Midnight Episode

A night-time shot of Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End to set the scene. Apologies in advance as many of the screen captures are almost equally as dark.

Professor Prince and his mate Albert entertain the queue outside the film’s Regency Theatre. Ray and Ron Glenister enjoy the "dark, damp, post war streets of London" and have located this as what was the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. This the rear of the theatre on New Compton Street, London WC2 and it is also seen in 'Man on the Run'. (RL)

Ray and Ron add that the Art Deco theatre was converted to a cinema which opened in 1970 and is now an Odeon and Peter captures the location now.

When Albert finishes his whistling act, Professor Calvin Landseer Prince (Stanley Holloway) begins his monologue as the theatregoers start to enter the building. The rear of what was the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue say Ray and Ron. Actually, New Compton Street, London WC2, looking towards that portion that has since been built upon. (RL)

Peter found no queues or whistling entertainers on his visit.

A black car approaches as the last member of the queue disappears. Going on Ray and Ron's identifications of New Compton Street, this is looking northward along the thoroughfare with Century House in the centre distance. A similar view appears in 'Permissive' and 'Man On the Run'.

A much lighter daytime shot from Peter.

When the Sunbeam Talbot stops, the Professor opens the door to discover that the Driver is apparently dead.

The ageing busker heads to the Silver Slipper Club to get help. The "Club" was at 58 New Compton Street, London WC2 say Ray and Ron, and the site is now occupied by Phoenix Garden which can be seen in 'Last Christmas'. (RL)

Phoenix Garden at the corner of New Compton Street and St. Giles Passage. Replacing an earlier Google image. (PW)

Returning with the Silver Slipper’s Doorman (Campbell Copelin), the two are just in time to see the car drive off.

Rather like the car in Ray and Ron's Google shot the one car is going off towards Stacey Street and where 61 and 58 New Compton Street once stood. (RL)

Having found a wallet near the car and now embroiled in the mystery of it's driver, Professor Prince returns to the address of the man he learned to be Mr. Arnold. Delamare Terrace in London W2.

The same location. (PW)

Inside, Prince finds the Mrs. Arnold, her son and their landlord Mr. Knight.

Almost all of the buildings on Delamare Terrace have been replaced. (PW)

With the Professor’s help, Detective Sergeant Taylor (Meredith Edwards) and Chief Inspector Lucas (Reginald Tate) set up a re-enactment of events.

Ray and Ron say this is looking across Stacey Street to what was the debris site of No 69 New Compton Street seen in the capture . . . and Peter provides the view. (RL)

A suitably similar car approaches.

New Compton Street looking towards St. Giles High Street say Ray and Ron with the support of Google Earth. (RL)

Towards the end of the reconstruction, the Doorman and the Professor watch as the car moves off.

Peter returns to the same corner seen in image 006.

The Chief Inspector watches Prince’s actions. New Compton Street, London WC2. (RL)

Peter supports Richards identification with this image of the Saville Theatre at the corner of St. Giles Passage.

Leaving the scene, the Professor browses properties for sale in an estate agent’s window. There was a Dix Ltd (Music Publishers) at 7 New Compton Street (now redeveloped) which is probably why part of the facia appears to be covered up. (RL)

Drawing up behind Prince as he looks longingly through the window, Charles Mason offers him a ride home. Here we are looking north-east from Denmark Street to The White Lion public house at No. 15 St. Giles High Street WC2 say Ray and Ron. The junction also appears in 'What a Crazy World' and Denmark Street can be seen in 'Telstar: The Joe Meek Story'. (RL)

Even working to Ray and Ron's direction, Peter admits that this shot includes an element of guesswork as the junction has been, and is again being, reconstructed.

After offering to buy the found wallet, Mason drops the Professor off near to his home.

Ray and Ron provide this Google capture, with, they say "ReelStreeters" passing the now blocked arch passage. I see what they mean but the truth hurts! (RL)

Prince reaches his bedsit where Albert leaves him to consider Mason’s proposition. Ray and Ron have placed this as the Prof. outside No. 55 New Compton Street. (RL)

Café owner Benno (Sebastian Cabot) relieves the Professor of his cup of tea as he leaves the premises.

On his way home Prince is followed along a dark alley.

Another identification from Ron and Ray. The alley between 26 and 27 Denmark Street, the building in the background is the construction of Dial House in New Compton Street. The alley, they say, leads to Denmark Place. (RL)

The Professor leaves hospital after recovering from a hit on the head. Charing Cross Hospital on William IV Street WC2.

Nigel Matthews has provided this picture of the same location today, advising that the Hospital closed in 1973 and remained unused until 1992 when it became Charing Cross Police Station. (RL)

Prince makes his way towards home. Looking from West Street onto Upper St. Martin’s Street in WC2. The location appears in 'The End of the Line' and 'Devil Doll' with similar shots seen in ‘The Comedy Man’ as well as 'The Last Train'.

The view is somewhat changed in Peter's comparison.

Again, the Professor is followed. With the streets now so empty Dave W was not followed when he 'strolled' down New Row, London WC2 to find those differing height plinths between Nos: 20 and 21. (RL)

A Google Earth View from Dave revealing those same plinths. (RL)

Now aware that he is being pursued, the Professor almost gets knocked down when crossing the road. With Dix Ltd. (midep014) left of centre the Professor is crossing Phoenix Street at its junction with Stacey Street, London WC2. (RL)

Peter provides this shot looking south west from Stacey Street with Phoenix Street to the right.

Reaching the relative safety of his pitch, Prince tells Albert (Leslie Dwyer) that he’s being followed by a killer. Ray and Ron advise the rear of the Saville Theatre on on New Compton Street. (RL)

More of the same location from Peter.

In an effort to be taken into custody for the night, the Professor announces to the theatre queue that the performance that they are waiting to see is deplorable. By virtue of locating this as New Compton Street and the action taking place outside the Stage Door, Ray and Ron place this as opposite. Now redeveloped to The Phoenix Garden. (RL)

Peter captured the site now bereft of buildings.

The Theatre Manager appears before calling the police. The rear of the theatre on New Compton Street. (RL)

No autograph hunters at the former stage door in Peter's image.

When Prince is taken away by two men, an undercover Policeman calls Inspector Lucas. New Compton Street with Century House visible in the right distance. And the telephone box the "usual studio prop" say Ray and Ron. (RL)

Not a prop in sight when Peter arrived on the scene.

The Professor realises that the men are not police officers as he is driven to the gang’s hideout. Ray and Ron now return to this film to tells us that this is New Compton Street looking south west to Stacey Street. (RL)

When Detective Sergeant Taylor calls to see Mrs. Arnold the door is opened by Mr. Knight (Wilfrid Hyde-White). Delamare Terrace with the Blomfield Road in the background.

The officers depart when Knight explains that Mrs. Arnold is away. Looking across the Grand Union Canal at buildings on Blomfield Road from the long demolished property on Delamare Terrace W2.

Blomfield Road properties less visible now . . . . at least until the leaves fall. (RL)

Hearing a scream from the house, the officers turn.

The level of the land has obviously been altered. (PW)

The Detective Sergeant and his men return to the house where they find the Professor being held captive.

From a similar viewpoint. (PW)