McQ (1974)

This film brought John Wayne to Seattle in a Dirty Harry-style action flick, one of the last of Wayne's career. It was also directed by the great John Sturges - responsible for such films as The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven and The Eagle Has Landed. The film shows off the grittier side of 70's Seattle, and culminates in a car chase filmed on the Olympic Peninsula. What's amazing is how accurate their location work was in this film - you can re-create entire car chases through the city if you follow the points on the map (not that I'm recommending that). There was a lot of hunting involved to find these locations, as nobody else has really taken the time to do so - enjoy!

In the opening scenes we see McQ's partner Stan Boyle (William Bryant) on Harbor Island in South Seattle, and in this shot he appears to be driving across Spokane Street under the West Seattle Bridge.

Stan drives north on I-5 and exits at Seneca Street just past the exit for the express lanes.

Stan drives beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct and turns onto Marion Street, where he guns down his first victim right on the corner.

Stan kills the second cop in a parking lot near Marion & 8th Avenue. I believe there is a building now standing in the exact location.

The used car lot where Stan parks his car was on Columbia Street near the viaduct.

The diner that Stan visits was Jo's Cafe at the corner of University & Western (also glimpsed in Harry in Your Pocket). It is no longer there. From outside, he watches a police car drive by on Western. This whole area has been re-developed since then.

Stan is gunned down in Post Alley at University Street. The Seneca Street bridge is in the background. Nearly every building in this shot is gone now and University Street is now a staircase.

The boat harbor where McQ lives is at 1059 North Northlake Way, near the Aurora Bridge in Fremont.

The exterior entrance to the police station (left side of frame) was on the 300 block of Cherry Street. This was the actual police station that was used for interiors as well, but the entire building has been demolished.

The Santiago warehouse was located off East Marginal Way South on South Lander Street. The building and many others around it are gone now, but this appears to be the spot where it was.

McQ follows Santiago into the J&M Cafe at 201 1st Avenue South.

During a break in the action, McQ sees his ex-wife who is throwing a party at the old Thurston Mansion at Groat Point in Medina. After years of neglect, the home has since been torn down and the property subdivided (thanks to Dave H.).