Appearance
Pacific Heights
Directed by John Schlesinger and written by Daniel Pyne, Pacific Heights (1990) is a tense psychological thriller that taps into the universal fear of a "tenant from hell." The story follows a young couple, Drake Goodman (Matthew Modine) and Patty Palmer (Melanie Griffith), who pour their savings into purchasing and renovating a sprawling Victorian house in San Francisco's upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood.
To help with the mortgage, they rent out one of the ground-floor apartments to Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton), a charismatic but mysterious man. However, Hayes quickly reveals himself to be a professional con artist and sociopath. He refuses to pay rent, destroys the property from within, and uses his expert knowledge of tenant laws to prevent his eviction. As the legal system fails them, Drake and Patty are forced to take matters into their own hands to reclaim their home and their lives.
Location(s)
While the title suggests the Pacific Heights neighborhood, much of the film was actually shot in other parts of San Francisco and on Los Angeles soundstages to capture the specific Victorian aesthetic required for the plot.
19th and Texas Streets, Potrero Hill
The iconic Victorian house that serves as the primary setting for the film is actually located in the Potrero Hill district, not Pacific Heights. The house at 1243-1245 19th Street was used for the exterior shots, offering the steep-street views famous in San Francisco cinema. Map Location
San Francisco City Hall
The bureaucratic hurdles and legal battles Drake and Patty face were filmed in and around the historic San Francisco City Hall. Its grand architecture underscores the feeling of a system that is too large and slow to help the protagonists. Map Location
The Fairmont Hotel, Nob Hill
Certain upscale interior scenes and meetings involving the shadowy past of Carter Hayes were filmed at the legendary Fairmont Hotel, capturing the high-society "old money" vibe of the city. Map Location
Director
John Schlesinger
Cast
Michael Keaton
Melanie Griffith
Matthew Modine
IMDB
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