Place to Go, A

Date: 1963
Director: Basil Dearden
Production Company: Excalibur Films, British Lion Film Corporation

Stars: Bernard Lee, Rita Tushingham, Michael Sarne, Doris Hare, Barbara Ferris, John Slater
Location(s): London

Region(s):

Storyline:

Amidst the pub sing-songs and bomb sites, and with slums giving way to high-rise flats, life is changing for a Bethnal Green family.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

 

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After parking his lorry, Jim (David Andrews) walks home to the house he shares with his pregnant wife and her family. Appleby Street in Hoxton E2.

Hmm, this is taken from How's Street looking south down Appleby. I'm not completely convinced I have the correct spot. SJ

At his local, Matt Flint enjoys a pint on his way from work.

Ron and Ray Glenister identify this as The Birdcage, Columbia Road, London E2 Also seen in "The Secret Place". A wider view from Google Earth, now replaced by SJ

Inside another nearby pub, Ricky Flint finishes singing before wishing everyone goodnight. This looks very much like The Acorn public house on the corner of Queensbridge Road and Whiston Road in London E2.

Seemed very closed in 2017, and this replaces my sun glare effort from the previous week. SJ

Matt Flint (Bernard Lee), a docker at odds with the union, makes his way home.

Ray and Ron admit that a "fluke" helped them resolve this "tough nut" but we all need or welcome luck from time to time. Google Earth capture of the Limehouse Cut Lock bridge on Narrow Street, London E1 (RL)

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Nobby Knowles (Jerry Verno) wishes Matt a happy Christmas as they meet in the street. See pltogo004. (RL)

When his sister Betsy starts to give birth, Ricky Flint (Michael Sarne) runs out to call for an ambulance, taking coins from carol singers for the telephone. Appleby Street E2.

The church is the only match. SJ

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Inside the cigarette factory where he works, Ricky checks out the alarm system's fuse box for a job to be pulled by local gang boss Jack Ellerman. The former Bank of England's St Luke's Printing Works on Old Street originally built as St Luke's Hospital in 1786. The building was demolished in 1963.

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Whilst Ricky is enjoying a night at the dogs, Charlie Batey (William Marlowe) approaches and pressures him into using Jim's lorry to pull the job. Jeff Clarke recognised this as Clapton Greyhound Stadium in London E5.

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The two return to Ricky's dad and Charlie's girl Catherine. Clapton Greyhound Stadium on Millfields Road in Clapton. The stadium was also seen in 'Col cuore in gola' and closed in 1974. Location identified by Jeff Clarke.

An establishing shot of the tenements where Catherine Donovan lives.

Ray Glenister has located the tenements, namely Lolesworth Buildings, Thrawl Street, London E1 He provides a Google Earth shot of the courtyard area now and refers to an excellent comparative shot taken just before the last tenant left in 1973 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1755278 (RL)

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Ricky walks home with Catherine Donovan (Rita Tushingham) after their evening at the dog track. As per pltogo008 the Thrawl Street entrance to Lolesworth Buildings identified by Ray Glensister, all long since re-developed. (RL)

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The next morning, Ricky goes to to call on Catherine.

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The previous evening, Ricky's father had told his mother that he'd left the docks, and Jim had been persuaded to drive his lorry for Ellerman.

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When Cat's flat is found, the two disagree as to the cinema that they would go to that night.

Ricky waits in a queue at the Essoldo Cinema. The building still stands at 281 / 283 Bethnal Green Road E2.

Peter took this comparison and advises that the old Essoldo Cinema is to be redeveloped but the frontage will be kept.

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When he realises that Cat isn't going to turn up, Ricky catches a bus to find her. Bethnal Green Road in Bethnal Green. The Essoldo was closed in 1964.

The bus carries Ricky to the Odeon. Mile End Odeon, formerly at 401 Mile End Road in E3. The location was also seen in 'Seance on a Wet Afternoon'.

Peter found the place where the Odeon cinema once stood.

Cat waits as her date finally arrives at her choice of cinema. Mile End Odeon on Mile End Road. The cinema closed in 1972 and, after briefly re-opening as the Liberty in 1975, the building was demolished in 1984.

Moving on over three years from the last comparison sees the cinema's replacement out of use. (PW)

As his family come out of the pub, they see Matt performing an escapology act in the street as a way of proving to Ellerman that he doesn't need his help. Ray Glenister identifies this as Fountain Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 looking towards Virginia Road and St. Paul's Church which had stood as a ruin since the war. It was finally pulled down to make way for development. (RL)

A very different view in daylight. this is a parking area off a realigned Virginia Road. (PW)

After a successful performance, Nobby helps Matt pack his chains away as Lil Flint (Doris Hare) looks on.

Ray Glenister places this as The Acorn, Queensbridge Road, London E2 and supported with a capture from Google Earth, also supporting the identification in pltogo003. And this replaces the Google. SJ

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Ricky walks with Cat after they leave the pub. Identified as Black Lion Yard, London E1 by Ray and Ron Glenister who say that Ricky and Cat are approaching the steps at Old Montague Street. Unfortunately, all this has now gone. (RL)

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Cat is carried off to a place that Ricky knows, where the two can be alone. Ray and Ron Glenister say this is Black Lion Yard, London E1 that exists no more, here they are entering Old Montague Street, also seen in "The Bespoke Overcoat". (RL)

Slum clearance reaches the Flint's street and eviction notices are distributed. Appleby Street E2 with the still standing St Chad's church in the left distance.

And thank goodness for the church otherwise this would be impossible. Those are gardens, replacing the terrace, to the right. SJ

Ricky visits the market where he picks up fuses as part of the plan for the forthcoming cigarette factory robbery.

There is no longer a market there but Ron and Ray Glenister have established the location as Sclater Street, London E1. The 1717 street name plaque, far right first floor, is protected, forming part of 125 Brick Lane, now a listed building. Just visible in this Google Earth capture. (RL)

A caged canary is conned from a stallholder for ten shillings.

With the aid of Google Earth identified by Ray and Ron as Brick Lane, London E1 with much less bustle. (RL)

Ricky runs through the market to the pub where Cat is waiting.

Brick Lane once again say Ray, Ron and Google Earth. (RL)

Catherine lets the bird free and it flies away just as a cat pounces.

Formerly The Crown, now The Owl & Pussycat at 34 Redchurch Street, Bethnal Green, renamed about 1990 say Ray and Ron. Capture courtesy of Google Earth. (RL)

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The factory's alarm is tested as Ricky clocks off from work for lunch and he runs to phone Ellerman. The former Bank of England's Printing Works.

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When the call is connected, Ellerman tells Ricky that the job will go ahead that night. St Luke's Printing Works, Old Street EC1.

Ricky watches as factory canteen assistant Sally (Marjie Lawrence) enters the pub where he's arranged to meet her. The Angel on City Road, London EC1.

Peter grabbed this shot from the top of bus on his way home.

After the alarm system is silenced, Ricky leaves work to find Jim waiting. The former Bank of England's Printing Works on Old Street. The site, between Bath Street and City Road, is now occupied by shops. To the top right can be seen the rear of Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Tried to capture the rear of Moorfields. Not convinced I've done a good job. SJ

Jim tells his brother-in-law that he can't help with the robbery. Continuity suggests that this is Old Street across the road from Mallow Street, formerly James Street.

This would be about the spot now, if we've got the right spot! SJ

That night, after taking Jim's lorry to the factory, Ricky keeps a look out whilst Ellerman, Charlie and Pug carry out the robbery.

A large shopfront with offices above viewed from across the road

Christopher Matheson send us this shot of Rennie House, 57-60 Aldgate High Street EC3. In the film the shot is from Aldgate Avenue but the street no longer exists so you can't shoot from it. (RL)

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A Policeman walks through the factory before being seen and knocked out by Charlie. The former Bank of England's Printing Works in EC1.

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Pug (Michael Wynne) and Jack Ellerman (John Slater) run from the factory after Rick drives away in the empty lorry.

On the day of moving house, Jim loads a borrowed lorry after his was set on fire by Ellerman. Facing south on Appleby Street, London E2.

Facing south in Haggerston's Appleby Street now. The gardens, mentioned in 006, are known as St Mary's Secret Garden. SJ

As Ricky recovers in hospital from burns received whilst trying to extinguish the lorry fire, the Flint's leave the street. Appleby Street in Hoxton.

A mixture of modern blocks and gardens now. SJ

Betsy (Barbara Ferris) and Lil look back as children start to throw stones at the windows of their old home. Looking towards How's Street on Appleby Street.

Looking north, and there's nothing identifiable with the early 60s. SJ

A brewery dray passes the hospital as Ricky leaves.

Hackney Road, London E2 advise Ray and Ron with the Manns beer dray opposite Mansford Street and what was once the Halfway House public house on the corner. In the 380s of Hackney Road. SJ

With his face scarred by the burns he received, Ricky walks away from the hospital and sets off to find his family in the new flat.

Here Ricky is walking east along Hackney Road, London E2 beside The Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children and Ron and Ray provided a Google Earth shot to support their identification, now replaced. Now known as the Charles Hayward Apartments but 355a (sticking out on the corner Kay Street still survives. SJ

Looking along Mansford Street between Claredale Street and Sheldon Place in Bethnal Green E2.

One can see the buildings in 036 up the street. SJ

The since redeveloped Sheldon Place with Keeling House, on neighbouring Claredale Street, right of centre.

Keeling House survives. SJ

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Ricky approaches the front door of the new high rise flat and is let in by his mother. Lysander House, and in the background can be made out Hackney's Imperial Gas Works off Pritchard's Road E2.

Lil walks home from the police station with her son after he's arrested for fighting over Cat with Charlie.

Lil and her son are facing what was "The Camdens Head" at the junction with Ainsley Street advise Ray and Ron with the support of Google Earth but around 1992 the name of the pub changed to "The Misty Moon". Now replaced. SJ

In court, Ricky is bound over to keep the peace after telling the judge that he's engaged to Catherine. The former Old Street Police Station and Magistrates Court, Old Street EC1.

Being refurbished. SJ

Ricky catches up with Cat outside the court. Old Street Magistrates Court in EC1.

Peter managed to get this shot through a hole in the fence during refurbishment.

As they walk alongside the canal, the two decide that they will get married. Looking towards the bridge carrying New North Road over the Regent's Canal from Wiltshire Row N1 with the corner of Imber Street to the left. Across the canal stand buildings on Baring Street.

The same location by Peter.

A reverse shot of Wiltshire Row facing Bridport Place with the Southgate Arms to the left of centre. The pub was seen in 'Never Let Go'.

Another comparison from Peter.

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The couple walk away hand in hand. The site of demolished Fellows Street in E2 with the newly built Bryant Court rising to the north. Fellows Street ran parallel to Appleby Street.