Where was True Crime filmed?
1999
City Locations
Oakland, Cotati, Walnut Creek, Point Richmond
Location Types
Clubs/Bars, Buildings/Offices
Location Styles
Americana, Classic Car, Office Building Style, Industrial
About True Crime
Clint Eastwood's True Crime, a 1999 mystery/thriller movie based on Andrew Klavan's 1995 novel of the same name, features Eastwood as an investigative journalist delving into the execution of a death row inmate and uncovering whether or not he is in fact innocent.
After the unexpected death of journalist Michelle Ziegler (Mary McCormack), Steve Everett (Eastwood), an Oakland-based reporter recovering from alcoholism, takes up an assignment to cover the execution of Frank Beechum (Isaiah Washington). Everett looks into the mystery surrounding Beechum's conviction for Amy Wilson's (Marissa Ribisi) murder and begins to believe that he may have been wrongfully accused.
With the go-ahead from his editor-in-chief, Everett has just about 12 hours to find indisputable proof so that the top editor can contact the Governor to grant Beechum clemency. He must work quickly if he hopes to absolve Beechum. While questioning Dale Porterhouse, a witness, Everett poses a challenge to the validity of his testimony, due to the store’s design and layout. It would have been impossible for Porterhouse to have seen a gun in Beechum's possession.
In the course of his investigations, Everett clashes with D.A. Cecelia Nussbaum (Frances Fisher). He learns that Warren Russell (Caset Lee), a young man who had previously been interviewed and proclaimed innocent, given that he stopped by the store for a soda and claimed he saw nothing happened, had not been called as a witness during Beechum's trial.
With this newfound suspicion in mind, Everett breaks into the late reporter's home on a hunch that she may have uncovered something about Warren before her death. Sure enough, he finds what appears to be a file on Warren inside her house. Simultaneously Warden Luther Plunkett (Bernard Hill) begins doubting if indeed Beechum is guilty or not.
True Crime Locations
The True Crime production team made use of various filming locations across Northern California. It was primarily shot in the cities of Cotati, Oakland, Point Richmond, and Walnut Creek.
Cotati is a small town located in Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco. The Washoe House, a former stagecoach stop on the Redwood Highway that dates back to 1856, stands as its most recognizable historic landmark. The backdrop of this city is filled with lush vineyards and rolling hills that offer stunning views of the Coast Range Mountains.
Oakland is situated directly across the bay from San Francisco. With its diverse cultural influences and vibrant neighborhoods, the city has hosted production teams working on big-budget flicks like Ant-Man and the Wasp, Basic Instinct, and True Crime. Its bustling streets and buildings make for an interesting backdrop to the film's riveting scenes.
Some of the notable landmarks in Oakland include Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, and Peralta Hacienda Historical Park as well as dozens of smaller neighborhood parks such as Grass Valley Park and Joaquin Miller Park.
Point Richmond is a small town located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, immediately north of Berkeley/Oakland. It is home to several waterfront buildings including several former Navy warehouses along the shoreline, which have since been converted into offices or housing developments, and they provided ideal settings for filming some of the action-packed scenes in True Crime.
Everett and Ziegler's opening scene in True Crime
2840 Roblar Rd, Petaluma, CA, USA
The Washoe House in True Crime is a small and dimly-lit bar. Inside, the sound of hushed conversations and clinking glasses accompany soft music playing in the background. As they sit at the counter, Everett and Ziegler are discussing their recent journalistic assignments, specifically Alan's role in thwarting Ziegler’s article about Beechum. The subject of the lack of evidence against Beechum comes up, and the pair also discusses plans for the future.
The Washoe House in Petaluma has been a source of myth and interest for years, ever since its establishment by Robert Ayres as a stagecoach stop. Its classic Wild West exterior adds to its allure, hence its screen debut in one of the memorable scenes in True Crime.
Before settling into its roots as a roadhouse, the establishment roofed a butcher shop and post office, making the building far more than just an ordinary bar – but a place filled with history and character. To get to the Washoe House from Petaluma, your best bet is by car. Start on US-101 North from East Washington Street. Continue following US-101 N until you reach W Sierra Avenue in Cotati, then take exit 481A off of it. Once you're on West Sierra Avenue keep driving till you hit Stony Point Road - and there's where your destination awaits!
Everett rushes to save Frank’s life scene in True crime
Park Street Bridge, Tidal Canal, Alameda, CA, USA
One of the most intense and heart-wrenching scenes in True Crime is when Everett realizes that Beechum is actually innocent. Rushing against time to try and stop his impending execution, Everett drives wildly through the night, speeding across a bridge in a desperate bid to make it to the prosecutor's office in time.
He maneuvers around corners and other vehicles with great skill and agility; however, his haste causes him to scrape his car several times against the cement walls as he skims along the edges of the bridge. The Park Street Drawbridge, connecting Alameda to Oakland, is a sight to behold, and it set the scene for Everett’s hasty driving sequence.
The steel green bridge spans only 372 feet in length, yet its presence has a massive impact on the surrounding area. Not only does the drawbridge connect two cities together, but it also serves as a gateway between two different counties: Alameda County and Contra Costa County. For those who travel frequently between these areas, having a direct route saves valuable commute time and keeps things running smoothly.
The stops closest to the bridge include 23rd Ave & 29th Ave, Broadway & Eagle Ave, Buena Vista Ave & Park St, Blanding Avenue, Broadway, Oakland Jack London Square, Fruitvale, and Coliseum/Oakland Airport. Getting to Park Street Bridge is also possible by both Bus or BART. Hop on bus lines 19, 20, 21, or 51A. By BART, take the green and orange route to your destination!
Everett meets Beechum final scene in True Crime
Tribune Tower, Oakland, CA, USA
In the final scene of True Crime, Everett meets Beechum walking out of a toy shop. As their eyes meet, we finally understand that this movie will end on an uplifting note, given that Beechum is alive. Despite having been in prison, he looks fresh and dressed in a new suit with a brown bag full of presents, signifying his newfound freedom.
His presence brings joy to Everett's heart as he can now be sure that justice has prevailed and Beechum's innocence has been proven at last. Towering proudly above the Oakland skyline stands the magnificent Tribune Tower, a 305-foot/22-story architectural gem that dates back to 1906.
Covering 89,251 square feet of space, this majestic building stands out for its grandeur but also because it was the tallest structure erected within Oakland during the 1920s. A feat of engineering for its time, the Tribune Tower served as a beacon of progress and strength for its residents then and today. With intricate brick detailing on the facade and an ornate clock tower topping it off, this architectural gem continues to sit gracefully among modern skyscrapers.
From downtown Oakland, take a stroll southwest on Broadway until you reach 13th St and within five minutes or less, you'll arrive at your destination.
Conclusion
With over 40 directing credits under his belt, Eastwood is blessed with a patient eye. He's able to appreciate that not all scenes need the same fast-paced feel and can move away from the one-beat rhythm. Instead, he follows story arcs expertly and masterfully employs improvisation techniques, always coming back to the main arc in this time-sensitive tale.
As the clock ticks down to midnight and the impending execution inches closer, Eastwood's True Crime draws us in with its captivating rhythm. Characters come to life as we follow their conversations, from prisoners to lunching with witnesses all culminating in a riveting showdown between our protagonist and another witness' grandmother.
All of this suspenseful build-up creates an atmosphere charged with a palpable tension that grabs hold of you until the very end. Eastwood paints an affecting picture in the film with his masterpiece of artistry, featuring a persistent prison chaplain and a kind-hearted warden.