News of San Francisco’s decline is everywhere — articles abound discussing homelessness, drug abuse, crime, economic decline, and more. Walk through downtown San Francisco and all the contradictions are visible, often side-by-side — the history (spanning Spanish-era churches, gold-rush era pioneers, and the imposing Golden Gate Bridge), alongside the tech of the present and future (symbolized by the Salesforce Tower and the numerous startup offices); the dirt and danger, alongside the sereneness of the parks and waterfront; the bristling traffic jams and cable cars, rushing past people seated in the street-side cafes, and reading in the bookstores.
Unsurprisingly, these contradictions have been fertile ground for filmmakers. I recently rewatched two iconic films set in the Bay — Don Siegel’s 1971 neo-noir thriller Dirty Harry, and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo — and retraced some of the filming locations on a walking tour of the city. While many of the locations have changed significantly, the charm and dread of the city can still be felt — both on screen and on the streets.