What a Crazy World

The titles roll as a shot of St Luke's church is seen from Whitecross Street in London EC1. An identical shot to that seen at the start of 'The Cracksman'.

The same location now, please excuse the urban greenery. (PW)

The camera tilts down to settle on the street market.

Too early for the market when I was there. (PW)

Herbie Shadbolt (Marty Wilde) and The Boys (David Nott, Barry Bethel and Alan Klein) make their way through the market.

Whitecross Street now. (PW)

After stealing from stalls and shoppers, The Boys stop to watch a Street Trader selling cheap rings.

The trader has gone and so has the wall that he was hiding behind. (PW)

The Boys laugh after scaring the Trader away when they tell him that the law is coming. The junction of Garrett Street and Whitecross Street.

At least the scaffolding is for renovation work, not demolition. (PW)

Herbie gets cheeky with two older Women. In the background is the Spread Eagle public house on Whitecross Street.

The pub is currently called 'The Trader'. (PW)

The Boys make their escape after breaking crockery on a stall. The corner of Bingfield Street and Caledonian Road N1 identified by Location London.

The same location now by Peter.

Herbie spots Joey Hitchens with his Girlfriend and starts to ridicule them. Caledonian Road again.

Peter was also on the Caledonian Road.

Further along the street, Herbie whistles at Marilyn Bishop (Susan Maughan) as she leaves a shop. Eli Pearl advised that the sweet shop stood at number 241 Caledonian Road and recalls that it was the shop where his Dad used to buy chocolates every Friday for his Mum. The business was owned by Mr. Bloom, a nice bloke who used to smile a lot.

Is this the same location? Peter thinks it may be. Eli Pearl believes that the view is slightly out as it shows the white door of number 237 which suggests number 239 to be the green fronted property that was an estate agent at the time of filming.

Alf Hitchens' girlfriend Marilyn tells Herbie to "drop dead" as she walks away with her friend Lil (Lesley Duncan). The Pembroke Castle public house stood at the corner of Bingfield Street and Bemerton in N1.

We can see that this is the same spot from Peter's picture.

Facing the corner of Bingfield Street and Bemerton Street with Selkirk House to the right. A health centre now occupies the spot where the pub once stood but Selkirk House remains.

Peter captures the scene now.

The Boys continue along the street before entering the employment exchange where a number of cultural stereotypes perform a song and dance routine. Caroline Woods remembers the employment exchange scenes being shot inside Caledonian Road Baths at the corner of Caledonian Road and Stanmore Street in N1.

And this is what the location looks like now. Picture from Peter.

Joey Hitchens (Michael Goodman) runs home. Beaconsfield Buildings on Randell's Road in London N1. Information from David Goodwin.

After he bumps into a neighbour as she leaves her flat, tearaway Joey insults her. Facing south from Beaconsfield Buildings on Randell's Road. The location can be seen in 'A Cry from the Streets', 'The Boys' and 'Son of a Stranger'.

Alf Hitchens (Joe Brown) walks into an amusement arcade. Looking out onto Whitecross Street.

Looking across from outside the present shop. (PW)

Following another song and dance performance, the Arcade Owner (Michael Ripper) is carried out into the street.

The same business is still going strong at number 169.(PW)

Herbie and Alf discuss Marylin as they walk. Whitecross Street.

The same street now. (PW)

The two jobless boys continue along the street.

Facing southward on Whitecross Street at the junction with Banner Street. (PW)

A broke Alf looks at guitars through a shop window. Whitecross Street with Banner Street to the extreme right.

The background buildings have been disappeared making the corner wider. (PW)

That evening, Herbie and Alf make their escape after a fight in a club. Tony Holyoak advises that this is Nelson's Passage running between Dingley Place and Nora Street in EC1 adding that "Shooting caused a great stir when the stars appeared for a scene that lasted just a few seconds." The building at the far end of the passage is the Princess Alice public house.

The passage in daylight, captured by Peter.

Outside Cohen's Chip Shop at the end of Bull Lane, the two friends find that Marylin has been seen with another guy. Another dark and unidentified location. Until now, Dave W advises that Cohen's was at 68 Angel Lane, Stratford E15. Here Herbie is leaning against the seafood stall on the pavement outside 62-66 next door. (RL)

The following morning, Alf leaves home. Beaconsfield Buildings from Randell's Road. The area was cleared between 1967 and 1973. Location identified by David Goodwin.

Andy Nicolaou provides us with a shot of the same location today. Randell's Road no longer extends this far. (RL)

The disheartened lover spots Marylin at the bus stop. Looking onto Bingfield Street from Randell's Road.

Steve Wood provides us with a shot of the much changed location. (RL)

Alf approaches his seemingly cold hearted girlfriend. Facing Beaconsfield Buildings on Randell's Road N1.

A slight pan by Andy to the left of Capture 22. (RL)

The bus approaches as Marylin asks Alf if he really does want to go out with her. Looking along Bingfield Street from the junction with Randell's Road N1. The location is now occupied by the Delhi Outram Estate.

Andy reveals a much changed Bingfield Street. (RL)

In town, Marilyn gets off the bus and watches as Alf continues his journey. Victoria Embankment in WC2 with Waterloo Bridge just visible in the background.

The same location now, from ground level.

A disappointed Marylin bursts into song.

A good comparison shot by Peter, complete with a nice piece of the Sphinx's tail and graffiti on the right.

One of the Victoria Embankment sphinxes that flank Cleopatra’s Needle.

Peter captured the sphinx!

Looking up at the base of Cleopatra’s Needle on Victoria Embankment.

Peter took this comparison shot adding that the screen shot was taken from down the steps or the Thames shore.

Victoria Embankment, WC2 with Shell Mex House as the backdrop.

Peter assures that Shell Mex house is behind the trees.

More of Waterloo Bridge crossing the Thames.

New buildings now dominate the horizon.

More of Victoria Embankment.

The same location now from Peter.

Hungerford Bridge crosses the river with the Festival Hall to the left and the Shell Centre in the centre.

An almost identical view! Image taken by Peter.

Marilyn continues her song.

Peter provided this shot adding that "A plaque confirms that the holes in the base of Cleopatra's Needle are from a WW1 bomb that landed nearby in 1917."

As her song ends, Marylin wanders out of shot. The base of Cleopatra’s Needle.

A good comparison shot by Peter.

Alf arrives on 'Tin Pan Alley'.

The corner of Denmark Street and St. Giles High Street, London WC2 captured by Peter.

Denmark Street facing St. Giles High Street and office blocks on Earnshaw Street.

The same location now from Peter.

The young hopeful starts his search for work as a musician. Denmark Street with Charing Cross Road in the background. A street that can also be seen in 'Telstar: The Joe Meek Story'.

Somewhere along here. Captured by Peter.

After an unsuccessful morning, Alf sees Chas (Larry Dann) and Harry (Brian Cronin) painting railings across the street.

Peter took this picture of Denmark Street at the junction with Flitcroft Street.

The two mates explain that they've had this job for a week. The end of Denmark Street with St. Giles High Street leading off to the right and a now demolished building on Earnshaw Street in the background.

Peter captured the same, more colourful location now.

It's five to twelve and the two painters decide that it's dinner time. St. Giles in the Fields church on St. Giles High Street, London WC2.

Peter provided this comparison.

A barrel organ starts to play as Chas and Harry advise Alf to get a job too. Turning to the right would bring the junction of Denmark Street and St. Giles High Street into view, which was also seen in 'Midnight Episode'.

The corner of Flitcroft Street and Denmark Street by Peter.

Members of a Group (The Bruvvers) unload their van on the opposite corner of the street. Denmark Street at the junction with Flitcroft Street.

The same location now from Peter.

The band plays along as Chas and Harry sing about the independence that having a job provides.

Another from Peter, Flitcroft Street, London WC2.

Denmark Street.

Here we are now with Peter's image.

Alf cycles away from his new job as a delivery boy for a music publisher. Another from Dave who says that Solly Gold's office exhibits TARDIS tendencies. The front entrance is in Denmark St WC1 but this back yard is miles away at 11 Angel Lane, Stratford E15. The "A. Lev..." in view is Alfred Levy Hosiers at number 14. (RL)

A Park Warden (Michael Ripper again) warns Marilyn and Lil about playing a radio. Russell Square in WC1.

Peter found the same set of trees to the right of the park-keeper who was obscuring the background statue.

More of Russell Square in WC1 as Alf meets up with Marylin and finds that she's been promoted at work.

Roughly the same position as screen shot the only clue being the tree fork branch to the right of Susan Maughan. Picture from Peter.

Tensions rise as Joe and Marylin talk.

Russell Square with a partially rebuit backdrop by Peter.

Russell Square, London WC1 with the north end of Bedford Place in the centre distance.

Another comparison from Peter with a modern minature fountain and the building to right of Bedford Place rebuilt.

Alf leaves Joey after he meets with his girlfriend Lucy. No longer unidentified thanks to Dave who tells us that it is outside 70 Angel Lane E15 with the Lion public house seen across Western Street. The location also appears in 'Sparrows Can't Sing', 'Deep End' and 'Bronco Bullfrog'. (RL)

Herbie pulls up and offers Alf a lift. Dave has been busy, this he advises is a mere three steps forward from C51, looking north along Angel Lane to Salway Road. The pan continues after this capture to show the Theatre Royal Stratford with posters for 'Oh! What A Lovely War' which premiered there in 1963. The Theatre now provides a marker for what little remains of the district. (RL)

After Herbie mentions that he saw Marylin heading to the bowling alley, Alf asks to be dropped off outside. High Road, Leytonstone in E11 is identified by locationlondon.net.

I don't think I have the correct place here as I was fooled by the continuity, or should I say cut, of the next shot. Please feel free to replace before I do. SJ

Alf runs into the building where Marylin is bowling with her friend. Location London locates this as the former Rex Cinema on High Road, Leytonstone.

Here is the Rex now (opposite Lancaster Road on Leytonstone High Street). It was converted to ABC bowling in time for the film and is now neither a cinema nor a bowling venue. SJ

After a visit to the cinema and a song, Alf and Marylin walk together. Unidentified location.

Moving along with the couple, newer buildings come into view.

The young couple say their goodnights. Unknown location.

Beaconsfield Buildings identified by David Goodwin.

The end of the film sees the cast assembled (including Grazina Frame and Harry H. Corbett). Beaconsfield Buildings, Islington, London N1 ... Bridget Fordham recalls that this was between her block B and the shops, and residents were invited to form a long line as it "wrapped."

The first of two images forming a short post-script. This is a lobby card featuring Joe Brown and Susan Maughan on The Embankment, a view that doesn't appear in the film.

Eli Pearl, one of our regular contributors, sent us his recollections . . . . "This picture, which was taken around the time this film was shot, is of my Dad's dry cleaning shop at 237 Caledonian Road on the corner of Stanmore Street. My Dad is inside the shop in shirt-sleeves standing in front of one of the machines. Capture 12 above shows the cast walking away from this corner with the top of my dad's shop just visible in the background. Both my parents have sadly passed away but I can remember them talking about meeting Joe Brown and Susan Maughan during the shooting of this film."