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The Mid-Century Oasis Of Deception: 5 Iconic Palm Springs Locations Where 'Don't Worry Darling' Was Filmed

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Step into the unsettling perfection of 'Victory.' The 2022 psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, captivated audiences not just with its twist-laden plot but with its breathtaking, meticulously curated aesthetic. The fictional, utopian company town of 'Victory'—a 1950s-inspired suburban paradise—is arguably the film's most crucial character, and the search for its real-world counterpart led the production team to the architectural mecca of Greater Palm Springs, California. This article, updated for late 2025, reveals the exact, iconic locations that lent their flawless Mid-century Modern glamour and eerie desert isolation to the movie, providing a deep dive into the history and significance of these architectural masterpieces.

The film’s entire visual language hinges on the flawless, yet sterile, beauty of Mid-century Modern design, a style synonymous with Palm Springs. The city's preserved architectural heritage allowed the filmmakers to create a self-contained, sun-drenched world that felt both aspirational and deeply unsettling, perfectly contrasting the idyllic surface with the dark secrets lurking beneath.

The Architectural Backbone of 'Victory': Key Filming Locations in Palm Springs

The vast majority of the principal photography for Don't Worry Darling took place across the Coachella Valley, primarily within the city of Palm Springs and its surrounding desert landscapes. The production team secured access to several of the area's most famous and historically significant private residences and public buildings, turning them into the homes and headquarters of the Victory Project's residents.

1. Frank’s House: The Legendary Kaufmann Desert House

The most significant and historically important location used in the film is the home of the enigmatic Victory Project founder, Frank (played by Chris Pine). This stunning residence is the world-renowned Kaufmann Desert House.

  • Architectural Significance: Designed by the Austrian-American architect Richard Neutra in 1946, the Kaufmann House is considered one of the most important examples of International Style and Mid-century Modern architecture in the world. It was commissioned by Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., who also commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.
  • A Filming First: Securing this location was a major coup for the production, as Don't Worry Darling was the first-ever feature film permitted to shoot inside the private, landmark residence.
  • Iconic Imagery: The house is instantly recognizable from the famous 1970 photograph "Poolside Gossip" by Slim Aarons, which perfectly captures the elegant, open, and nature-connected lifestyle the film aims to both celebrate and subvert. The seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living, a hallmark of Neutra's design, is heavily featured in the film's party and surveillance scenes.

2. The Victory Headquarters: The Volcano House

The imposing, dome-shaped structure that serves as the mysterious headquarters for the Victory Project, where Jack (Harry Styles) works, is one of the desert's most unique architectural oddities: The Volcano House.

  • Unique Design: Located in the remote desert near Barstow, California, The Volcano House was designed by architect Harold James Bissner Jr. in 1968. Its futuristic, dome-shaped concrete structure sits atop a 150-foot cinder cone, giving it a distinct, isolated, and almost alien appearance—the perfect visual metaphor for the project's secretive nature.
  • Former Owner: The house was once famously owned by the beloved American television host Huell Howser.

3. Alice and Jack's Home: Canyon View Estates

The more intimate, yet still perfectly manicured, home shared by Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack is located within the Canyon View Estates community in Palm Springs.

  • Mid-Century Community Living: This is a celebrated residential development known for its classic Mid-century Modern condominium units. The homes were designed by the esteemed architectural firm of Palmer & Krisel (architects William Krisel and Dan Palmer) in the early 1960s.
  • The Aesthetic: The low-slung rooflines, clean geometries, and private courtyards of Canyon View Estates perfectly capture the aspirational suburban ideal of the era. The film utilizes the repetitive nature of the architecture to highlight the conformity and homogeneity of the Victory residents' lives.

More Palm Springs Landmarks Featured in the Film

Beyond the primary residences, the production utilized several other key Palm Springs landmarks, further cementing the city as the sole backdrop for the fictional 'Victory' town. These locations added layers of recognizable, yet subtly distorted, reality to the film's world.

4. Public Buildings and Iconic Drives

The film’s crew expertly integrated several public and commercial buildings into the narrative, reinforcing the town's Mid-century Modern identity:

  • Palm Springs City Hall: Designed by architect Albert Frey, this building’s unique, modernist facade is featured in scenes involving the town's administrative functions.
  • Palm Springs Visitors Center: The distinctive, former Tramway Gas Station building, designed by Albert Frey and Robson C. Chambers, is seen during the characters' drives and is a quintessential piece of Palm Springs architectural history.
  • Palm Springs Art Museum: This location was used for a key scene, showcasing its modernist structure and providing a stark, elegant backdrop.
  • La Quinta Resort & Club: This luxurious resort, located outside of Palm Springs proper, was utilized for some of the interior and exterior shots, likely for its expansive, manicured grounds and classic California architecture.

The Enduring Appeal of Mid-Century Modernism in Film

The choice of Palm Springs was not merely a convenient location; it was a deliberate artistic decision that speaks volumes about the film's themes. The Mid-century Modern style, which flourished in the post-war boom of the 1950s and 1960s, represents a period of intense optimism, technological progress, and a belief in the perfectibility of life through design.

In Don't Worry Darling, this aesthetic is weaponized. The clean lines, expansive glass walls, and open floor plans—intended to connect occupants with nature and promote a sense of freedom—instead become symbols of exposure and surveillance. The flawless, sun-baked desert environment, with its vast, empty horizons, heightens the sense of isolation and the feeling that escape is impossible. The very architecture that promises an ideal life ultimately traps its residents, making the filming locations a critical, non-verbal component of the film's psychological horror.

The seamless integration of these real-life architectural gems—from the legendary Kaufmann Desert House by Richard Neutra to the unique Volcano House by Harold James Bissner Jr.—transforms the movie from a simple thriller into a visual feast and a commentary on the dark side of American post-war idealism. For fans of the movie or architecture enthusiasts, a visit to Greater Palm Springs offers a unique opportunity to walk through the perfectly preserved, yet hauntingly beautiful, world of 'Victory.'

The Mid-Century Oasis of Deception: 5 Iconic Palm Springs Locations Where 'Don't Worry Darling' Was Filmed
where was don't worry darling filmed
where was don't worry darling filmed

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