Contents
Introduction and Reviews
The Cast
Filming Locations, Part 1
Filming Locations, Part 2
Filming Locations, Part 3
Unanswered Questions
Memorabilia Gallery
DVD Video Comparison

Angel Filming Locations, Part 2

Hollywood Blvd

Hollywood Blvd has to be considered one of the stars of this movie. It has a definite presence, so much so that I think of it as a character unto itself. Much of the mood or ambiance is shaped by the street, as well as any of the viewer's preconceptions about the Boulevard such as its glamour (or lack thereof).

The chase sequence near the end of the movie shows off a lot of the Boulevard but unfortunately the scenery goes by so quickly that one can't get a good look at it, but then, it is a chase sequence. Quite a lot of the Boulevard is shown during other parts of the movie. It's those scenes that will be looked at here.

There are a couple of establishing shots of Hollywood Blvd that need to be commented on, such as those during the opening titles. There are more details of each below, but in general I was surprised at just how far away the camera was for these shots but, thinking about it, I realized that such long shots are the only way to fill the frame with one side of the street while keeping it all in focus and not having ugly closeups of nearby objects such as cars. Isn't cinematography fun!

After the opening pan shot we see a couple of shots of Hollywood Blvd, taken from west of La Brea Ave.

Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 1983 Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 2006

Long shot from the south side of Hollywood Blvd near Poinsettia Pl, about 300m west of La Brea Ave. This scene was shot from a car; my shot was taken from too close to the sidewalk but the traffic here convinced me not to step into the street!

Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 1983 Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 2006

Long shot of Hollywood Blvd from at or near the Chinese Theatre, again about 300m west of the Hollywood Theatre marquee seen in the image. The 2006 shot doesn't quite match up but is close.

Hollywood Blvd in 1983

Hollywood Boulevard, I think this was shot near Sycamore on the south side of the Boulevard.

The cocktails awning in 1983 The former cocktails in 2006

I bet the people in the forground are all actors or extras. A couple of them definitely show up in other scenes. The 2006 photo was taken across the street at the wrong angle, but does show the location including that lamp standard.

The record store in 1983 The former record store in 2006

In front of the record store at 6723 Hollywood. Just which of these people are actors or extras?

Swensen's and George's 1983 Where Swensen's and George's used to be 2006

The angle suggests this was shot from in front of the Pussycat Theatre. Swensen's and George's are on the left side. George's appears to be behind its neighbour's awning because of the extreme angle of the shot.

Shop next to Supply Sergeant in 1983 Shop next to Supply Sergeant in 2006

Angel in front of the shop next to the Supply Sergeant. The West Castle is close enough that Angel could exchange these looks with the Preacher Lady in real life if there had been something like an argument.

West Castle in 1983 West Castle in 2006

The Preacher Lady in front of the West Castle apparently addressing Angel.

The former record store in 1983 The former record store in 2006

In front of the record store again. Take a close look at that tree on the left; it's the same one, only 23 years older.

West Castle 1983 Formerly West Castle 2006

Shot from the northwest corner of Hollywood & Las Palmas. Facing the West Castle on the southeast corner. As of 2006 Miceli's is still there, along with the now-closed Las Palmas Theatre.

Egyptian Theatre 1983 Egyptian Theatre 2006

In front of Swensen's on the northwest corner of Hollywood & Las Palmas. That's the Egyptian across the street.

International Love Boutique 1983

The International Love Boutique was at the southeast corner of Hollywood & Sycamore. I love the way the light from the neon tubing bounced around in the camera and fogged Donna Wilkes' hair and face.

Hertz 1983

Hertz really was across the street from the International Love Boutique. This side of the Boulevard now hosts a large building where the Hollywood Entertainment Museum was located until 2006.

Hollywood Pussycat in 1983 Ritz Theatre in 2006 The "you have a good night" sequence was shot next door to the Hollywood Pussycat; that's its marquee in the background. My shot isn't quite positioned correctly but it's close. Too bad that marquee isn't operating — I love the warm colour of those lights.

The juggler and his change bowl

As far as I know there's nothing significant about the juggler or his location. This sequence is just a couple of pick-up shots used to help set the feel of night on the Boulevard. Tracking the location down gave me some amusement when I realized how far one can go just to find something for the sake of completeness. Keep reading...

The Juggler at Hollywood & McCadden in 1983 Juggler's location in 2007

The juggler is standing in a doorway or recess on the south side of the building at the northwest corner of Hollywood & McCadden. Looking at the modern photo it's clear that the building has had a face-lift since then.

Juggler's Location 1983 Juggler's Location 2007

The German DVD is very dark, but it is full-frame and that extra image area proves the juggler's location by the lights that we see at the top of the frame, across the street behind the crowd. They light the alley beneath that arch in the building near McCadden Pl.

Juggler's Bowl 1983 Juggler's Bowl 2007

To film Donna Wilkes dropping some coins into the juggler's change bowl the camera was positioned in what at the time must have been a doorway or other recess behind the juggler. The storefront has since been remodeled; the recess of 1983 became the display window of 2007, making it impossible to duplicate the camera angle without trying to stand behind the glass. Rather than doing that, I shot a north-facing photo looking down at the location rather than the original south-facing view. Look carefully and you can still match up the terrazzo grain patterns, proving the location of the bowl.

...ok, finding the location of the juggler is a reasonable thing to do, but I'll cheerfully admit that finding the location of his change bowl has to be the geekiest location find of all time! Does anyone really care where it was placed? To the very centimetre? Probably not, but when the film footage that had the proof of the juggler's location panned down to show the bowl and detail of the sidewalk too, well, I just couldn't resist the challenge of locating that exact spot! I'm so glad it was still possible after 24 years.

The car ride with the vice cop

This sequence looks real because it flows naturally and there are no strange breaks in the conversation. That's due to good editing and sound work, but it's all a fiction; the backgrounds show that the scenes alternate back and forth between Hollywood Blvd and Vine St.

One shouldn't lay any blame on the filmmakers, of course. This sort of thing must happen all the time since matching such alternating point of view shots to reality must take time and money, especially when there's dialogue. It only takes me out of the movie when I watch the background (and knowingly chuckle to myself) instead of following the story.

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

The car is moving south on McCadden Pl. At the end of the scene one can see the car start turning left to head east on Hollywood Blvd. It has to turn here because McCadden does not run straight through Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

Heading east on Hollywood, at the Christie Hotel building.

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

Driving south on Vine, just south of the intersection with Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

Heading east on Hollywood. The Egyptian Theatre.

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

Driving north on Las Palmas. We can see Swensen's on the left and George's on the right, so that's the Hollywood Blvd intersection coming up. Was this the only scene shot with Gene Ross and Donna Wilkes in the car together?

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

This one is particularly disconcerting if one knows the locations: Mae delivers her caustic comment while the car is parked on Las Palmas...

Hollywood & McCadden 1983

...but the cop's reaction was shot with the car parked on Vine, just south of Hollywood Blvd. That orange-lit archway is in the Taft Building.

George's and the Vogue Theatre 1983 Formerly George's and the Vogue Theatre 2006

The southeast corner of Las Palmas. From George's on the left to the Vogue Theatre. on the right. An Italian restaurant is located where George's used to be, and the Vogue has closed. Sorry about that truck being in the way.

Swensen's 1983

Outside Swensen's on the northwest corner of Las Palmas. That's the Egyptian Theatre across the street.

Record Store 1983

Outside that record store again.

West Castle 1983 Formerly West Castle 2006

These scenes with Andrews were shot in front of the record store. That's the West Castle on the right; the pattern and colour of the out of focus lights agree with other shots that clearly show the building.

Wax Museum in 1983 Wax Museum in 2006

At the Wax Museum.

Shot at the Wax Museum in 1983 Shot at the Wax Museum in 2006

Shot at the Wax Museum. At the left under that archway is the little alley across the street from where the juggler was standing.

Window Shoping 1983

Crystal is window shopping. This is probably 6619 Hollywood.

Looking west 1983

Looking west from the same location.

Edison Star in 1983 Edison Star in 2006

My shot of the Thomas Edison Star is just as illegible as the one in the movie. This star was replaced when the curb was redesigned to be wheelchair friendly. Does anyone know when that happened?

Egyptian Theatre in 1983 Egyptian Theatre in 2006

Shot from the Edison Star, the gang is walking towards the Egyptian Theatre. Look closely and you'll see Return of the Jedi on its marquee. ROTJ was still playing five months later when Angel was released, although not at the Egyptian. Across the street is the 6700 block of Hollywood Blvd.

Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 1983 Long shot of Hollywood Blvd in 2006

Long shot from the north side of Hollywood Blvd near Poinsettia Pl, about 400m west of the Sycamore Ave sign just barely visible on the right side of the DVD frame. The 2006 photo makes it look like that's the La Brea sign, but don't get confused, it's just that the signs have been changed and line up coincidently.

SW Las Palmas corner in 1983 SW Las Palmas corner in 2006 Facing the southwest corner of Hollywood & Las Palmas.
George's 1983 Formerly George's 2006

A shot of George's on the east side of Las Palmas, shot from the west side.

NW Las Palmas corner in 1983 NW Las Palmas corner in 2006 That column has been repainted but the surface is the same. This is at the northwest corner of Hollywood & Las Palmas. That's the Egyptian Theatre in the background of both images. The Egyptian lay idle for years between the eras of these two shots.
Chinese Twin 1983

The Chinese Twin Theatre. Shot from somewhere between Sycamore and Orange.

Andrews follows Angel

This sequence begins on Hollywood Blvd and ends at the Harvard School. As we'll see, the scenes were not shot anywhere near the same time. Perhaps it would have been too difficult to coordinate the school bus and car shots for the same day on a small-scale shoot?

Chinese Theatre and Twin 1983 Chinese Theatre 2006

Angel will board her school bus in front of the Roosevelt Hotel. In the background are the Chinese Theatre and the Chinese Twin. Note the lack of a blue Superman arm behind the leftmost tree, as well as the white marquee on the Twin. Who's the guy that looks like Lon Chaney, Jr? His being in the foreground makes this look like a cameo.

Orange Ave 1983 Orange Ave 2006

Andrews approaches his car parked in front of the Roosevelt Hotel. That's Orange Ave in the background.

Chinese Theatre 1983 Chinese Theatre 2006

Andrews is in pursuit. Note the presence of that blue Superman arm and the now-dark marquee on the Chinese Twin. The different shadows can only imply hours between shots but the background change implies a day or more, perhaps weeks.

Wax Museum 1983 Wax Museum 2006

Andrews passes the Wax Museum while following Angel's bus. The museum's facade has since been redesigned but those signature arches are still there.

School bus on road in 1983 Google Street View of Coldwater Canyon Dr in 2008 The car and school bus are heading south on Coldwater Canyon Drive between Monte Cielo and Lago Vista Drives. Google Maps was used to spot the location in 2006 but it took Google Street Views to prove it in 2008.
School bus on road in 1983 Google Street View of Coldwater Canyon Ave in 2008

As of 2008 this location has been tentatively identified as being on Coldwater Canyon Avenue, between Hatteras and Martha Streets. Thanks to Donna Wilkes for suggesting the general area where this was likely filmed.

School bus on road in 1983 Google Street View of Coldwater Canyon Ave in 2008

Google Street Views shows that this section of Coldwater Canyon Avenue has much younger trees than those in the movie. Perhaps they were replaced, but without finding matching photos of the trees in the movie this identification is likely to remain tentative.

Hollywood Blvd 1983 This is a composite of several DVD frames where the camera panned up from the street to show us Hollywood Blvd vanishing off in the distance. Another shot from the south side of Hollywood Blvd near Poinsettia Pl.
SE corner of Vine in 1983 SE corner of Vine in 2006 Shot from near the Cave Theatre. The 2006 photo wasn't quite taken from the same location but one can see that there's a Holly Vine Shoppe on the southeast corner of Hollywood & Vine.
Hollywood & Las Palmas in 1983 Hollywood & Las Palmas in 2006

Near the Supply Sergeant. In the background are Swensen's and George's on the north side at Las Palmas.

Outpost Building in 1983 Outpost Building in 2006 The Outpost Building. It looks like Cipriano Custom Tailors is still there; the building was locked up so this is as close as I got. Reflections off the glass included at no charge.
Outpost Building in 1983 Outpost Building in 2006 The front entrance to the Outpost Building. The Two Guys from Italy pizza shop is still in the same location, but it has a new awning.

The pick-up

The pick-up sequence was filmed on the corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga, but the shots showing the occupants of the car were shot elsewhere. Does anyone know where?

SE corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga in 1983

The southeast corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga, facing west.

SE corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga in 1983 SE corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga in 2006

The southeast corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga, camera facing into the corner. The 2006 shot is from across the intersection, not from a moving car like the movie shot. Yes, things have changed since 1983.

SE corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga in 1983

Where is this? Does anyone recognize that sign?

SE corner of Hollywood & Cahuenga in 1983

How about this sign or window decoration?

Bonus!

In front of the Roosevelt Hotel in 1983 A frame from the first deleted scene on the US DVD, shot directly across the street from the Paramount Theatre, which is visible behind Angel and Mae (behind the tree, that is). This location no longer exists, the place is now inside the Hollywood & Highland mall.
In front of the Roosevelt Hotel in 1983 In front of the Roosevelt Hotel in 2006 A frame from the third deleted scene on the US DVD, shot in front of the Roosevelt Hotel. Waaay to the left one can spot the yellow Hertz rental sign (now demolished) visible in the Urban Cowboy scene. The palms in the 2006 photo must be recent; the aerial photos online in June 2006, which are probably obsolete, show ficus trees on this block.
Rory Calhoun star in 2006 Neither of Rory Calhoun's two stars are relevant to the movie since they don't appear in it but I included a shot of the one at 7007 Hollywood because he's one of the stars of this movie and it is located close to where some of the action takes place.

More... More...

On to Part 3, the theatres on Hollywood Blvd seen in Angel.

Credits

DVD frame captures from Angel are copyright 1983 The Angel Venture and are from The Angel Collection released by Anchor Bay in 2003.