Where was High Anxiety filmed?

Thorndyke is laying on a psychiatrist’s couch receiving treatment for his high anxiety from his mentor Dr. Lillolman. He awakens from a dream where he is falling, and Dr. Lillolman says to him, “Fight it, fight it, you must fight it, do you hear me? Fight your fears! The only way to overcome high anxiety is to fight it!” He begins repeating, “Fight it! Fight it!” and rises from the couch and begins dancing around and throwing punches like a prizefighter, knocking down Dr. Lillolman.

One of very few High Anxiety action scenes filmed on a studio lot, you can easily visit the spot where this footage was captured by taking bus lines 5 or 7.

In this High Anxiety scene, Thorndyke is in his office awaiting a meeting with Dr. Montague. Montague is buzzed in for a meeting with Thorndyke. He apologizes for arriving late to their appointment. Thorndyke expresses to him that he notices some case histories indicate there is nothing wrong with some of the patients, yet the hospital continues to “treat” them and take money from their families. Thorndyke indicates that some patients appear normal at times and at other times show signs of severe mental illness.

They call in a patient named Mr. Cartwright to examine together. Thorndyke interviews the patient and feels he has recovered sufficiently to be released from the hospital. Montague uses elastic bands to shoot the patient in the head without his knowledge or Thorndyke’s. Cartwright assumes it is his phantom pain resuming, and that he is not “cured” after all. Montague unleashes another elastic, hitting Cartwright’s body then inserts a pair of fake fangs and looms over the patient, reminding him of his fear of werewolves. In one of the funniest scenes in High Anxiety, the following conversation takes place.

Cartwright: I think the pain is going away now.

Thorndyke: Oh, good. Breathe deeply.

Cartwright: I feel perfect. {Montague hits Cartwright with another elastic}. OWWWWWWW!!!!!

Bus routes 602 and 761 will take you right to this former High Anxiety production location. You can also drive yourself, call a taxi, or use a rideshare app.

Thorndyke gives a speech at the psychiatry conference held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in San Francisco. His peers are given an opportunity to ask him questions.

Dr. Colbert: You mentioned in your address that penis envy should be deemed an antiquated psychiatric concept. Could you expand on that?

Thorndyke: Of course. Let us remember that the term penis envy was created in a predominantly male atmosphere…and that…

Unknown doctor, entering the lecture hall with several young children: Excuse me. Sorry I’m late. Forgive me for bringing the kids. I couldn’t get a sitter.

In one of two scenes filmed at the 20th Century Fox Studios, you can enjoy a tour of the grounds during a visit to this iconic film set.

The concierge at the Hyatt Regency Hotel informs Dennis, the bellhop, that Thorndyke has placed another request for a newspaper. Dennis, sick of being nagged by Thorndyke, throws a little temper tantrum.

Thorndyke enters the shower in his hotel room. Eerie music plays. As he begins to soap and rinses off his body, a figure approaches the transparent shower curtain. In a mock attack, the bellhop Dennis repeatedly stabs Thorndyke with the newspaper, yelling in a high-pitched voice, “Here’s your paper! Here’s your paper! Here’s your paper!” before throwing it at him and leaving. The ink swirls down the shower drain.

Thorndyke closes the scene with these words, “That kid gets no tip.”

To reach the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the site of this well-known High Anxiety scene, you have lots of public transit options from which to choose. To travel by bus, you can take lines 1, 14, 14R, 38R, 5, 6, J, or NL. By train, follow line LTD 5. The BART Blue, Red, and Yellow lines also take you to this destination. The light rail lines M and N are also good transportation options.

This High Anxiety film set is none other than the Hyatt Regency hotel lobby in Southern California’s San Francisco. Brophy calls Thorndyke’s name and snaps a photo. Shortly thereafter, Braces comes on the scene dressed in the same attire as Thorndyke and carrying a gun. He shoots one of the hotel employees in the stomach and then again in the head. People panic and race for the exit while the real Dr. Thorndyke exits the elevator and is handed the gun by his imposter Braces. They exchange this little dialogue.

Braces: Dr. Thorndyke?

Thorndyke: Yes?

Braces: Here’s a little present for you. {He thrusts the gun into Thorndyke’s hand}.

Thorndyke: What is this? Who are you?

Braces pulls off his mask to real his true identity, leaving Thorndyke with a myriad of questions and the gun in his hand.

You can easily find this High Anxiety filming location simply by walking through the front doors of San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.

Victoria and Thorndyke arrive by car just outside the tower grounds. Victoria is overwhelmed and has an emotional outburst, saying.

“Oh, Richard! Richard! The world has gone crazy. I mean nothing makes any sense anymore. I mean don’t know what to believe and what not to believe. My life is just all topsy-turvy. I mean one minute you’re singing love songs and the next minute you’re pumping bullets into an innocent man. And then it is not you. It is the other Thorndyke. I mean how much more can a girl take? I mean my nerves are cracking, I feel like I am going to die! I think I am going to explode!”

Thorndyke hugs her and tells her to calm down, and the two try to sort out a way to prove Thorndyke’s innocence.

To visit this High Anxiety filming location, take bus lines 256 or 51. On the other hand, you can also get there by private vehicle, cab service, or a rideshare app.