The 2000 film “Gone In 60 Seconds,” a remake of the 1974 film, was shot primarily in Southern California, with some additional filming in Canada. In the film, Memphis Raines, played by Nicolas Cage, lives in this home, located in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 714 W 32nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Mirror Man, played by T.J. cross, steals a car at the famous Yamashiro Hollywood restaurant. Originally constructed as a private residence in 1914, it was sold just ten years later. After becoming a boys military school, it wasn’t until 1948 that the building began to be restored to its original appearance. The restaurant has appeared in countless productions, such as “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Breezy,” “Nocturnal Animals”, “Blind Date,” “Playing God,” “Death Wish II,” “Sayonara” and many more . It also appeared in such TV shows as “Perry Mason,” “I Spy,” “Route 66,” “My Three Sons” and more. The restaurant is famous for its views overlooking Hollywood.
LOCATION: 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Memphis jumps a tow truck on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. The bridge has appeared in countless films, such as “Wrath Of Man,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “To Live And Die In L.A.” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “City of Angels,” “Knight of Cups,” “Charlie’s Angels” and more. It has likewise appeared in such TV shows as “Mission: Impossible,” “CHiPs,” “Columbo” and more. It it also where director Tony Scott tragically ended his life.
LOCATION: Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro, CA 90731
One of the most famous filming locations in the world is the Corleone house from the 1972 classic “The Godfather,” located in Staten Island, New York. The property itself appears much larger on film than it is in person. The stone wall that lines the perimeter was built higher for the film, to give it more of an appearance of a compound. A large entrance gate was also built on the street by the filmmakers and subsequently removed after filming. The large yard where the wedding was hosted was actually shot on the yards of several homes on the same street. The interiors of the home were built on a set.
LOCATION: 110 Longfellow Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301
The stone wall and shrubs partially obscure the home in person, but it is still very identifiable and mostly visible.
Here is an aerial view of the property.
Jack Woltz, played by John Marley, lives at this home, located in Beverly Hills. The famous scene where he awakens to discover a horse’s severed head in his bed was a composite of two locations. The exterior establishing shots were filmed at this home, while the interior scenes were filmed at Falaise, which is part of the Sands Point Preserve and open to the public (127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050). The famous bedroom scene was actually filmed in the dining room.
LOCATION: 1011 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The Beverly Hills home is known as the Hearst Estate, for once having belonged to William Randolph Hearst. While not quite as famous as his San Simeon estate, Hearst moved to this home in 1947, where he remained until his death. The home today is a private estate not visible from the road. The estate also appears in the films “The Bodyguard,” “Fletch,” “The Jerk,” “Into the Night” and “Harper.” Many TV shows have also shot here, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “Columbo,” “Mod Squad” and “The Colbys,” as well as Beyoncé’s video “Black Is King.”
Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is exiting the Radio City Music Hall with Kay, played by Diane Keaton, when he learns his father has been shot. The landmark concert hall has appeared in countless productions, such as “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Annie,” “Rocky III,” “Radio Days” and many more.
The television series “M*A*S*H,” which ran from 1972 to 1983, is set in Korea, but the exteriors were filmed at the former 20th Century Fox Ranch in Agoura Hills, California. For decades the land hosted many productions, including the original “Planet of the Apes,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and several “Tarzan” films. The Robert Altman film upon which the TV show is based likewise filmed exteriors here. The location was later sold and today is known as Malibu Creek State Park, which is open to the public and serves as a popular hiking destination. There are entrance fees to park at the trailheads, which vary depending on the length of your planned visit. The hike itself is about 4.75-miles round trip, on mostly flat terrain, although there’s at least one section that goes up a short incline. It’s a manageable hike for most, but depending on the weather, it can become more arduous on hotter days. Be sure to plan accordingly and bring a lot of water if you intend to visit. The trail running Craigs Rd will lead you directly to the “M*A*S*H” set. Only the exteriors filmed here, interiors shot on Stage 09 at Fox Studios in Century City.
LOCATION: Craigs Rd, Malibu Creek State Park, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (GPS coordinates: 34°05’47.6″N, 118°44’41.2″W)
Here is a restored vehicle that is on display at the site.
Several widfires have come through the set over the years, leaving some of the other vehicles in very damaged and aged condition.
There are several signs around the area, noting the history of the show.
In Joel Schumacher’s 1993 film “Falling Down,” Michael Douglas plays the central character, referred to only as “D-Fens,” which is his license plate number. The film follows D-Fens as he makes his was from Los Angeles to Venice Beach. For the most part, the locations actually do follow this path, with a few exceptions.
The opening traffic jam is set at the 101 interchange of the 110 freeway. The traffic pileup is in the southbound lane to the left, while D-Fens abandons his car and takes the northbound lane to the right on foot.
LOCATION: Interchange of I-110 / I-101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Beth, the estranged wife of D-Fens, played by Barbara Hershey, lives just off the Venice boardwalk. This view next to her house, facing towards the beach, is seen multiple times in the film.
LOCATION: 201 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Beth’s house was unfortunately completely remodeled and looks nothing like it did in the film.
LOCATION: 18 Ozone Ave, Venice, CA 90291
The police station where Detective Prendergast, played by Robert Duvall, works was a set built at Warner Bros. Studios (4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522).
D-Fens makes his was to the market of Mr. Lee, where the first outburst of violence occurs over an overpriced can of soda. This location is right next to the 101 freeway, making it a logical stop along the path of D-Fens. The market has since been demolished and a park (Madison West Park) now exists in it’s place.
LOCATION: 458 N Madison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Later in the film, Prendergast makes his way to the market and climbs this embankment. After spotting a billboard, he correctly places the proximity to the abandoned car and identifies D-Fens as his suspect. A note to those interested in visiting, this dead end next to the park is not a very safe area, serving as a makeshift homeless community.
As D-Fens makes his way through East L.A., he sits to rest and is approached by two gang members demanding his briefcase. D-Fens refuses and things quickly turn violent. The hilltop where the scene was shot has been converted in to a park, Vista Hermosa Natural Park, but the skyline of downtown Los Angeles still matches up.
LOCATION: 100 N Toluca St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Looking for retribution, the gang members spot D-Fens in front of a theater, where they attempt to ambush him with a drive-by shooting. The theater has since been demolished, but the surrounding buildings where the car rolls up still match.
LOCATION: 2524 East Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (looking down from N Fickett St)
After hitting everyone in sight except D-Fens, their car turns off East Ceasar E Chavez Ave onto N Ficket St and crashes in front of this building. D-Fens walks up and takes their bag of weapons.
LOCATION: 2600 East Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (at N Fickett St)
D-Fens is standing next to a children’s playground in MacArthur Park, when a beggar starts asking him for a handout. The playground has since been moved to another section of the park, but the structure to the left, seen in the film, still stands at the original spot.
LOCATION: 2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
The beggar follows D-Fens through this tunnel, making up a sob story, which is quickly exposed as a lie. MacArthur Park is not the safest of areas in general. We wouldn’t recommend tourism here. This pedestrian walkway is one of several locations rumored to be the bridge that served as the inspiration for the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Under the Bridge,” but singer Anthony Kiedis has never confirmed the true location.
On the other side of the tunnel, the D-Fens gives the beggar his briefcase. The lake in the background is also seen in the movie “Drive,” where Ryan Gosling’s character makes a deal with some criminals.
After discovering the briefcase only contains some lunch food, the disappointed beggar throws the apple at D-Fens, who kicks the apple and continues up the stairs to the left.
The “Whammyburger” in the film is the biggest departure from the true path of Los Angeles to Venice Beach. The restaurant, Angelo’s Burgers, is located much further south in Lynwood, California. It still bears a strong resemblance to how it appeared in the film, aside from the fictitious Whammyburger set dressing. Angelo’s was in fact the same restaurant at the time of filming. It has not changed ownership. The burgers there are quite good as well.
LOCATION: 10990 Atlantic Ave, Lynwood, CA 90262
A view inside the Whammyburger.
A poster for the film can be found inside, noting that filming took place on May 12, 1992.
Celebrating his last day, Prendergast eats lunch at a Mexican restaurant.
LOCATION: 4067 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
In one of the more poignant scenes in the film, D-Fens sees a man protesting, because he has been denied a loan and was determined to be “not economically viable.” The building is now a post office.
LOCATION: 5350 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The scene where D-Fens shoots up a phone booth was shot over on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, right along the iconic Sunset Strip. The El Pollo Loco restaurant to the left was seen in the film, although most of the other businesses in the plaza have since changed.
LOCATION: 8148 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The army surplus store where D-Fens meets a Nazi store owner can be found back towards East L.A. The building really is a surplus store and still operates today. The real owners are nothing like the eccentric man in the film and are very welcoming to visitors.
LOCATION: 3828 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
A view of the front counter, which is brimming with quite a bit more merchandise than seen in the film.
Some of the rocket mortar props seen in the film are still found in the store, albeit a bit tucked away.
The back of the surplus store, where more violence occurs, was actually a set construced at Warner Bros. Studios (4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522).
The construction scene, where D-Fens fires a bazooka, faces towards the 110 and 105 freeway interchange. The same interchange can be seen in the films “Speed” and “La La Land,” the latter of which also opens with a traffic jam, albeit to much different results.
LOCATION: Intersection of S Broadway / W 112th St, Los Angeles, CA 90061
This church can be seen in the background of a few shots during the construction scene.
Near the end of the film, D-Fens finally finds his family at the Venice Fishing Pier. The pier had long been closed at the time of filming and was once set for demolition, but after community backlash, was ultimately saved and restored. The building at the end of the pier is no longer there, but otherwise the area looks the same for the most part.
LOCATION: Venice Fishing Pier, Los Angeles, CA 90292
Prendergast approaches and finally meets D-Fens.
Prendergast and D-Fens have a standoff in the film’s climactic scene.
There are quite a few locations to this film, some demolished or remodeled, others still standing. Other than a few slightly unsafe areas, if you’re a fan of visiting filming locations, most of them are worth a visit. “Falling Down” has grown in stature in the years since the film’s release and it has rightly taken it’s place among the the most iconic Los Angeles-based films.
Film Oblivion 