Where was The Omega Man filmed?
1971
City Locations
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Location Types
Apartment, Hotel, Museum, Film Studio
Location Styles
American Art Deco, Dated/50's-60's-70's, Building Dated/Retro, Colonial, Industrial Style
About The Omega Man
Premiering in 1971, Boris Sagal's The Omega Man is an exciting action picture set in a post-apocalyptic world. Charlton Heston, an outstanding performer, displays his versatility as the protagonist, Colonel Robert Neville, in the film. The picture features an exceptional supporting cast that includes Lincoln Kilpatrick, Rosalind Cash, Paul Koslo, Anthony Zerbe, and Eric Laneuville. Heston later worked with producer Walter Seltzer on the 1973 film Soylent Green.
In The Omega Man, a terrifying dystopian future where a global virus nearly wipes out humanity is woven into a desolate Los Angeles. A scientist named Neville (Charlton Heston) has created a resistance to the fatal sickness. He spends his days alone patrolling the deserted metropolis and fighting mutant albinos known as "the Family." When Neville meets other survivors, notably Lisa (Rosalind Cash), a glimmer of hope illuminates his existence. They risk everything to rescue the last of mankind and get out of the city together.
Critics were divided when The Omega Man came out; some praised the film for its excellent acting and complex science-fiction plot. Others, meanwhile, were critical of the mutants' depiction and the film's climax. Renting it out in theaters across North America brought in $4 million for the picture.
However, despite its lack of significant accolades, The Omega Man has established itself as a cinematic classic. It is widely considered a seminal work in the post-apocalyptic subgenre and has acquired a devoted cult following throughout the years. Its extensive impact is seen in many parts of popular culture, such as Life on Your Own, a music video by The Human League, and The Simpsons.
The Omega Man Locations
Los Angeles, with its vast urban landscape, served as the primary setting for The Omega Man. It would have been challenging to accomplish without contemporary computer-generated imagery (CGI); however, the film's creators cleverly used the empty streets of Los Angeles's financial district on late 1970 Sunday mornings to portray a deserted city.
The Olympic Theater, located at 313 W. Eighth Street, is one of many iconic Los Angeles locations viewers visit during the film. It plays a significant role in the film's opening scenes. Charlton Heston's character watches the horror film "Woodstock" in this strangely empty location.
The penthouse apartment where Heston's character lives may be seen from the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank. Fans can take a Warner Bros. studio tour to visit places featured in the movie, even though the actual backlot is not open to the public.
The John Ferraro Building, which stands for the Department of Water and Power, is another significant site in the film. Here, the character Neville takes a break from his supply run to review his map and record a message.
For fans of the renowned post-apocalyptic film The Omega Man, visiting these areas could offer a new perspective, letting them experience the metropolis as depicted in the movie.
Neville drives up the street scene in The Omega Man
South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA, USA
The movie, set in 1977, unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where biological warfare has eradicated the world's population, save for Robert Neville (Charlton Heston) and a group of mutants transformed into light-sensitive, partially blind, flesh-eating psychopaths.
In the opening sequence, Neville drives up the street, passing the Southland Hotel. While the roads and buildings may have changed over the years, fans can still soak up the atmosphere and follow Neville's footsteps on these same streets. One significant building nearby is FourFortyFour South Flower. When it was completed in 1981, this tower ranked fifth-tallest in Los Angeles.
FourFortyFour South Flower is renowned for housing one of the largest public art collections in the city. Upon its construction, five internationally acclaimed artists were enlisted to create public works displayed throughout the building.
Visit the street where you can find FourFortyFour South Flower in downtown Los Angeles. It's easily accessible via public transportation or by car. If you're driving, several public parking lots are nearby. From the city center, the road will take up to 15 minutes by public transport.
Neville patrols the city scene in The Omega Man
LADWP, 111 N Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Neville patrols the deserted streets of Los Angeles during the day. Armed with a machine gun and a determination to find and eliminate the mutants that haunt the city, he stops at a certain location to check his map and make a recording while on a supply run.
This scene was filmed at 111 N Hope St, Los Angeles, specifically at the John Ferraro Building. Constructed in 1965, this 17-story building is designed in the Corporation-International Style by A.C. Martin & Associates. It serves as the consolidation point for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power operations. The building's unique design includes a pond surrounding it, which ingeniously contributes to the air conditioning and heating systems, reducing power usage in summer and providing heat without a boiler in winter.
While the building's interior may not be accessible to the public as it's an operational office, fans can still appreciate the architecture and imagine the desolate ambiance from the outside, further immersing themselves in the world of The Omega Man.
To visit this location, you'll need to go to downtown Los Angeles. The building is conveniently situated in the city's heart, just an 11-minute walk from the City Hall Park Center. This central location offers fans the opportunity to explore further and discover more filming sites for The Omega Man in the surrounding area.
Heston watches the movie scene in The Omega Man
Olympic Theatre, 313 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014, USA
Neville watches the movie "Woodstock." With no new films available since the elimination of human life, Neville is compelled to rewatch this same movie each time he visits the theater. As he watches, he recites the film's lines verbatim, a testament to his loneliness and longing for human connection.
This poignant scene was filmed at the historic Olympic Theatre in Los Angeles. Initially opened in 1927, the theater was rechristened as the Olympic Theatre in 1932 to celebrate Los Angeles being the host city for that year's Olympic Games. In 1942, the building went through a major renovation under the guidance of architect Charles O. Matcham.
Yet, the journey of the Olympic Theatre doesn't conclude there. In the summer of 1986, it was temporarily closed for seismic retrofitting but, unfortunately, never welcomed audiences again. By 2004, efforts were made to restore its exterior facade and marquee. The interior, however, was stripped down to the bare walls, repainted white, and the floor was leveled. Fast-forward to 2017, the former theater had been given a new lease on life as a clothing store named COS.
Although it's no longer a functioning theater, fans can visit it. It's conveniently located downtown, just a short walk from City Hall Park Center. While the interior may not be accessible, the building's exterior still echoes its cinematic history. From the previous filming location, it's a 25-minute walk or 6 minutes by car or taxi.
The chase at the stadium scene in The Omega Man
Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Matthias (Anthony Zerbe) and his followers find Neville guilty of their perceived crimes. They transport him in a cart to an area just outside a stadium, where they tie him to a tree. With a fiery sermon, Matthias incites his followers to burn Neville, much like the bodies of the dead were incinerated after the initial contamination. However, their plan is thwarted when the stadium lights suddenly blaze to life, causing the mutants to fall into disarray as they attempt to shield their sensitive eyes and skin.
These dramatic scenes were shot on location at Dodger Stadium, a historical landmark located in Los Angeles's Elysian Park neighborhood. The stadium opened its doors in 1962 after less than three years of construction. Known as a "pitcher's ballpark," it has witnessed 13 no-hitters, two of which were perfect games. It also holds the distinction of being the most popular MLB stadium on social media.
For fans wanting to visit this iconic location, Dodger Stadium is still operational and open to the public. Tourists can tour the stadium or catch a live game during the baseball season. The stadium is easily accessible via public transportation or car, with ample parking. It is located via W Temple St and Sunset Blvd in the city center.
The hideout scene in The Omega Man
Briar Summit Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA
In the dawn's early light, the couple reaches a house at the foot of the mountains. To Neville's surprise, they encounter a group of healthy children. The young man with them introduces himself as Dutch (Paul Koslo), and the woman as Lisa (Rosalind Cash). This unexpected meeting brings a glimmer of hope to the desolate post-apocalyptic world.
The scenes featuring Dutch and the kids' hideout were filmed on location at Briar Summit Drive in Los Angeles. This particular site is part of the Briar Summit Open Space Preserve. Known for its moderate difficulty level, this trail takes approximately 24 minutes on average. It's an excellent spot for birdwatching, hiking, and running, and offers a peaceful escape from city life. The trail is accessible all year round, presenting beautiful scenery regardless of season. Dog owners are welcome to bring their furry friends, provided they're kept on a leash.
It's located in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, just off Mulholland Drive. Public transportation options are available, but driving or biking to the location might be more convenient. To get to the Briar Summit Open Space Preserve, drive north on US-101 from the city center. The journey should take about 20 minutes by car.
Neville's penthouse scene in The Omega Man
Warner Bros. Ranch, 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505, USA
young survivor. Later that evening, as Neville and Lisa are about to enjoy dinner, they're interrupted by a sudden power outage, a consequence of Neville's neglect to refuel the generators. As Neville heads to the basement to restore power, the antagonist, Zachary (Lincoln Kilpatrick), seizes the opportunity to scale the building and reach the penthouse balcony.
Neville's penthouse, however, isn't an actual residential building. It's a facade located on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank. In addition to the penthouse, several street scenes were shot on the studio backlot. The ranch opened in the 1930s and has served as a backdrop for numerous Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros. productions, including Dennis the Menace, Hazel, The Middle, The Wrecking Crew, and many others.
Although the Warner Bros. Studio backlot is typically off-limits to the public, fans can see these iconic settings through WB studio tours. These guided tours provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the majority of the backlot locations.
From downtown Los Angeles, it's just a 15-minute drive via US-101 N. Alternatively, public transportation options are readily accessible; the road might take an hour and a half.
Conclusion
The Omega Man is an intriguing mashup of dystopian fiction and science fiction, featuring the legendary Charlton Heston as one of his trademark last-man-standing characters. The film's enjoyable blend of drama and cheese calls to mind Heston's work in films such as Soylent Green (1973) and Planet of the Apes (1968).
The Omega Man, based on Richard Matheson's book “I Am Legend,” uses excellent cinematography to depict the downtown area of Los Angeles on a Sunday morning when it is tranquil, creating a dramatic image of a lonely city. The imaginative brilliance of the film's pre-CGI producers is on full display in the haunting and fascinating depictions of a deserted town.
The albino mutants' Charles Manson-esque allegiance to "the Family" provides a counterbalance to the film's message about technophobia, and the idea of germ warfare serves as a relevant warning against the exploitation of technology. In his status as the only survivor with immune blood, Heston's character follows the example set by biblical figures, culminating in a bold and haughty climax.
Although it failed to become a box office smash, The Omega Man made an indelible mark on the film industry. Its influence is evident in the endeavors of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott, who planned to film a third movie based on Matheson's book until the expenses grew too high.
A visit to the film's shooting locations in Los Angeles would give another dimension of appreciation to fans of the film and provide an in-person connection to the film's strangely bleak atmosphere.