Friday, June 15, 2018

"Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" - Bruin and Fox Westwood Village theatres

The pages about theatre locations used in "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood":
Cinerama Dome - June 13, 2018 | Vogue, Pussycat and Egyptian - July 13 to July 23 | Grauman's Chinese - July 26 | Excelsior High School - September | Bruin and Fox Westwood Village - October 14 - 15 | Pantages and Vine - October 22 | Van Nuys Drive-In - October 24 | Earl Carroll Theatre - November 2 |

The Bruin Theatre at 948 Broxton Ave. in Westwood was used for a scene where it's showing "The Wrecking Crew," a February 1969 release starring Dean Martin, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate. The Fox Westwood Village (now known as the Regency Village Theatre) across the street and the adjacent Starbucks were also dressed as if it were 1969. Businesses down the block from the Bruin as well as across the street were also redecorated.


Here we've got the showtimes up in the boxoffice and an assortment of newspaper racks and period-appropriate garbage cans to be placed in the area. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018



Posters up at the Bruin for "The Wrecking Crew." Did it ever play the Bruin? Unknown. It opened wide February 11, 1969 -- but not at the Bruin. They were running "The Magus" at the time. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018



Looking east along Weyburn. That business with the awning is getting turned into a Hamburger Hamlet. It's currently a Taco Bell. Margot Robbie, as Sharon Tate, takes a little stroll around the neighborhood. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018



A look back toward the theatre with craftspeople working on the storefronts, including a new Campbell's Men's Shop they're creating. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018 



Storefront work underway across the street from the Bruin. The walk Margot's character takes includes a look at this side of the street. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018



The Fox Westwood Village at 961 Broxton Ave. also saw some action. Here the posters are going up for "Pendulum," an April 1969 release with George Peppard, Jean Seberg and Richard Kiley. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018  



More posters deployed at the Village. Note in the frames below it still says "A Star is Born," the film at the theatre at the time of the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - October 14, 2018



The Village with its marquee redone for "Pendulum." Look at that cute cafe to the left with the Cinzano umbrellas and rattan chairs. It's a disguised Starbucks. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018



The marquee letters up for "The Wrecking Crew." Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018
 
 

Margot Robbie, playing Sharon Tate, with Quentin the day of the Bruin shoot. Thanks to the New Beverly Facebook page for sharing the photo in a 2023 post on the occasion of Quentin's 60th birthday. 



Quentin and his DP, Robert Richardson, discussing a shot. Margot is toward the left in the short skirt and white boots. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018



Margot and Quentin under the marquee. It's an October 15, 2018 photo by Andrew Cooper for Sony that appears on IMDb.

 
 
A look at the businesses across the street from the Bruin as Margot takes a walk. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for finding the October 15, 2018 photo on IMDb. It was taken by Andrew Cooper for Sony.



The snackbar with 1969 prices. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018



The Bruin at dusk. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018 



The Fox Westwood Village at dusk. Note the barely visible markings in the street. It's now a scramble crosswalk but Tarantino's team painted it out so the intersection's crosswalks would have a 1969 look. Photo: Bill Counter - October 15, 2018


The Fox Westwood Village and Bruin theatres in the film: 


Margo Robbie, as Sharon Tate, picks up a hitchhiker on Wilshire. She drops her off in this lot and, for a moment, we have no idea where we are.



Panning up, it becomes evident we're in Westwood behind the Fox Westwood Village. 



Continuing the pan up to the top of the tower. 



Margot walking by the Fox Westwood Village. She was in the neighborhood to pick up a book as a present for her husband.



A glorious smile as she sees what's playing at the Bruin across the street.



They're running "The Wrecking Crew," a film Sharon Tate appears in.  



Trying to convince the cashier to let her in as she was in the film. That's the Fox Westwood and a disguised Starbucks across the street.



Pointing at her name on a lobby card displayed in the boxoffice window.



Posing in front of the display cases for a photo taken by the cashier.



In the lobby as Margot turns down the manager's offer of something from the snackbar. 



In the theatre watching the film and enjoying the sparse crowd's reactions to her performance. We see almost nothing of whatever interior that was used to film the scene.



Coming out of the theatre after the screening. 

See the pages about the Fox Westwood Village and the Bruin Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of these two Westwood venues.

The "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" pages:  
| back to top - Bruin and Fox Westwood Village | Cinerama Dome | Vogue, Pussycat and Egyptian | Grauman's Chinese | Excelsior High School | Pantages and Vine | Van Nuys Drive-In |
Earl Carroll Theatre |

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