“Does this place look like I’m married?”
Iconic movies about Los Angeles abound – Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, John Singleton’s Boyz in the Hood, John Houston’s Chinatownall capture quintessential elements of the city – and right up there in the pantheon of celluloid depictions is the Coen brothers’ cult classic, The Big Lebowski. The Big Lebowski is a fantastic and ridiculous tale of mistaken identity, stolen money, pornography, bowling, and the triumph of the deadbeat bum.
A few blocks north of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and east of Venice Boulevard, the bungalow complex where the character Jeffrey Lewbowski – we’re talking about the Dude here – lived. The interior shots were filmed on a soundstage in West Hollywood. The then humble bungalow on Venezia Avenue was used for exterior scenes. Picture the night shot at the end of the opening montage, as a bathrobe clad, bowling-ball-toting Dude traipses through the courtyard with his bag of groceries before he enters his place and his troubles begin. Or the scene where the awkward landlord solicits the Dude on the steps outside his bungalow for notes on his upcoming dance recital and a late rent check.
Info
Address 606 & 608 Venezia Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 | Getting there Best as a drive-by, but unmetered street parking available | Hours Viewable from the street only; private residence, do not enter the property.| Tip Grab an oat soda at the Hiano Cafe (15 W Washington Boulevard, Venice, CA 90292), a Venice institution since 1969. Hiano serves beer and wine only – sorry, dude, no White Russians.
Venezia Avenue at Zeno Place, just south of the bungalow, appears in the film too. The fed-up Dude, fresh from helping his special lady friend, confronts private eye Da Fino, a brother shamus, who has been trailing him in his blue VW bug for days.
The Big Lebowski fans – rich ones at least – had a chance to purchase the Venice property when the bungalow was put up for sale in 2011. The Dude’s place sold for $1.59 million, rug not included. The new owners were no lightweights and gave the property a good scrub and upgrade. The Dude, even with Maude’s compensation, would have been priced out.
Refrain from indulging your inner nihilist and storming the property or walking down the pathway. This is a private residence, man. Please check it out from the street only.
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