Where was The Candidate filmed?

The overall campaign started slowly before picking up speed once McKay started up on the campaign trail. Up until then, McKay’s father had been uninterested in his campaigns and had not publicly displayed his support for his son. The media interpreted it as a possible endorsement of the opposition. The young McKay grudgingly plans a media meet-up with his father. That is before asking his old man if he ran his own campaigns, to which the elder McKay responds, “why, sh*t yes, what do you take me for? His dad then explains to the media that his silence was simply because he decided to honor his son’s wishes to run the race on his own merit. The Candidate production team also filmed at the Eastridge Mall in San Jose. Officially known as the Eastridge Center, the mall opened its doors in 1971 and has since gone through several redesigns. The anchor stores housed at the shopping complex include AMC Theaters, JCPenney, 24 Hour Fitness, and Round 1 Entertainment. Besides the political drama, the mall also hosted the “Logan’s Run” filming crew.

Soon, McKay is only nine points down and Jarmon suggests that they duke it out in political fashion - through a debate. With tailored answers for the big discourse, McKay suddenly becomes overcome with a stab of consciousness. After all, he never wanted to run a campaign that would force him to abandon his principles. It was the moment of realization that he had compromised himself and the beliefs that sent him into the tirade. McKay broke out in a speech addressing critical issues like race relations and poverty. Part of his speech explains, “can’t any longer playoff black against old – young against poor. This country cannot house its houseless – feed its foodless.” The Westin St. Francis Hotel at 335 Powell Street was one of The Candidate locations. Constructed in 1904, the hotel features two 12-story south wings and a double-width north wing. The Tower building at the rear is a 32-story addition completed in 1972. It stands as one of the largest hotels in San Francisco with over 1,254 suites and rooms. Other productions that have been filmed at the hotel include “The Conversation,” “Rumor Has It,” and “Itinerary of a Spoiled Child.” Bus 14R, 38R, and 38 as well as the LTD 5 train can get you to the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

After McKay’s outburst during the debate, Lucas is quite furious with him, knowing that his outburst has negatively impacted the campaign. As members of the fourth estate throng backstage, they catch the heartwarming moment when the elder McKay congratulates his son on the debate. “Well done, son,” his dad says as McKay finally feels like he has earned his dad’s respect. The story takes a turn and becomes all about how the former governor reemerged to support his son. The Paramount Theatre in Oakland stood in for the campaign headquarters. Located at 2025 Broadway, the Art Deco concert hall has a 3,040-seat capacity. With roots in 1931, the theatre currently houses the Oakland Ballet and the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The Candidate filming location regularly hosts R&B, pop, jazz, rock, and other musical events. The venue also hosts special events, stand-up comedy, concerts, lectures, and screenings of beloved classics from Hollywood’s Golden Era. Some of the other productions that converted the theater into film-shoot locations include “Tucker: The Man and His Dreams,” “Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested,” and “Oh Happy Day.” Bus 6, NL, and 72 as well as the CC train can get you to the Paramount Theatre.

With McKay’s dad helping with the campaign trail and the positive spin to the debate story, the polling gap closes further. The elder McKay sets up a meet-and-greet for his son with a representative of the labor union. At first, it’s a tense meeting and in jest, McKay says that he is not interested in associating with the labor boss. They cut the tension by breaking into uncomfortable laughter. A publicized endorsement from the union also boosts McKay’s poll ratings. That is even after he delivers the line, “so vote once, vote twice, for Bill McKay…you middle-class honkies.” The Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross, California served as one of The Candidate film sets. Occupying 11 acres, the botanical garden features manicured lawns, the Barn Theater, and several historic buildings. It is also home to the Ross Valley Players, a theater company. In 2022, the property earned its way to the official list of the National Register of Historic Places. Hop onto bus 22 to get to the Marin Art & Garden Center.

During one rally dinner, the MC introduces McKay in grand style. “Seriously folks, you better watch your step when he comes out here because he’s a man who shoots from the hip and a man who is hip when he shoots. Join me in welcoming Bill McKay!” When Jarmon realizes that McKay is climbing up the polls, he releases an ad lampooning his opponent’s inexperience. The mudslinging campaign paints McKay as a schoolboy literally standing on a soapbox. The night before D-day, it is clear that McKay might emerge as the victor. It’s bittersweet because, along the way, he had to sell out in terms of what he stood for. Even more, gutting is when he finds Lucas’s matchbook with the words “you lose” written on it. The crew filmed the political rally scenes at Bush Street and Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Montgomery Street might be familiar to anyone who has watched “Venom,” and Bush Street has been featured in “The Game,” “Vertigo,” and “Chinatown Kid.” Hop onto bus NL 1, 114, or 8BX to get to The Candidate location for a photo op.

The biggest payoff is when McKay clinches the win, much to everyone’s surprise. In the final scene, he escapes the victory speech as throngs of journalists filing into the ballroom follow. He pulls Lucas into an empty room and memorably asks, “what do we do now?” It is yet another running gag, McKay constantly pulls Lucas away from crowds for private talks. Often it’s at inconvenient places, including a bathroom and cockpit, to name a few. The throng of journalists and McKay’s campaign workers burst into the room, leaving McKay’s question unanswered. The University of California, Berkeley is listed as one of the filming locations of The Candidate. It features in the Sather Gate shot seen in the movie. From Strawberry Creek, the landmark separates Sproul Plaza and the center of the campus. Jane K. Sather, a U.C. Berkeley alumni donated the gate to the university in memory of her husband Peder Sather. The Sather gate is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.