Turn the Key Softly

The prison where three women inmates are about to be released. Looking at Holloway Prison across Parkhurst Road from Hillmarton Road, London N7.

Peter took a nice shot of the prison brick wall, but no old turrets.

As birds sing in the trees, Stella, Monica and Mrs. Quilliam look up at the prison walls as they leave. Holloway Prison on Parkhurst Road.

A tastefully designed replacement taken by Peter.

Bob (Glyn Houston) waits for his girlfriend, Stella. Facing the junction of Parkhurst Road and Hillmarton Road with The Castle Bar public house to the left. The location was seen in 'The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery' and 'Stolen Face'.

The same location now by Peter.

Stella Jarvis (Joan Collins) hugs her bus conductor boyfriend. Holloway Prison in N7.

Parking spaces instead of a gateway. Image by Peter.

Monica Marsden (Yvonne Mitchell) and Mrs. Quilliam (Kathleen Harrison) watch the couple before setting off for their homes.

Peter took this shot looking northwards from the junction of Hillmarton Road, Parkhurst Road and Camden Road and notes that the prison is now a housing development.

Looking up between, what were, two out of the three railway bridges on Holloway Road in N7.

The site of the rebuilt bridges now by Peter.

Monica and 'Granny' Quilliam head for Holloway Road Underground station. Looking south east along Holloway Road from under the railway bridge.

Peter found that the building on the left of the screen capture is still standing.

Holloway Road in London N7 with the bridge carrying the railway between Kings Cross and Finsbury Park in the background.

Peter took this comparison of the same location now.

Overcome by the noise and the traffic after their months in prison, the pair wait to cross the road. Holloway Road with the corner of Hornsey Road to the right.

A bit of redevelopment on this corner. Picture from Peter.

Mrs. Quilliam fears that a policeman knows where they've come from. Facing Hornsey Street from Holloway Road.

And a lot more redevelopment across the road with more to come. Image by Peter.

Having just missed a train, the two women talk as they wait for the next. The station is supposed to be Holloway Road, but this is the Aldwych branch platform at Holborn which makes an appearance in 'The Black Windmill', 'Turn the Key Softly', 'Conspirator' and 'The Gentle Gunman'.

And here's the same location over sixty years later. With thanks to Les Williams and the staff at Holborn station. (PW)

The train arrives at Holborn where Monica leaves 'Granny' to travel on to Shepherd's Bush. Although the station is the right one, this is the Aldwych branch platform again. Other parts of the station appear in 'Monsieur Ripois'.

The tour underground continues. (PW)

Monica exits the station and heads home. Wyndham Place W1 looking towards St. Mary's Church beyond Crawford Street. The location was seen in 'Late Extra', 'The World Ten Times Over', 'Last Christmas' and I Am a Camera'.

The same location taken by Peter.

The building is entered where Monica shares an apartment with her friend Joan. Just south of Wyndham Yard on Wyndham Place in Marylebone.

Peter found the same doorway.

Bob meets up with Stella during his break. Looking over Trafalgar Square from the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in WC2.

More and bigger trees in the square now. Image by Peter.

The corner of Hippodrome Place W11 with buildings on Portland Road in the right background.

Some re-modelling but essentially the same shape. SJ

The camera tilts down to find Mrs. Quilliam nearing her old home. The junction of Hippodrome Place and Portland Road.

Tilting down. SJ

After buying some meat from the butcher, the elderly lady continues to Mrs. Rowan's lodging house. Facing north on Portland Road in W11 with Winterbourne House on the left. The street also features in 'The Blue Lamp'.

A great deal of change. SJ

Mrs. Quilliam knocks the door where the landlady is initially reluctant to give her her old room back. Now demolished properties on Portland Road. However, those on the extreme right still stand.

Bob gives Stella three pounds to find a room in Canonbury. Outside Leicester Square station on Charing Cross Road WC2 with the end of Great Newport Street in the background. The location is also seen in 'Seance on a Wet Afternoon'.

Peter found the bus stop prohibiting a more accurate shot.

Hopping onto a bus, Bob goes off to carry on with his shift leaving Stella at the station. Looking south on Charing Cross Road towards the junction with Cranbourn Street.

The same spot now. "Still a pretty dismal junction" comments Peter.

Stella looks at the time. The facade of Leicester Square Underground station on Charing Cross Road with . . . . is it possible to see Nelson from this angle?

Peter thinks that Nelson may just be visible in the autumn!

Instead of heading to Canonbury to find accommodation, Stella crosses the road. Charing Cross Road with the corner of Great Newport Street to the top left.

The same location from ground level. Image by Peter.

The former prostitute enters a shop. Likely to be a studio set.

The Leicester Square Theatre, renamed the Odeon West End in 1988. The cinema was also seen in 'Bronco Bullfrog'.

'Tammy' was playing when Peter arrived.

After watching a film instead of flat hunting, Stella leaves the cinema. The Leicester Square Theatre on the south side of of the square in WC2.

Peter remarks that the Ben & Jerry's livery is more attractive than the film's advert.

Mrs Quilliam heads to buy some flowers and is almost tempted to shoplift again. Shepherd's Bush Empire on Shepherd's Bush Green W12.

On the west side of the Green. SJ

With her dog Johnny in tow, Mrs Quilliam goes to visit her daughter and grand-daughter. Hazel Simpson recognised this as Yew Tree Road on the Wormholt Estate in Shepherd's Bush.

Taken from a similar position by Antony Blair.

'Granny' Quilliam knocks at the door and receives a cold reception from her daughter. Yew Tree Road, London W12 identified by Hazel Simpson.

Antony provides this shot of the same front door.

On the way home, Mrs Quilliam and Johnny stop off at a pub for a ginger beer.

Ray Glenister has resolved this one, what was the "Britannia" public house on the corner of D'Arbley Street and Berwick Street, London W1. As evidenced by the Google Earth shot you can still buy a drink there but not alcoholic it would seem. (RL)

When Johnny runs out of the pub whilst Mrs Quilliam is in the ladies, she searches for him in the surrounding streets. The corner of Noel Street and Berwick Street, London W1. The area also features in ‘The Playbirds’, ‘Turn the Key Softly’, ‘The Young Americans' and 'The Look of Love'.

From ground level . . . a bollard remains. (RL)

A Newspaper Seller (Fred Griffiths) is asked if he has seen the dog.

The opposite corner of Noel Street and Berwick Street, London W1. They give the evening paper away these days. (RL)

After accepting a drink from George Jenkins (Russell Waters), Stella thinks of her future and leaves him drunk in an alley before heading to meet Bob.

Mrs. Quilliam carries on her search for Johnny.

Noel Street, London W1 from the corner of Poland Street. The building on the far left is 032, all the rest have been redeveloped and the slope in the road is only noticeable on location. (RL)

The old lady approaches a constable to ask if he's seen her dog before spotting him across the street.

The Coach and Horses PH looking up Poland Street W1. (RL)

Johnny watches as his mistress is knocked down by a car as she runs across the road towards her old companion. The pub is the Coach & Horses, with beer from Lacons brewery in Great Yarmouth.

Still the Coach and Horses, on the corner of Poland Street and Gt. Marlborough Street, London W1 and no lost dogs. (RL)

After leaving her old boyfriend to be caught whilst robbing a restaurant, Monica arrives on the scene and walks away with Johnny as Mrs. Quilliam's body is taken away by ambulance. Paripan was a paint company with offices at Sherwood House near Piccadilly Circus W1.

The same buildings at the junction of Glasshouse Street and Sherwood Street from Peter.