Carrie (1976)

February 13, 2023February 26, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1976 horror classic “Carrie,” directed by Brian De Palma, was filmed in Southern California. Early in the film, Carrie, played by Sissy Spacek, is seen walking home from school along E Santa Paula St toward N 6th St in Santa Paula, California. Most of the trees lining the street have since been removed.

LOCATION: N 6th St / E Santa Paula St, Santa Paula, CA 93060

A boy riding a bicycle begins to tease Carrie when she uses her telekinetic powers to knock the boy off his bike.

The home of Sue Snell, played by Amy Irving, could be found in Pacific Palisades. However, it has since been heavily remodeled and no longer appears anything like how it did in the film.

LOCATION: 773 Amalfi Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (heavily remodeled)

Carrie’s house has likewise long since been demolished. It could be found in Santa Paulo. The house next door, which could be seen in the background of some shots, still matches up.

LOCATION: 122 N 7th St, Santa Paula, CA 93060 (now demolished)

Later in the film, Tommy, played by William Katt, is seen approaching from here as he arrived to pick up Carrie.

Several of the high school scenes were filmed at Palisades High School. The girls are seen playing volleyball on the basketball courts. The same school was used in the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday” and the TV series “Saved By The Bell,” as well as many more productions.

LOCATION: 15777 Bowdoin St, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

The girls are also seen out on the football field of Palisades High School.

Later in the film, Carrie’s classmates play a horrific prank on her as they head to a slaughterhouse to collect some pig’s blood. These scenes were filmed in the city of Vernon. The same building and mural appears in “Zabriskie Point” and the 1977 film “Angel City.”

LOCATION: 3049 E Vernon Ave, Vernon, CA 90058 (near the intersection of Bandini Blvd / S Soto St)

The murals have since changed a bit, so these are approximations of the areas seen in the film.

A second high school was used for the scene where Freddy, played by Michael Talbott, asks to join the prom committee. This scene was filmed in San Fernando.

LOCATION: 576 N Maclay Ave, San Fernando, CA 91340

Carrie is seen entering a drug store, which can be found in Santa Paula.

LOCATION: 910 E Main St, Santa Paula, CA 93060

The boys stop in the building next door to rent some tuxedos.

LOCATION: 910 E Main St, Santa Paula, CA 93060

The exterior gym scenes were filmed at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. While a few brief shots of the interior are seen in the film, all of the interior prom scenes were filmed on a set at Culver Studios (9336 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232).

LOCATION: 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Carrie tells Miss Collins, played by Betty Buckley, that she has been invited to prom.

The iconic shot of Carrie leaving as the gym is engulfed in flames was filmed here at the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

Related articles: Scarface (1983), Body Double (1984)

Get Shorty (1995)

May 27, 2022October 19, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1995 Barry Sonnenfeld film “Get Shorty” was primarily filmed around Los Angeles, where a mobster named Chili Palmer (John Travolta) comes to Hollywood to collect a debt, only to discover the movie business is not unlike his own line of work. Chili attempts to collect a debt from Harry Zimm, a B movie filmmaker played by Gene Hackman. Harry’s office can be found on Hollywood Blvd.

LOCATION: 6601 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The house of Karen, played by Rene Russo, can be found in Malibu (22349 Carbon Mesa Rd, Malibu, CA 90265). The home sits behind a gated entrance and is not visible from the road.

The home of Martin Weir, played by Danny DeVito, can be found in Beverly Hills.

LOCATION: 1017 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Harry Zimm’s apartment can be found in Hollywood.

LOCATION: 601 N Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Chili stays at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood. The hotel has been featured in numerous other films, such as “Strange Days,” “The Player,” “Wayne’s World 2,” the 2003 remake of “The Italian Job” and many more.

LOCATION: 8358 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Primary Colors (1998)

February 15, 2020November 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1998 film “Primary Colors,” John Travolta plays Governor Jack Stanton, a Southern politician with many similarities to Bill Clinton. Stanton serves Thanksgiving dinner on the front lawn with his wife, played by Emma Thompson, at the Banning House in Wilmington, California. Built in 1863, the property was also seen in the 1992 Danny Aiello film “Ruby,” as well as 1995’s “Tales From The Hood” and the TV shows “Quantum Leap” and “Bronk.” The house currently operates as a museum and is open the the public.

LOCATION: 401 E M St, Wilmington, CA 90744

Late in the film, Stanton visits the home of Governor Fred Picker. Picker’s house was filmed at the Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana. The plantation is likewise open to public tours. This house and its distinct row of trees can actually be seen from the road of LA-18. However, you might find it difficult to stop and get a photo, as there is no parking along the street. The plantation was also famously used in the film “Interview With The Vampire.”

LOCATION: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090

Face/Off (1997)

November 30, 2017October 15, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

John Travolta plays FBI Agent Sean Archer in John Woo’s 1997 action film “Face/Off.” Archer lives with his family at this Pacific Palisades home, right near the ocean. Later in the film, Nicolas Cage’s villainous character, Castor Troy, bearing the face of Sean Archer, comes to his home and begins role-playing as husband and father.

LOCATION: 326 N Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

The hospital where Eve Archer, played by Joan Allen, works can be found in Baldwin Park. This entrance sits closest to Dalewood Street. A different area of the same facility was seen in the movie “Starship Troopers.”

LOCATION: 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (near Dalewood St)

Caster Troy and his brother plant an explosive at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This particular section is near the intersection of S Figueroa St and W Pico Blvd. The same building was seen in the film “Demolition Man.”

LOCATION: 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (near the intersection of S Figueroa St / W Pico Blvd)

Near the climax of the film, Victor Lazarro’s funeral takes place at the Cabrillo Beach Bath House in San Pedro. The Adam Sandler comedy “50 First Dates” also notably shot at the same location.

LOCATION: 3800 Stephen M White Dr, San Pedro, CA 90731

Archer’s daughter is dropped off outside at the entrance to the building.

Inside, an epic John Woo gunfight takes place, featuring his signature use of doves and slow motion. Thankfully, the staff is quite friendly and welcoming and allows visitors inside. Here are some areas where the shootout takes place.

The gunfight spills out to this area, with Archer’s daughter trapped in the crossfire.

Archer’s daughter runs down these stairs to the lower level.

As the fight spills outside, Archer’s daughter is taken hostage in this area.

Castor Troy flees and runs to a boat.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

July 29, 2017November 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

One of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction,” was shot in Southern California. The restaurant that opens and closes the film was the Hawthorne Grill in Hawthorne, California. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 1996 and is now an AutoZone.

LOCATION: 13763 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (demolished)

Butch discusses throwing a boxing fight with Marsellus Wallace at Starz, a former strip club in Gardena. This location was identified by Rayen Belchere after he spoke with the former management, who confirmed the club was used in the film. The location is only seen from interior views in the film, but photography was not permitted inside and the club has since permanently closed. Here is what the exterior looked like.

LOCATION: 2528 Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA 90249

Vincent Vega takes Mia Wallace to the memorable “Jack Rabbit Slims,” which is not a real restaurant. The interiors were built on a studio stage. However, the exterior is in fact a real place, albeit not a restaurant. Located in Glendale, California, the building was originally a bowling alley called Grand Central Bowl, which has long since closed. Today, the building is owned by The Walt Disney Company, which owned Miramax, the company which released “Pulp Fiction.” The building is part of Disney’s larger Grand Central Business Center, which consists of numerous buildings in the area used as business offices. The building is actually tucked away behind a wall and fencing, but the wall is not very tall and it’s easy to get a view over top of it. What is not so easily accomplished is getting a closer view of the building. The property is only open to business staff, so the closest the public can get is the sidewalk.

LOCATION: 1435 Flower St, Glendale, CA 91201

Vincent Vega pays a visit to his friend Lance, played by Eric Stoltz, early in the film, in order to purchase some heroin. After Mia Wallace mistakes Vega’s heroin for cocaine, she overdoses and is rushed to this house in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, for a very tense scene in which they give her an adrenaline shot.

LOCATION: 3519 La Clede Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

The building where Butch’s boxing match takes place can be found in Pasadena. The marquee has since been changed. The same building was also used in “This is Spinal Tap.”

LOCATION: 129 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Later in the film, after Butch has double-crossed Marsellus Wallace, he sneaks back to his apartment, located in North Hollywood, to retrieve his gold watch.

LOCATION: 11813 Runnymede St, North Hollywood, CA 91605

After a violent confrontation at his apartment, Butch is leisurely driving away, when a chance encounter with Marsellus occurs at this intersection of Fletcher Dr. and Atwater Ave., also located in Atwater Village. Butch is facing NW on Atwater Ave. when he spots Marsellus crossing Fletcher Dr.

LOCATION: Intersection of Atwater Ave. / Fletcher Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Butch quickly floors it and hits Marsellus, before getting in a car collision in the intersection. Marsellus awakens and begins firing his gun at Butch, when a bystander is hit in front of Fosters Freeze, which is at the same intersection. Forsters Freeze was also featured on the television show “GLOW.”

LOCATION: 2760 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Marsellus chases Butch on foot SW down Fletcher Dr. from the same intersection.

LOCATION: Fletcher Dr., just past Atwater Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Marsellus fires one last shot in the distance at Butch, who is standing at the corner of this building in Canoga Park. This location is far away from the earlier shots in Atwater Villiage. It is actually the corner alley next to the Zed’s Pawn Shop, in which both characters make a grave mistake in entering.

LOCATION: The alley left of Crown Pawn Shop at 20933 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91304

Zed’s Pawn Shop is where things take a bizarre, ugly turn for Butch and Marsellus. The real building actually is a pawn shop.

LOCATION: 20933 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91304

The motel where Butch and Fabienne stay was demolished in 1996. Formerly known as the River Glen Motel, this building now stands in it’s place. Only the exteriors were used in the film. The interior of the motel was a set, albeit designed to resemble the River Glen Motel rooms.

LOCATION: 2934 Riverside Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039 (now demolished)

What can be better lined up at the location is the view down Riverside Drive, seen as the couple leaves the motel on a chopper. Everything here still matches how it appeared in the film, with the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge visible in the distance. The same bridge was seen in the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

Near the end of the film, Jules and Vincent find themselves in “The Bonnie Indecent,” in which they are in sudden, urgent need of getting rid of a body. They arrive here at Jimmy’s house, played by Quentin Tarantino. It is here they meet “The Wolf,” played by Harvey Keitel.

LOCATION: 4145 Kraft Ave, Studio City, CA 91604

The site of Monster Joe’s Truck and Tow can be found in Sun Valley. The area has changed some since filming took place.

LOCATION: 12143 Branford St, Sun Valley, CA 91352

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