The pages of this book explore Hitchcock’s passion for the San Francisco Bay Area, and the meticulous use of its sites and locations in the scenes of his movies. We follow in Hitchcock’s footsteps, playing detective to unravel the mysteries of the San Francisco Bay Area locations featured in his films. We research the permits he filed, the notes he took, and any other evidence he left, such as which doorways he chose to shot, and why he selected one apartment building over another. We walk in Hitchcock’s footsteps along the streets he walked. We go scene-by-scene through his Bay Area movies.

In following Hitchcock’s footsteps, at times we are walking a well-marked path. This book gratefully includes information discovered by authors Dan Auiler, Gaye LeBaron, Camille Paglia, Donald Spoto, Francois Truffaut, and others. However, in many instances, we uncover footsteps other Hitchcock authors have not identified, which often have been obscured by the passage of time.

We use historical photos depicting the same buildings and locations pictured in Hitchcock’s films, as they stood at the time. We compare them to photographs of the same locations and buildings – at least the ones that still exist – as they look today. Additionally, we show archival photos of Hitchcock on location, behind the scenes of his movies, to round out the images of Hitchcock’s San Francisco Bay Area.
We then combine the pieces, placing the images and descriptions with insights into why Hitchcock selected the locations he chose to use.

To complete the story, we explore Hitchcock’s personal experiences in the area he came to call a second home: dining at the popular Ernie’s, socializing with the venerated San Francisco columnist Herb Caen, living in Scott’s Valley, and enjoying the Bay Area’s culture, food and lifestyle.

What we ultimately discover is that Hitchcock’s footsteps make an indelible mark on the region, in addition to the region leaving a dramatic mark on his films. His movies offer insightful glimpses into the geography, lifestyle, and glorious mystery of the San Francisco Bay Area, spanning four decades. Hitchcock left a gift for residents and visitors to the Bay Area: an enduring image of not only mystery, drama, and suspense, but also a view of the San Francisco Bay Area from the eyes of a true fan of the region.

All images © JLP, Inc. and may not be used or downloaded. Top picture courtesy San Franciso History Center, Public Library. Middle picture © Universal City Studios, courtesy of Universal Studios.