The Longest Yard (1974)

dir. Robert Aldrich

Burt Reynolds originally wanted to film it in Palm Beach, Florida but his request was denied. Instead the film was shot in Georgia, in and around Savannah, Brunswick, and the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. It’s one of the six films Reynolds made in Georgia. The movie dialog still makes several references to Palm Beach though.

Paul "Wrecking" Crewe (Burt Reynolds) walks out on his wealthy girlfriend Melissa – Still searching for this location. It looks very much like the Los Angeles area.

The ensuing car chase:
Washington Avenue at Habersham Street, Savannah, Georgia.

Washington Avenue at Reynolds Street, Savannah, Georgia.

Whitaker Street at West Hall Street, Savannah, Georgia.

The car racing through Forsyth Park. This 30-acre park and its beautiful fountain—modeled after then one at the Place de la Concorde in Paris—have been the filmmakers’ favorite for many years. Almost every major film shot in Savannah uses it as a backdrop.

Bull Street at East Congress Lane, Savannah, Georgia.

The car turns from Bull Street onto East Broughton Street, Savannah, Georgia. The corner buildings on both sides of the street have since been demolished, and the intersection is barely recognizable. The archival photo below shows how it looked several decades ago.

2153 and 2135 East Victory Drive, Savannah, Georgia.

Parking lot at 2109 East Victory Drive, Savannah, Georgia. The Eckerd Drugs building has since been demolished, and a Walgreens pharmacy stands on the site now.

The car turns onto Skidaway Road, Savannah, Georgia. Amazingly, some businesses are still there, including the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts sign, and Western Auto is now Advance Auto Parts.

Crewe’s car racing through the bridge – Sidney Lanier Bridge, Brunswick, Georgia. The original vertical-lift bridge was dismantled and replaced by a cable-stayed bridge in the early 2000s.

Crewe’s car enters West Palm Beach – Still searching for this location. The sign is probably fake.

Crewe dumps the car into the water – River Street parking lot, Savannah, Georgia. Though the police officers later mention “the bay” it’s actually the Savannah River.

Crewe is taken to prison – Georgia State Prison, 300 1st Avenue S, Reidsville, Georgia. The filming there was arranged with the cooperation of Georgia’s then-governor Jimmy Carter. The end credits thank Carter, Warden Joe Hopper and all the prison inmates for their assistance in making the picture.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

dir. Robert Aldrich

Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) stops at a gas station after nearly running over Christina (Cloris Leachman) – Calabasas, California

Hammer is discharged from the hospital – Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 4867 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The building has changed a lot over the years but the address is the same.

Nick's garage was located on W.Temple Street at N.Dillon, Los Angeles, California and was later torn down.

Hammer parks his car on N.Rampart Boulevard at W.Temple Street, Los Angeles, California, where he is followed by a thug.

Hammer savagely attacks the thug - W.Temple Street at Dryden Place, Los Angeles, California

Ray Diker’s house stood on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hill Place. The building was torn down in the 1960s, the street was replanned and renamed. The current address for this location is 611 W. Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, California, and it's a parking lot.

Hammer visits Christina’s apartment looking for clues - 325 South Bunker Hill Avenue, Los Angeles, California. This house known as The Castle was moved to Heritage Square in 1969 and was burned to the ground by arsonists the same year.

Lily Carver’s (Gaby Rodgers) hideout - Hotel Jalisco was located in the 600 block of N. Spring Street between Sunset Boulevard and Macy. It was demolished and replaced with a parking lot.

Hammer’s apartment building - 10401 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Mobster Carl Evello’s house – 603 Doheny Road, Beverly Hills, California

Hammer drives past Angel's Flight on his way to see Carmen Trivago (Fortunio Bonanova) – Clay Street, Los Angeles, California. The original Angel's Flight was connecting Hill Street and Olive Street and was torn down during the Bunker Hill redevelopment. The second Angel's Flight opened half a block to the south in 1996, connecting Hill Street and California Plaza.

Hammer has to climb a steep flight of steps to get to Trivago’s house. He starts on the Clay Street steps but when he is seen approaching Hillcrest Hotel he is already on the 3rd Street Steps. The steps were removed during the Bunker Hill redevelopment.

Trivago’s house – Hillcrest Hotel, northeast corner of 3rd and Olive Streets, Los Angeles, California. The building was lost to the Bunker Hill redevelopment along with many other Kiss Me Deadly downtown locations.

The black nightclub where Hammer hangs out - Club Pigalle was located in the 4135 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California. Later it was known as Leroy’s Pigalle Club Cocktail Lounge. The venue closed in 1960 but was reopened as the Grand Prix in 1965 which remained open until at least until 1985.

The beach house where the bad guys keep Hammer and Velda and where "the great whatsit" detonates in the finale - Westward Beach Road near Point Dume, Malibu, California. Aldrich would return to this location seven years later to film the climax of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Hammer finds the "great whatsit" in a locker – Hollywood Athletic Club, 6525 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

See also...

Point Blank

The Outside Man