As some of you may know...I am obsessed with Clint Eastwood. Especially his movies from the 70's! I had a boyfriend who actually gave me the 'Dirty Harry' box set as a gift, if that gives you a clue. Kind of a funny gift to give your girlfriend...but he knew what I liked.
Seeing Dirty Harry for the 1st time was what got me hooked. Many will agree that 'Callahan' was THE coolest bad-ass of ALL TIME!
I love the acting of course, the plot is awesome, seeing San Fran in the 70's is really a groove! And to top it off, the eerie beautiful soundtrack is by none other than Lalo Schrifrin. Did I mention I'm also obsessed with Fender Rhodes?
One of the best scenes in that movie is the climax of the long wild goose chase "Callahan" gets put on by the killer "Scorpio". Bringing ransom money in hopes to save a captive 14 year old girl.
They end up at the top of Mt Davidson in the darkness, at the foot of this HUGE ominous cross. I won't say what goes down up there but I always found it chilling! Andy Robinson does an AMAZING job as "Scorpio" in this flick! His face...his voice...SO creepy, especially in this particular scene.
The movie is based on the murder spree of the 'Zodiac Killer' who terrorized the Bay Area in the late 60's to early 70's. The whole concept of the Zodiac Killer is frightening as well as fascinating! I have been strangely drawn to it for many years. I read the book "Zodiac" by Robert Graysmith when I was in high school. In part of the book, he goes on to tell about the real Zodiac and his roles in films. Zodiac was a "real nut on movies" he says. In 1971, the same year as the release of 'Dirty Harry' a low budget movie was made about this subject. It played only one week at the Golden Gate Theatre in SF. It was seen by fewer than 1000 people. It was called 'The Zodiak Killer' starring Bob Jones and Hal Reed. It ends with hinting that "the 'Zodiac' may be the man sitting behind you!"
YIKES!! Because chances were good that he WAS since he was an egotist and it was played to a limited audience.
For this particular movie, there was a contest devised by the producers in hopes to snare the real Zodiac Killer. A huge carton was set up in the lobby of the theatre with a man crouched inside. There was a slot at the top and movie goers who wanted to have a chance at winning a new motorcycle were to write in 25 words or less "I Believe The Zodiac Killed because..."
Zodiac was probably curious and vain enough to see the film.
The man inside the box was to read each entry and alert management via intercom if he spotted a suspicious entry claiming to be the killer.
I thought this to be interesting piece of information about film and the 'Zodiac'...people were utterly terrified by this killer...and his elusive ways had movies being made about him. As you may know...he has never been found.
The author went on to say "Dirty Harry" was by far the best movie ever made on the subject. It was the most faithful to the facts in the Zodiac case. Clint Eastwood's character was based on Inspector David Toschi and the movie uses an EXACT copy of Zodiac's printing in 'Scorpio's' letters to the Chronicle.
With that being said, to me it makes 'Dirty Harry' even better! I nerd out on things and LOVE learning the back story on the stuff I geek out on.
I had always wanted to see this infamous Cross. And with it being a local landmark for me, it was something I had planned to do for quite some time now....but for some reason it never happened!
My sister and I have both been into the movie and the Zodiac case...we tried to find it in the mid-90's but because we just attempted to do so on a whim we had no luck...no mobile Internet in those days, folks...just trial and error and maybe a map if you were really prepared.
I had heard it maybe had been torn down because of it going against 'separation of Church and State' but that someone had purchased it to prevent that from happening. I was really hoping that was the case because I would have devastated if that were true. I still wanted to try. It was always in the back of my mind to make it up there to see for myself this AMAZING concrete 103 ft. monument.
I was driving around one night and tried to get my date to go on an adventure with me to find it, but he wouldn't get out of the car...he didn't even want to DRIVE up there with me. It's fucking SCARY...that's no lie! But nevertheless...still so drawn to it!
So last Monday was turning out to be a very lazy boring Labor Day. I called up my friend to see what he had going on. Both turned up with nothing. We agreed that I would head into the city and we would see where the day took us. So that we did....
After a great lunch at 'Barney's' in Noe Valley...I was feeling a little buzz on from the beer and wanted to walk off my food coma. It was so beautiful at that time of day...the evening was just beginning and everything was golden around the city. We got in my car and started putting around the hills...and I started to realize the adventure I had wanted for that day lay right before me!
I asked him if he was down and he said "YEAH"! So a quick trip by the liquor store and we were on our way!
We got some weird directions from my iPhone. We attempted to hike up one side of Mt. Davidson but we were not even sure if we were gonna pull it off. The huge Cross was no where in sight! OH NO! So we regrouped and got another address from the official website...I guess "thank GOD for 'smart-phones'!" I kept saying...this is getting more familiar...and being the movie nerd that I am I kept quoting all the scenes. I know...I'm a dork! Sue me...
So up we went...I am wearing vintage 70's platform sandals mind you! This was a spontaneous adventure I was obviously NOT planning or dressed for! But I didn't care...we were too close. We walked up through mud and steep bumpy trails...at one point I fell, dropping my camera and breaking my shoe. We were determined! We got to a clearing at the top and STILL didn't see it! Being kinda tipsy I thought this one cement block was where it must have been! I was so disappointed...my heart was sinking. I kept saying..."IF THEY TORE DOWN THAT CROSS I WILL BE PISSED ON SO MANY LEVELS!" I would have mostly been pissed at myself for putting it off for almost 20 years, especially when I lived so close! So we decided to persevere...
And as we walked through the heavy, heavy mist THERE IT WAS!! In all it's strangeness and glory! I was SCREAMING!!! "THERE'S THE FUCKING CROSS!!!!!!" I could only imagine what the few hikers must have been thinking as they attempted to go on with their mellow evening hike. HAHAHAHA! TOO funny!
We were sooooo excited!! We were actually in tears! I know that may sound a little over-dramatic but you really had to be there. It was insane! It was crazy for me because I had seen that movie so many times and to finally be up there and see where it all went down! SO COOL!! I kept imagining how it must have been getting the film crews up there...the lighting...the equiptment?? I read later that it was very difficult indeed and took quite a while because of the intense fog every night.
So our pilgrimage was rewarded. We took lots of shots...photos and otherwise. ; ) We celebrated finding such an incredible thing. And to me it reminded me never to give up because like the Cross hiding in the mist...at the top of that peak...it was just around the corner. Much like many little (or HUGE) dreams we have in life.
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"Are we going the right way...? I don't see the cross...?" |
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"OHHH SHIT...NOW I DO!!" |
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The Cross |
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Here's to making things happen! |
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Tears of Happiness ; ) |
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Doing my best 'Scorpio' impression.... |
Here is a well meaning, and I would say a well made little documentary I found on YouTube done on the locations of the 'Dirty Harry' movie. Kinda nerdy at some points but I guess it was "Made for nerds, by nerds" I can get that!
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