Bronco Bullfrog

A long shot of a small row of shops opens the film. High Street in Stratford seen from James Riley Point.

Still standing is The Pie Crust Cafe, a surprising survivor of redevelopment all around. (PW)

Del Quant (Del Walker) follows Roy (Roy Haywood), Chris (Chris Shepherd) and Geoff (Geoffrey Wincott) towards a closed cafe. High Street, Stratford in London E15.

The same location now. (PW)

A door window is smashed as the four break into 'Mary's Cafe'. Opposite can be seen The Green Man public house on the corner of Carpenters Road which was demolished in 2002.

Taken with thanks to the proprietors. (PW)

A brief street scene is shown after the titles. Facing north east on Broadway, Stratford, London E15.

The Broadway, over 40 years after filming. (PW)

The friends disperse after giving Del their pooled money to buy a cinema ticket.

Patrons leave the cinema where Del has let his mates in through the fire exit.

After finishing a job at work, Del's foreman Grimes, a pigeon fancier, asks him to come and see his birds.

Del meets Irene Richardson when he, Roy and Chris return to the cafe. Looking out onto High Street E15. Although many of the buildings in the area have been demolished and replaced, the cafe still stands.

And here's a similar shot now. With acknowledgement to the staff of The Pie Crust Cafe. (PW)

When his father agrees to help with the payment, Del goes to look for a motorbike. Romford Road in Stratford E15.

A bright, sunny day caused problems with this comparison. (PW)

The camera pans as Del's friends follow. Romford Road looking towards Litchfield Avenue. Rafae adds that Stratford Motorcycles at 38 Romford Road closed in the 70s and he ended up renting the premises from 1999 for his vintage motorbike shop.

A never ending stream of traffic pours from the road opposite. (PW)

Opposite the Broadway Filling Station on the corner of Romford Road and Litchfield Avenue E15.

Through Stratford's transformation, this view remains much the same. (PW)

The lads consider one of the machines. Outside Stratford Motorcycles on Romford Road.

Rafae retired a few years back and provides this shot of his business from 2000. The shop is now a restaurant with a tattoo shop in the basement.

With 'L' plates attached, Del rides away on his BSA. Facing The Broadway on Romford Road, London E15. Everything in this shot has been swept away.

A similar view in 2014. (PW)

Del's Father (Dick Philpott) comes home whilst Del polishes his new acquisition.

Windmill Lane, London E15. (PW)

Following a visit to Irene's flat, Del and Roy go to a corner cafe where they find 'Bronco Bullfrog'.

After robbing the gas meter, Jo 'Bronco Bullfrog' Saville (Sam Shepherd) packs his bag and leaves the lodging house where he has been living.

The borstal escapee heads away from Mrs Blundell's to find new accommodation.

Del calls on Irene Richardson (Anne Gooding). Water Lane in London E15 with Sarah Bonnell School in the background.

A wider shot of the same location now. (PW)

The two ride off to the west end.

Heading through Blackfriars Underpass EC4 towards Victoria Embankment. The slip road above to the left was seen in 'About a Boy'.

Peter appears to have risked life, limb and camera to get this shot!

Approaching the junction with Temple Avenue on Victoria Embankment.

Peter risked being knocked down to capture this shot enhanced by the colourful boat now moored. (RL)

Del takes Irene to see 'Oliver' at the cinema. Leicester Square Theatre at the corner of St Martin's Street, London WC2. The cinema has been known as Odeon West End since 1988 and was seen in 'Turn the Key Softly'.

This is the best angle that Peter could get due to a massive queue for tickets at the budget ticket kiosk behind him.

When Del notices the price of the tickets, the two agree to have a burger instead. Definitely a Wimpy, likely to be near Leicester Square, but not Irving Street.

On another date, the couple talk about jobs their families. The restaurant in the background has the name ****ria.

Del finds out that Irene's mother doesn't like him much. The sign reads 'The Royal Dental Hospital of London'.

As the relationship develops, boredom sets in when the pair can't afford to entertain themselves. Waddington Road looking towards Windmill Lane with The Windmill public house to the right.

Another relatively unchanged view. (PW)

Tension rises and Irene heads off home. Outside The Windmill on the corner of Waddington Street and Waddington Road in E15.

The pub has been converted into residential accommodation. (PW)

Del walks home alone. Windmill Lane, Stratford.

Greenery abounds. (PW)

Roy is waiting and reminds Del that he's meeting Bronco that night. Windmill Lane in E15.

The motorbike has grown into a car. (PW)

Del's bike fails to start so he makes his way on foot to 'do a job' with Bronco. Facing the junction of Leyton Road and Angel Lane on Windmill Lane.

Part of Stratford's redevelopment can be seen in the distance, (PW)

When he finds that Irene is out, Del leaves the block where she lives. Green Point on Water Lane, London E15.

A few changes here. (PW)

Del paces up and down until Irene arrives home.

Outside Green Point on Water Lane. (PW)

The two spend a Friday evening at Hackney Speedway. The Greyhound Stadium on Waterden Road, now buried beneath the Olympic Park.

Hackney Wick Greyhound Stadium, Waterden Road, London E15.

Roy watches as a fight starts outside a pub. Steve Cook advises that this is The Lion public house on Angel Lane E15, and it's also seen in 'Sparrows Can't Sing' and 'Deep End' while the road junction features in 'What a Crazy World'.

It is as Steve suspected. The pub once stood on the corner of Western Street but the area was redeveloped as Gerry Raffles Square. (PW)

When he leaves the pub, Roy is followed and beaten up. Ferns Road, Stratford E15.

A slightly different angle due to locked gates. (PW)

After the two decide to leave home, Del arrives to pick up Irene. Water Lane, London E15.

From the same spot now. (PW)

Del has an idea where they can go.

And Mark Myers knew where they had that idea, Woolwich Rd, London SE10 just west of the Blackwall Tunnel flyover (A102) that can be seen in the background and sent this shot to confirm. (RL)

The journey to the countryside continues.

Another accurate shot from Mark Myers camera. Woolwich Rd, London SE10, just west of the Blackwall Tunnel flyover (A102) that can be seen in the background. (RL)

Mrs Richardson alerts the police as the couple leave London behind.

During the ride into the night, the pair stop off at a transport cafe.

The following morning, Del and Irene wake up in the cafe.

The pair make their way to Del's uncle's house.

Del and Irene find Mr Farrer's house.

The two enjoy time in the countryside and talk about finding a job in the area.

Del's Uncle (J. Hughes Senior) leads the way into the house where he tells them that there are only farm jobs available.

The young lovers return to London where they end up staying with Bronco.

Del rides to see Grimes for advice. Blackwall Tunnel Approach in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Blackwall Tunnel northbound entrance in London SE10.

Del parks his machine before walking on to his foreman's prefab home. Tennyson Road, London E15 with The Canteen public house at 195 Vicarage Lane visible in the background. Location found by Steve Cook.

Through the trees can just be seen the building that was The Canteen. (PW)

Grimes (Mick Hart) and Del discuss the youth's situation.

After being told to make sure he turns up for work, the apprentice welder returns to his bike. This is Bristol Road in London E15 found by Steve Cook. The area has been redeveloped as Hurry Close.

Maybe not an exact match as street patterns have changed. (PW)

As Del gets to the end of the road he sees a lorry approach. Bristol Road in E15 identified by Steve Cook.

Looking in the roughly the same direction on the redeveloped estate. (PW)

The lorry swerves, hitting the moped. Tennyson Road facing Vicarage Road.

The same background houses now. (PW)

As the bike bursts into flames, Del shouts at the lorry driver. Tennyson Road at the junction with Bristol Road located by Steve Cook.

This shot is taken from the rear of properties on Hurry Close. (PW)

Del looks towards the bike that was his transport home. Steve Cook advises that this is Bristol Road in West Ham.

The wreckage is examined. Looking towards Vicarage Lane from Tennyson Road. Identification by Steve.

Somewhere in the row of terraced houses are the ones that appear in the screen capture. (PW)

Whilst walking back home through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Del sees two men loitering ahead.

The two men walk away after attacking Del. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel running under the Thames between Island Gardens and Greenwich.

After the police locate the three, Irene, Del and Bronco escape, running away along the riverside. Crowley's Wharf, Greenwich SE10.

Lovell's Wharf SE10, also seen in 'Four in the Morning', 'The List of Adrian Messenger', 'The Secret Partner' and 'Plenty'.

'What are we going to do, then?' Lovell's Wharf, Greenwich.

Here's the view now with no matching discernible feature except, perhaps, The Thames. SJ

Bronco Bullfrog tells the two that he isn't going back to borstal and leaves them at the wharf. Lovell's Wharf in London SE10.

A total transformation. The painted Lovell & Sons was just further east of the painted Lovell's Wharf and the wall, which survived into the 21st century, can be seen as was when I first visited this location in the mid-00s in "The Secret Partner," "Terry on the Fence" and "Four in the Morning." SJ