Offence, The

Date: 1972
Director: Sidney Lumet
Production Company: Tantallon

Stars: Sean Connery, Trevor Howard, Ian Bannen, Peter Bowles
Location(s): Berkshire, London

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A veteran police inspector kills a suspect after growing increasingly disturbed by the rapes and murders he has investigated.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

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As home-time approaches, undercover Officers observe while parents gather outside Brackley School. Cross Fell on the Wildridings Estate in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Andrew Price provides this view of the location now.

In reality, the school is Heathlands Residential Home on Cross Fell. With acknowledgement to Paul Hart and Anne Cooper for their original work and research for this film.

Bushes prevent a direct comparison in Andrew's shot, which was taken to the right of the original capture.

An Austin 1800 brings another Officer to the scene. The junction of Wildridings Road with Cross Fell.

Sean Kaye-Smith's modern view shows that the area is now dominated by trees which make the roads and buildings seem smaller and the area feel more enclosed.

Detective Sergeant Johnson (Sean Connery) walks towards the school. Heathlands Residential Home on Cross Fell in Bracknell.

David Clayton provides this photo of the location in 2008.

Parents look across at Johnson as the school bell rings. Cross Fell with Point Royal in the right distance.

Andrew found that the parking bay remains.

The Detective Sergeant looks towards the school as the pupils start to appear. Heathlands Residential Home on Cross Fell.

In 2008, David Clayton took this shot from a similar viewpoint.

Janie Edmonds (Maxine Gordon) walks from the school with her friends. Cross Fell, Wildridings in Bracknell.

Andrew provides this comparison.

The young girl continues alone when her friends head in different directions. Cross Fell with properties on Deepdale in the background.

In Andrew's modern view, the land in the background has since been built on.

Janie crosses the road. Wildridings Road with Mill Park in the background and the Fujitsu building on Lovelace Road in the right distance. The building was under construction when seen in 'Villain' a year earlier.

You can't see as far these days, as Andrew Price's image shows.

Disguised as Post Office engineers, two Policemen (Brian Grellis and Michael Redfern) finish their work as the last children disperse. Cross Fell in Bracknell.

Andrew Price captured the same location.

The lone schoolchild begins to walk across the park. Mill Park with Wildridings Road to the right.

Andrew explains that a new road runs down the hill to Mill Park and Pond, a café and a McDonalds drive-thru.

A Woman (Hilda Fenemore) walks home pulling her shopping trolley. This is Arncliffe at the junction with Wildridings Road in Bracknell.

Sean Kaye-Smith provides this closer view of the background terrace.

Stopping when a bag falls from the trolley, the Woman glances over at the park where she sees a Man approach the schoolgirl near a subway. Looking across Wildridings Road towards Mill Park.

The same junction captured by Sean Kaye-Smith.

As evening draws in, a motorcycle Policeman rides towards the park. Wildridings Road in Bracknell with the roundabout at Mill Lane in the distance and the gap for Crowthorne Road to the left.

Taken from a similar viewpoint by Andrew Price.

The Officer parks his motorcycle at the roadside where the emergency services are preparing to mount a search for Janie Edmonds. Wildridings Road at the junction with Arncliffe.

The same junction with maturing trees captured by Andrew.

Offices and volunteers begin to look for the schoolgirl who didn't arrive home. Mill Park with Mill Lane in the distance.

Sean Kaye-Smith provides this tree lined view of the area now.

As the light begins to fail, the search goes on. Mill Pond in Mill Park, Bracknell.

Andrew Price informs us that the trees and bushes around Mill Pond mean it is not possible to reproduce the original capture. In this image, the water outlet is still to the left but obscured by reeds. In 2003, the Environment Agency, Bracknell Herons Angling Club, Bracknell Town Council and Thames Water teamed up to rejuvenate the Pond.

  • 'Now' required

After Johnson discovers the girl, he and other Officers scour the night streets in an attempt to find the girl's attacker. Andrew Radgick explains that this is looking into the now demolished Charles Square from High Street, Bracknell where the town's infamous outdoor escalators, which were always breaking down, can be seen in the dim distance.

A Suspect (Fred Wood) is grabbed by two Policemen. The corner of Broadway and Crossway in Bracknell, Berkshire.

The wall was still there in 2008 as Paul Hart discovered.

Detective Sergeant Johnson walks through the shopping centre. Broadway in Bracknell identified by Anne Cooper. The shopping centre can also be seen in 'The Spiral Staircase' and 'I Want What I Want'.

This photo by Paul Hart shows Winchester House, the 3M building to the left.

The camera follows as the police officer who has served for twenty years catches up with Billy (Fred Wood), a known offender. Broadway in Bracknell.

Bracknell has undergone redevelopment and the shopping precinct seen in the film has now gone! Nick Williams provides this image with the area once occupied by Broadway highlighted. In the background, Winchester House still stands.

A police car patrols the town. This is The Ring, Bracknell and in the background, showing 'Please Sir', stands the Regal Cinema on High Street.

The Regal cinema sat almost opposite the Red Lion pub taken by Andrew Price. "The pub survives, albeit now called Blues Smokehouse and the cinema site is now occupied by Ringside, which appears to be an apartment block.

The Officers watch as a drunken Kenneth Baxter (Ian Bannen) stumbles on a pathway. The helical ramp is at the west end of Broadway adjacent to The Ring.

Andrew tells us that "What once was Broadway is now The Avenue in The Lexicon shopping centre, though this is now hidden by a block of retail outlets. Thankfully, there is still a ramp for any modern day Baxters to stumble along."

Baxter is taken into custody and driven to the police station. To the right stands Bracknell's Library on Town Square and Easthampstead House is just out of shot on the left.

Prefabricated offices now partially obscure Andrew's view. The Fenwick department store in The Lexicon can now be seen behind the Library.

After Johnson kills Baxter during questioning, the disturbed Detective drives home. The car park stands between Easthampstead House and Bracknell Library.

The same location captured by Andrew Price.

  • 'Now' required

During the drive home, Johnson recalls a previous case. The train is heading towards Clapham Junction station along the line from Wandsworth Town station.

  • 'Now' required

The camera draws back to reveal Grant Road in London SW11.

  • 'Now' required

The shot pans with the train to find a police van approaching. Grant Road, which also appeared in 'The Asphyx' while the surrounding Winstanley Estate is seen in ‘Sitting Target’, 'Up the Junction' and ‘Poor Cow’.

  • 'Now' required

The van drives to where police are recovering a body from railway sidings. Grant Road in Battersea.

  • 'Now' required

Another case is remembered and a young Constable Johnson runs for help after discovering a double murder. Roger Armstrong locates the terrace as on Orchard Terrace, Ingrave Street in SW11, built in 1868 and demolished in the mid-70s. Another part of Ingrave Street appears in 'Up the Junction'.

Johnson arrives home, waking his wife Maureen. The grade II listed Point Royal, a six sided tower block on Rectory Lane in Easthampstead, Bracknell. The iconic building, along with other views of the Berkshire town, can be seen in 'I Start Counting'.

Andrew Price provides this shot and advises that "The 17-storey Point Royal, built by Arup Associates, is considered an icon of New Town architecture with Grade II listed status. This block, together with the surrounding housing and shops, was designated a conservation area in 1996."

Now suspended from duty, Detective Sergeant Johnson is interrogated by Detective Superintendent Cartwright. Paul Hart identifies this as Easthampstead House just off The Ring in Bracknell and Sue Beach points out that the building in the right foreground is the library.

Comparison photo by Paul Hart.