The Spite Fence
A screenplay by Michael Pendergast
In 1870s San Francisco, a proud working-class immigrant refuses to sell his hilltop home to a ruthless railroad tycoon—igniting a bitter standoff that escalates into a war of wealth, willpower, and principle. As a city watches, a war of wills threatens to destroy both men and the families caught between them.
The Spite Fence is a screenplay I have been researching and developing over the course of several years. As a fourth-generation San Francisco native, this project is a deeply personal exploration of the city where I was born and raised. San Francisco's rich and colorful history has always captivated me, and when I first came across the story of the Spite Fence and the events that unfolded on that hill so many years ago, I was immediately drawn to its drama and significance. This film is a tribute to the city’s enduring spirit, unique past, and its future.
Gallery
Digital rendering of the Crocker mansion, the Yung home, and the Spite Fence
Photograph of the Crocker Mansion
The Crocker Mansion
Charles Crocker
The Crocker Mansion showing the Spite Fence
The Crocker Mansion showing the Spite Fence (circled in red)
Nob Hill, San Francisco, 1877
Chinatown, San Francisco circa 1879
Stereoscopic Photograph of the Charles Crocker Mansion, San Francisco
Please contact mike@pendergastcreative for more information.