"Eye For An Eye"

Getting an ice cream cone on Broadway in John Schlesinger's "Eye For An Eye" (Paramount, 1996). The film stars Sally Field, Kiefer Sutherland, Ed Harris, Olivia Burnette, Joe Mantegna, Beverly D'Angelo and Philip Baker Hall. Sally's character is on a hunt for the man who raped and murdered her daughter. Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the various theatres in the film and getting the screenshots. He comments: 

"Well, not a good movie but this one does look great thanks to cinematographer Amir Mokri. The Kiefer Sutherland character lives downtown so we get plenty of cool footage there."

 

At the end of the ice cream scene the camera pans up a bit and we get this view south as Kiefer gets lost in the crowd. The Roxie is at 518 S. Broadway, the Cameo, with "Happy Holida s" on the marquee, is at 528. Just beyond, unseen in this shot, is the Arcade Theatre at 534 S. Broadway. On the right in the distance it's the Los Angeles Theatre down in the 600 block.

Check out the pages about the Roxie, Cameo, Arcade, and Los Angeles theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information and photos inside and out.   

 

A fine look over at part of the east side of the 400 block of S. Main. It's the view out the window of Kiefer Sutherland's SRO room. The Regent is at 448, now reborn as a live music venue. Over on the left the Main Theatre, with the "XXX Movie" signage, was at 438, in a storefront of the Canadian Building.   

See the pages about the Main Theatre and the  Regent Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the venues. 

 

That neon sign in the previous shot prompted a search to nail down the building it had been taken from. This shot gives us a better look at it and reveals that the Main St. view had been a process shot. The building Kiefer is on in this shot is the former El Dorado Hotel at 416 S. Spring, a block away from the Regent Theatre. Thanks for this, Eric! 

 

 

A 2024 view of the El Dorado from Google Maps. We're looking southeast. The Rosslyn roof sign can be seen in the distance, over at 5th and Main.

On IMDb: "Eye For An Eye"

"Why Do Fools Fall In Love"

It's 1956 and singer Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers are touring with an Alan Freed Rock and Roll show in "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (Warner Bros., 1998). Frankie, played by Larenz Tate, dies young of a drug overdose. In this Rashomon-like tale, three women each claim to be his widow, tell different stories about Frankie and, of course, each want his estate. 

Little Richard is in a courtroom narrating a flashback as we pan across the room and get this image. That's a bit of the courtroom paneling on the left. One look at the terrazzo tells you we're at the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. There's signage saying it's the Paramount Theatre. Freed did do lots of shows at the Brooklyn Paramount, as seen in "American Hot Wax" where the Wiltern was used as a stand-in. But here Richard's narration says that we're on the road somewhere.

Halle Berry plays Zola Taylor, a singer with the Platters. Later Frankie meets and marries Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth, who may already be married. Lela Rochon plays the third wife, schoolteacher Emira Eagle. Also featured are Paul Mazursky as the manager/music publisher and Pamela Reed as the Judge. Ben Vereen is also in the mix. Gregory Nava directed. The cinematography was by Edward Lachman.

 

"Biggest Show of Stars For '56."

 

The crowd alongside the boxoffice.

 

The rush into the lobby. Note that lovely carpet the theatre had at the time. 

 

The inner lobby and snackbar. 

 

Onstage it's the Platters with Halle Berry playing the lead singer. 

 

 

 

The Platters coming off. Offstage right in front of the dimmerboard Larenz, playing Frankie, tells Halle how great she was and gives her a kiss. He gets slapped. But then she watches his performance. 

 

Frankie and the Teenagers wowing the crowd. 

 

 

 

A view from the 2nd balcony at the end of a number by the Teenagers. 

 

 

A later scene in the lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre. By this time Halle and Larenz's characters have become a couple. The theatre is being used as the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel. They're about to get on a bus for another tour.

See the pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the L.A. Theatres site for a history of the 1931 vintage movie palace along with hundreds of photos. 

 

Another town, another show. Larenz, as Frankie, has been on and off drugs. We're in Philadelphia and Paul Mazursky has given him another chance. But he hasn't shown up yet for this show.  

 

 

 

Getting his fix under the fire escapes. 

 

A shot into the auditorium reveals that we're onstage at the State Theatre, 7th and Broadway. 

 

Paul fretting backstage about Frankie's whereabouts. Behind the rigging it's Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth, with Frankie at the time. 

 

He shows up and goes on but then collapses.

See the pages about the State Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about the history along with many photos.  

 

Vivicas's character becomes a hooker to support Frankie and his drug habit. For this New York shot they used the 500 block of Broadway. Check out the pages about the Arcade, Cameo and Roxie theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information and photos inside and out.  

 

 

Years later, swearing he's clean, Larenz's character gets told by Paul Mazursky "You're a junkie. That's why you're not playing the Orpheum tonight." Standing in for a mythical New York Orpheum it's the one in Los Angeles at 842 S. Broadway.

 

 

 

Larenz turns up to see the show. The Platters have dumped Halle Berry's character, Zola, but she now has a solo career.

 

The obligatory Orpheum ceiling shot. 

 

 

An enthusiastic audience for Halle's character.

 

 

 

A look into the house while Halle is onstage. 

 

The view from the top as Little Richard and his piano come onstage on a wagon. Larenz, as Frankie, comes out despondent and looks for a fix. Within a week he's dead of an overdose. Thanks to Dean Lent for a nudge about the theatres appearing in the film -- he was on the camera crew for the shoot at the Orpheum.

See the pages about the Orpheum Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1926 vintage vaudeville house.  

On IMDb: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"

"Down and Out in Beverly Hills"

Richard Dreyfuss hears his wife calling into Dr. Toni Grant's radio advice show when he's on the freeway in Paul Mazursky's "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (Touchstone, 1986). He heads downtown and while in traffic decides to call in with his own version of their marital troubles. Here he's in his Rolls across from the Roxie Theatre, 518 S. Broadway.

Thanks to Sean Ault for noting that Mazursky included this scene with the theatres of the 500 block. The film also features Nick Nolte, Bette Midler, Little Richard, Tracy Nelson, Elizabeth Peña, Evan Richards, Donald F. Muhich, Valerie Curtin and Mike the Dog. The cinematography was by Donald McAlpine.

 

A moment later we get an obstructed view of the Cameo, next door at 528 S. Broadway. Top of the four-film grindhouse bill is "Jaws."

 

The rest of the Cameo's offerings: "Against All Odds," a 1984 release with Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward,  "Teenage Bride," a 1974 film starring Colleen Brennan, and "Good Guys Wear Black," a 1978 release starring Chuck Norris. They were changing their program twice a week.

 

 

 

Spanish language films were at the Arcade, 534 S. Broadway. He's not paying attention to the traffic and rear-ends a guy.  

 

 

 

And he gets rear-ended by the police car behind him. We get a look back at the Roxie.  

 

Another Arcade view as the police tell him to get out of the car.

Head to the Los Angeles Theatres site for pages about the Roxie, Cameo and Arcade theatres that include a history of each building along with many photos both vintage and recent.

On IMDb:"Down and Out in Beverly Hills"

"Joker: Folie à Deux"

 Prep for the shoot in March 2023:

 

The 500 block of Broadway getting dressed up as Gotham City for a scene in "Joker: Folie à Deux" (Warner Bros., 2024). Todd Phillips directs a cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener. The cinematography is by Lawrence Sher. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023

 

 

A new boxoffice for the Roxie. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023

 

 

Danish art films playing at the Cameo. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023

 

 

The Cameo's new boxoffice and facade. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023

 

 

"3 New Kung Fu Hits" at the Arcade. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023 

 

The Cameo with the boxoffice under wraps for the night. Photo: Bill Counter - March 3, 2023

 

6:30 am on the day of the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023 

 

 

1980s cars south of 6th ready for action at 10 am. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023 

 

 

Another look at the Arcade's new facade. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023

 

 

"1st Gotham Showing - Jo Jo Dancer." Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023 

 

 

 

The deco splendor of the Roxie. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023  

 

 

The mid-morning view down the block. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023

 

 

Another 80s fleet arrayed north of 5th St. Photo: Bill Counter - March 4, 2023 

 

 

Shots from the film:

 

Broadway is seen as part of Gotham City near the end of the film. Following a courthouse bombing, Joaquin Phoenix escapes and runs down a street. He hops into a car that's in the 400 block of Broadway, headed south toward 5th. 

 

He realizes he's in trouble when the guy in the passenger seat turns around and reveals his Joker makeup. 

Joaquin in the back seat. He opens the door and tumbles out. 

 

 

Starting to run.

 

 

Heading to the 500 block. 

 

 

On the east side of the block in front of the Roxie Theatre. 

 

 

A moment later with more of the Cameo and Arcade in view.

Head to the Los Angeles Theatres site for pages about the Arcade, Cameo and Roxie theatres that include a history of each building along with many photos both vintage and recent.

On IMDb: "Joker: Folie à deux"