"Swordfish"

We have a lot of fun downtown in in Dominic Sena's "Swordfish" (Warner Bros., 2001). Here, as part of a wild chase, we're headed north across 7th St. out of the alley behind the State Theatre. Damn the traffic. We're going through. Over on the left at 7th & Hill is the Warner.

Yes, somewhat bigger rigs than you usually see on 7th St. See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Warner Downtown for many photos of the building. The theatre, a design of B. Marcus Priteca, opened in 1920 as the Pantages.

The film stars John Travolta as a ruthless counter-terrorist trying to get some big money out of a bank so he can wage a little war on the terrorists of his choosing. He was working for a senator played by Sam Shepard but the poor senator tries to rein Travolta in and has to be eliminated. Don Cheadle heads the team trying to bring Travolta down. Hugh Jackman is a world-class hacker forced to help the project but really just wants to be left alone. Halle Berry is in the middle with no way for us to figure out what her game might be. Some of the film was shot in Ventura, Pasadena, Long Beach and other exotic locales.

Here Travolta and Jackman head into St. Vincent court toward a restaurant built for the film up against the south wall of the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. The restaurant doesn't survive the crash but the two guys do. Of course. It's still early in the movie.

See the many pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and hundreds of photos.

Much later. In an exit passageway north of the Belascco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. 

Heading inside. Somehow we come in at balcony level.

A chat with Jackman, Travolta and a flunky on the balcony crossaisle.

Headed down to the main floor. We then have a bit of conversation in the lobby.

Walking by the dimmerboard offstage right. We're taking the long way from the lobby to the auditorium.

 A peek off right as Jackman looks into the auditorium.

Travolta's combination war room and armory in the Belasco's auditorium.

A look under the balcony as Jackman pulls a plug out of the generator and electrical chaos ensues. He runs but doesn't get far. Check out the Belasco Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1926 vintage legit house. It's now a venue for concerts and special events.

On IMDb: "Swordfish"