The first 10 minutes of the film has plenty of Seattle scenes circa 1965. The Space Needle, Ballard bridge, the locks, Lake Union, University of Washington and a quick shot of I-5 with only several cars driving on it (try driving it now!). I recognized a lot of the streets and most of it is still there. The helicopter shot of Seattle shows how flat the place was 40 years ago. Compare that scene to today's skyline and it's quite a contrast.
shareYeah I watched it yesterday on TCM, first thing that came to mind for me was I bet Seattle has grown a bit since 65, pretty good movie, I recorded it to dvdr, guess they will never release it to dvd.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
- Norman MacFinan
just so you know I'm watching it on Blu-ray right now, a Blu-ray I got through Amazon for 17.00.
I remember walking into Ballard one day and seeing a lot of commotion at the north end of the Ballard bridge. I went over to see what was going on and they were filming a scene of Mr Poitier turning onto the bridge. If you want to watch the city grow up watch Cinderella Liberty, Parallax View, McQ early to mid 70's House of Games late 80's. Many of the exteriors of Grey's Anatomy were filmed here in town.
I stuck "Seattle" (movies-only) as a keyword into Tivo, and have been enjoying some of these older 60's/70's films myself.
I-5 wasn't as half as "shocking" revealing as the helicopter shots of Belltown ... where's the condos? :-) The Ballard area she drives through at the beginning hasn't changed much, but I hardly recognized the fire station on Battery St. when the amulance is pulling out to go north on 4th.
However, it's just a shame that Sidney had to drive all the way out to Ballard and return back to Harvard Ave (which is only 2 min. away from the University), just for a camera shot showing him driving right past Mrs. Dyson. Also, it's rather humorous that the Dyson's could afford such a view on a small-time fisherman's salary, since a leading house-value site claims their home is currently worth $1.12M today (sorry, I'm not giving out the address). :-D
Another film to see Seattle as it "was" is McQ. The Camaro vs. laundry truck chase near the end mangles some of the geography, but otherwise, there's several great scenes of I-5 as it was 30+ years ago. Unless you like to see shots under the Alaskan Way Viaduct, though, there's not many other vistas of the city.
Regarding the value of the home, in the 60's a home in that location probably went for 20-30K. I don't disagree w/ your comment about affording such a nice home on a fisherman's salary, but don't forget Mrs Dyson also worked, and housing was simply waaaaay more affordable back then.
Another movie with shots of Seattle "back in the day" is "The Parallax View" -- c. 1970, and starring, I believe, Warren Beatty. Haven't seen it for a while, but the opening scene takes place at the Space Needle, with views toward an incredibly bare downtown, much like the aerial shots in Thread.
"I-5 wasn't as half as "shocking" revealing as the helicopter shots of Belltown ... "
The first thing I noticed with the opening aerial shot was the that there was very little of I-5 completed through downtown...the bridge over lake union was there but it looked as if many on and off ramps through downtown were not completed. I coudn't see any of I-5 south of downtown....
The first exterior shots are very interesting for any native Seattlite.
This is one of two film from that era that have the Seattle World's Fair, the other being a very bad Elvis bit "It Happen at the World's Fair"
in 1964 to 1965 we here in NYC also had a World's Fair but sadly no one used it for a film or TV show.
One of the soaps DAYS OF OUR LIVES took place around the world's fair in New Orleans
I forget what yr there's a scene where hero Bo Brady is running around the grounds.
See some stars here
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here i sit at about 12:30 a m and was i stunned and pleased to see the old graduate library, quad and fountains at u w, my old alma mater! got my m l there in 1973--looked pretty much the as in the film. i live far away now, and haven't been back in many years, so it was REALLY nice to see. but i am sooooo sleepy!
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