Chances are, if you’ve sat in front of a movie screen you’ve seen Northern California. It’s tough being so incredibly beautiful because everyone wants to use one of our scenic backdrops as their own. Whether you’re walking through one of our Redwood forests, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, or find yourself beachside you may just think you’ve seen the sites before. The truth is you probably have.
- Mrs. Doubtfire
flickr/gps When you think of a movie filmed in San Francisco, who doesn’t think of Mrs. Doubtfire? Not only is this house still a private residence, it brings to mind another San Francisco favorite, our beloved Robin Williams.
- The Wedding Planner
flickr/miles gem A favorite romcom among lots of us girls – Jennifer Lopez and Matthew Mconoghey meet-cute and fall in love at the Filoli Gardens in San Francisco. The movie is pretty much filmed here – and we love it!
- Parent Trap
flickr/sophie The Staglin Family Vineyards in the Napa Valley was the backdrop for Dennis Quaid and a young Lindsey Lohan. A remake of the original Disney movie, they chose wisely with this location.
- Sister Act
flickr/rds02 Whoopi Goldberg made the movie Sister Act here. Lots of different quirky locations in San Francisco were tucked inside this movie but it was St. Paul’s Catholic Church that we remember best.
- Look Who’s Coming To Dinner
flikr/david d’amico If old movies are more your cup of tea then you’ll remember seeing the Golden Gate Bridge flash on the screen every once in awhile throughout the movie “Look Who’s Coming To Dinner.” A true-blue classic and one of Sydney Poitier’s most famous movies.
- The Birds
flickr/david mccoulough Alfred Hitchcock made this part of our state famous when he chose it for his infamous movie “The Birds.” Downtown Taylor Street is where he shot scenes of kids running from the school house. It was the first time a director had ever attempted to film a movie about animals acting with intelligence.
- Pollyanna
flickr/jeff Disney made this home from Santa Rosa pretty famous. Known in the film as the McDonald Mansion, it’s known around these parts as Mableton. Built around 1870, it’s even prettier in person than Disney made it in the film.
- Peggy Sue Got Married
flickr/michael & sandy The downtown scenes in Peggy Sue Got Married were filmed in Petaluma. They fit the 1950s shots needed just perfectly. (Santa Rosa High School is where they filmed the prom.)
- Storm Center
flickr/kat 1956 was the year Bette Davis spent 6 weeks on location filming in the Santa Rosa library. I wish I’d been alive for a few library trips back then. It would’ve been so cool to meet a legend like her!
Go ahead. Impress us with your knowledge of movies that were filmed around here. Try to be original. That means we already know about Jurassic Park II and Return of the Jedi. Share your knowledge on our Facebook page!
flickr/gps
When you think of a movie filmed in San Francisco, who doesn’t think of Mrs. Doubtfire? Not only is this house still a private residence, it brings to mind another San Francisco favorite, our beloved Robin Williams.
flickr/miles gem
A favorite romcom among lots of us girls – Jennifer Lopez and Matthew Mconoghey meet-cute and fall in love at the Filoli Gardens in San Francisco. The movie is pretty much filmed here – and we love it!
flickr/sophie
The Staglin Family Vineyards in the Napa Valley was the backdrop for Dennis Quaid and a young Lindsey Lohan. A remake of the original Disney movie, they chose wisely with this location.
flickr/rds02
Whoopi Goldberg made the movie Sister Act here. Lots of different quirky locations in San Francisco were tucked inside this movie but it was St. Paul’s Catholic Church that we remember best.
flikr/david d’amico
If old movies are more your cup of tea then you’ll remember seeing the Golden Gate Bridge flash on the screen every once in awhile throughout the movie “Look Who’s Coming To Dinner.” A true-blue classic and one of Sydney Poitier’s most famous movies.
flickr/david mccoulough
Alfred Hitchcock made this part of our state famous when he chose it for his infamous movie “The Birds.” Downtown Taylor Street is where he shot scenes of kids running from the school house. It was the first time a director had ever attempted to film a movie about animals acting with intelligence.
flickr/jeff
Disney made this home from Santa Rosa pretty famous. Known in the film as the McDonald Mansion, it’s known around these parts as Mableton. Built around 1870, it’s even prettier in person than Disney made it in the film.
flickr/michael & sandy
The downtown scenes in Peggy Sue Got Married were filmed in Petaluma. They fit the 1950s shots needed just perfectly. (Santa Rosa High School is where they filmed the prom.)
flickr/kat
1956 was the year Bette Davis spent 6 weeks on location filming in the Santa Rosa library. I wish I’d been alive for a few library trips back then. It would’ve been so cool to meet a legend like her!
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