Ship That Died of Shame, The

After studio re-enactment of war time experiences MTB 1087 approaches harbour and Bill Randall (George Baker) uses his binoculars to see if his wife is there to meet him. Custom House Quay in Weymouth, Dorset.

The same location 64 years on. (PW)

Bill and his wife Helen (Virginia McKenna) drive “home” for a week. A cottage lent to them by “a chap called Ferguson”. Stewart Thorburn advises that this is Church Lane, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire with the Parish church of St Peter and St Paul in the background. Miles Goldingham some 10,000 miles away had also 'just watched' the film and identified the location, not least because his grandparents are entombed inside the church, in the bell tower. A closer view of the church appears in 'Waltz of the Toreadors'. (RL)

Stewart provides the perfect evidence to his identification.

Bill is on duty the following day and as he and the crew return to port he sees an enemy aircraft flying towards Old Harbour.

Looking across at Custom House Quay from Hope Street. (PW)

Going ashore and having ascertained no damage was caused he drives off “home” only to find Helen dead as a result of the bombing.

Facing east on Custom House Quay. (PW)

With the war over and down on his luck Bill meets up with his old “No1” George Hoskins (Richard Attenborough) who is visiting the area with a view to buying MTB 1087. Identified by James Churcher as the rear of the dry dock facility at Trafalgar Wharf, Portchester, Hants looking North East towards Portsdown Hill.

James provides a comparative shot of the more orderly site now.

They soon see 1087 grounded in the mud. Located by James Churcher as taken form the side of the Trafalgar Wharf buildings looking over the mud flats towards Whale Island and the northern end of Portsmouth Harbour. For information regarding the boat in the scene see the Header Section of this film and the link to Tim Deacon's article.

A similar tidal view provided by James.

Bill and George reminisce about war time experiences. James advises that this is taken from the same location as Capture 6 but looking towards Portchester Castle .

With Portchester Castle as the reference point James took this comparison shot.

They agree that there is much work to be done but “she’s good”. James similarly locates this as taken from the same spot as Capture 6 but looking East towards “Port Solent”.

A comparison shot from James to support his identification.

Having avoided being caught by a boarding Customs Officer it was decided that they should in future be more careful. Roundhouse Bar and Restaurant, Custom House Quay, Old Harbour, Weymouth.

Now.

They covered their activities with legitimate tours and cruises. Birdie Dick (Bill Owen) cheerfully keeps the boat clean and tidy. Old Harbour, Weymouth, Dorset.

This is Custom House Quay as seen from Nothe Parade with the rear of Pulteney Buildings and Devonshire Buildings prominent. (PW)

Birdie reminisces on the “good old days”. Old Harbour, Weymouth.

Lots of people at the harbour, almost obscuring just a touch of building redesign on the far quay. (PW)

George returns to the boat advising that they are branching out and “getting in with” another smuggling organisation who can give them all the work they can handle. Old Harbour, Weymouth once more.

Nothe Parade in Weymouth, looking towards the Melcombe Regis side of the river. (PW)

George explains to Bill the details of the arrangement. Old Harbour, Weymouth

Now. Location and photo, Paul Landers.

Bill is decidedly unhappy with the arrangement that George has pulled. Old Harbour, Weymouth.

More of Weymouth's Harbour. A similar view was seen in 'You Know What Sailors Are'. (PW)

George asks that he be left to deal with “the sordid details”.

Cove Row facing Nothe Parade. (PW)

Tensions grow between Bill and George as their activities become more high profile and risky, tensions that come to be reflected in the performance of 1087. After one such occurrence they eventually make their way back safely to harbour. The Old Harbour once more. For information regarding the boat in the scene see the Header Section of this film and the link to Tim Deacon's article.

Now. Paul again, similar shot.

Dickie throws the mooring rope ashore. Looking across the River Wey.

Another similar shot with very few architectural changes visible. (PW)

When it is established that their last job was to transport a child killer to France and the authorities were looking for a powerful boat with a ruthless crew the Customs Office, Sam Brewster (Bernard Lee) becomes suspicious. The Customs House in Poole, Dorset, 30 miles down the coast.

Now. Well sleuthed by Paul.

Antony Blair returned to the scene 68 years after filming.

We will find’em, “by lookin”.

Now. Paul again, thankyou.

In Antony Blair's view, a new viewing platform can be seen to the extreme right.

His colleague turns away at the “clever remark”.

Bill’s relationship with George becomes even more fractured and he no longer wants to be part of the ever more criminal activities. And neither does the boat he feel’s. The Old Harbour once more. The location was seen in 'The Boys in Brown'.

Cove Row looking up river towards the Town Bridge, just visible in the right distance. (PW)

Birdie rushes towards Bill to tell him about who their passenger was and between them they decide to leave. The Old Harbour.

Looking across the River Wey from the junction of Cove Row and Nothe Parade with Custom House Quay on the far side. (PW)

Having met with George, Bill tells Birdie that he is not now leaving, he is in it too deep.

An awkward shot to recreate without a boat but the proof is in the street sign. (PW)

Sam Brewster is shot by George’s accomplice Fordyce (Roland Culver) in the presence of George, meanwhile Bill waits for George for their planned escape to Portugal.

He sees Dickie running towards him.

Dickie tells Bill of the events as he had followed George to Fordyce’s offices.

Whilst the story of events unfolds Fordyce (The Major) and George arrive for the trip to Portugal but subsequent events see only Bill and an injured Dickie clamber ashore and watch the boat sink with shame.