising above a somewhat far-fetched script, that the film plays just as effective today as it did in 1952. This is timeless San Francisco cinema regardless of how much the landscape has changed over the past 60 years.
Crumb (1994)
Directed by Terry Zwigoff
“This is where I get recognized more than any other place in the world still, on Haight Street. These are my people.” - Robert Crumb.
Talk about having a love/hate relationship with a city. Though iconic cartoonist Robert Crumb is not a San Francisco native, were it not for this city’s counterculture hippie movement of the 1960s, this renowned cartoonist might not have ever had the platform to express his disdain for the very movement responsible for pushing him into the spotlight.
As much as director and fellow San Franciscan Terry Zwigoff recognizes the importance of presenting an intimate profile in as entertaining a light as possible, so too does he understand the high enjoyability factor that comes from the simple act of people-watching. Honestly, as much as I love observing diverse foot traffic from the vantage point of any Market Street bus stop, watching strangers through the eyes and mind of an unapologetic introverted artist who admits to being sexually attracted to cute cartoon characters is equally fascinating.
The Laughing Policeman(1973)
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern star as two tough-as-nails detectives investigating a mass murder that took place in Chinatown on the number 14 Mission.
As far as police procedurals go, this is one of the most strangely amusing ones our city has to offer, and not just because the 14 Mission bus is shown traveling through Chinatown, which FYI, is not on Mission Street. No, what makes this one so enjoyably strange is the emphasized focus given to the now outdated slangy cool-guy street lingo. After all, who needs another detective story stuffed with personal stories and redeeming character arcs when you can carry an entire movie with politically-incorrect, tough talking, law enforcing jerks?
The Laughing Policeman is as close as I’ll ever get to nostalgically navigating the streets of 1970s San Francisco without having to actually get behind the wheel of an atrociously bulky 1970 Ford Custom to do so. That alone is worth the price of admission.
Piece by Piece (2005)
Directed by Nic Hill
Most cities are dominated by graffiti. Here in San Francisco it's unavoidable. Some of us see it as nothing more than eyesores created by hooligans, while others view it as an expressive form of art. And although this documentary does address these two views, that’s not where its remarkableness lies. As far as I know this is the only movie to give a detailed history of graffiti writing as it pertains specifically to San Francisco.
By the end of this crash course on SF graffiti, you will not only know the difference between tags, bombs, and throws, you’ll feel like a hipper person as well. I suggest following this film with a stroll through the Mission District. Why with all the newfound knowledge acquired, not to mention that black Sharpie that mysteriously found its way into your back pocket, who knows where the night will take you.
Medicine for Melancholy(2008)
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Though disguised as a romance, this is easily the best hanging out type movie our city has to offer. This day in the life snapshot of Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins) is to the city of San Francisco what Richard Linklater’s European locations are to his “Before Trilogy” (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight).
Here is a film loaded with intelligent dialogue and engaging, complex, and most importantly, believable characters. What's more, Medicine for Melancholy also touches on topical and still very relevant societal issues (a la race and gentrification). And yeah, as an added bonus for those super familiar with our city’s landscape, there’s also the joy of watching scenes at Rainbow Grocery, Yerba Buena Garden's Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, the creativity carousel, the Knockout Bar, and a multitude of familiar streets from very specific neighborhoods (circa 2007).
San Francisco (1936)
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke
Today it's a little known cinematic gem, but this was top grossing film of 1936. It’s also the film that earned Spencer Tracy his first of nine Oscar nominations. And leading man Clark Gable is easier on the eyes than George Clooney on his best day (Sorry George, but it’s true). It has an earthquake sequence that not only was impressive for its day, but — in terms of excitement — still trumps most of today’s CGI nonsense. How is it that after all the aesthetically pleasing elements I just mentioned that no one considers San Francisco as one of the best films this city has to offer? Sadly, I rarely see it screened at local movie houses.
That said, it does have a two-hour plus running time, as well as some recurring long-winded operatic performances, scenes that tend to befuddle more than they do bewitch. However, these are but minor quibbles for a noteworthy hometown film. It also features the city’s most famous song, "San Francisco."
That’s right, San Franciscan cineastes, you should watch this film for one reason: to familiarize yourselves with our city’s theme song. It's the one the house organist plays before each show at the Castro Theatre. And it’s the same song that is played throughout this film about the Great Quake.
The Lineup (1958)
Directed by Don Siegel
Along with the thrilling prospect of taking a virtual tour to some now-extinct SF landmarks, The Lineup has the added pleasure of showing you what these places would have looked like with dead bodies in them. A morbid tour this would seem were it not for the film’s ability to wind you up and keep you in continuous suspense.
From the old Embarcadero highway (which, back then, was still under construction) to the operational Sutro Cliff House when it used to be an ice rink, and then back to the Embarcadero for a look inside the Seaman’s Club (now known as The YMCA), it's worth repeated viewings for any diehard Baghdad by the Bay fan.
