Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (aka The Very Thought of You)
Date: 1998
Director: Nick Hamm
Production Company: Banshee, Channel Four Films
Stars: Monica Potter, Rufus Sewell, Tom Hollander, Joseph Fiennes, Ray Winstone
Location(s): Essex, London, Minnesota (USA)
Region(s): London M-N, N. America, South East M-Q
Storyline:
Laurence recounts to his neighbour how his life long friendships with both Frank and Daniel have been overturned in only three days by them each independently meeting and falling in love with, Martha.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Dave Wilson and uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required

Looking towards downtown Minneapolis with the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in the mid-ground (now demolished and replaced with the U.S. Bank Stadium). Interstate 35W is in the foreground.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Murray's, 26 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
Murray's, 26 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, USA
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Minnesota State Highway 65 (MN 65), looking at downtown Minneapolis, USA
- Capture 6
- 07 Apr 2016
Wide shot looking at the shops of Blenheim Crescent, London, W11.
A bright spring day. SJ
- Capture 7
- 07 Apr 2016
Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes talk and walk with Portobello Road, London W11 in the background.
The Ground Floor Bar stands forlorn in 2016. SJ
- Capture 8
- 13 Dec 2023
Continuing along Blenheim Crescent, London, W11

The north side of the crescent. SJ
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Outside of Terminal 1-Lindbergh, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, USA
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Martha (Monica Potter) meets Daniel (Tom Hollander) outside of Terminal 1-Lindbergh, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, USA
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Chelsea Harbour with Chelsea Old Church in the foreground. (SJ)
- Capture 12
- 13 Apr 2016
A dawn view of Stanley Gardens, London W11.
An afternoon view of the same. SJ
- Capture 13
- 13 Apr 2016
London buildings in the morning ... St Peter's Stanley Crescent W11 (SJ)
From ground level. Also seen in 'Notting Hill', 'Spice World', 'Ooh ... You are Awful', 'Madame Sousatzka' and 'The Mother'. SJ
- Capture 14
- 25 Apr 2016
A London street crescent with a bus stop sign found at Finsbury Circus, EC2 (SJ)
Peter captures "progress'....the bus stop has gone and is now a bus stand and Finsbury Circus a bus terminus. (RL)
- Capture 15
- 16 Jul 2017
Rufus Sewell practises his lines outside The Baynards, 1 Chepstow Place, London, W2
An improved angle after my last effort taken from over-trusted memory. SJ
- Capture 16
- 07 Apr 2016
Raining outside The Baynards, 1 Chepstow Place, London, W2
Now. SJ
- Capture 17
- 20 Apr 2016
Wide shot of the National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1
For once, less tree interference. SJ
- Capture 18
- 08 Mar 2016
Waterloo Bridge, London, in the foreground with St Paul's Cathedral on the left in the background.
A few changes to the skyline in this image by Peter.
- Capture 19
- 20 Apr 2016
Outside the stage door of the National Theatre, London
The entrance has been closed off. The north side of the NT. SJ
- Capture 20
- 21 Apr 2016
Rufus Sewell contemplates his future with London's Waterloo Bridge in the background.
Peter was there first but we agreed that this was a closer shot to the original. SJ
- Capture 21
- 02 Aug 2016
The bandstand in Battersea Park, London
An angle, but not necessarily the best. SJ
- Capture 22
- 28 Jan 2017
La Gondola Al Parco, Battersea Park. London
At this angle, they're running from the lake: now wonder they're soaked. Now called the Peartree Cafe. SJ
- Capture 23
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha (Monica Potter) decides to leave along a path in St James's Park SW1 (SJ)
The Blue bridge in the background. Looking west. SJ
- Capture 24
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha walking away with fountain behind and possibly a horse statue in the background. Unidentified location ... "Buck House", SW1 (SJ)
I was wrong about this. Looking the other way, east towards Horse Guards Parade. And the equestrian statue is Viscount Wolseley. SJ
- Capture 25
- 30 Aug 2022
Martha takes a break in Battersea Park, London (hut now demolished).

And well and truly gone, despite being one of three timber shelters "of historic significance to the park" as quoted in a 2014 council appraisal. SJ
- Capture 26
- 30 Aug 2022
Frank won't let Martha get away in Battersea Park, London (hut now demolished).

That may just be the same tree on the left. SJ
- Capture 27
- 30 Aug 2022
Battersea Park, London (with Chelsea Bridge in the background).

Replacing Peter's photos from March 2016 with his blessing. SJ
- Capture 28
- 30 Aug 2022
Battersea Park, London (looking towards Albert Bridge).

Same tree on the right. SJ
- Capture 29
- 30 Aug 2022
Battersea Park, London (looking across to Chelsea Embankment).

Little has changed in this view. SJ
- Capture 30
- 'Now' required
Busy at Stansted Airport, Essex.
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required
People also get in Joseph Fiennes way at Stansted Airport, Essex.
- Capture 32
- 14 Jun 2022
Evening traffic crosses a London flyover. This location was correctly identified by website visitor Phil Bailey as being the A1261 Aspen Way just east of Poplar DLR station. Phil notes that the outer wall has the right matching construction, street lights look correct and the DLR tracks to the left also fit. The view of One Canada Square would have been unobstructed in early 1998, with Citigroup and HSBC towers yet to be built (those two towers began construction in 1998 and Jan 1999 respectively).

The view from the platform at Blackwall DLR station. One Canada Square is still there, but completely hidden by the HSBC tower, and an enormous advertising screen on a concrete gantry now stands beside the flyover. (PB)
- Capture 33
- 08 Jun 2016
Looking across from London Bridge at Tower Bridge, London.
Peter pointed his camera in the same direction.
- Capture 34
- 03 Sep 2016
In Coventry Street looking at Piccadilly Circus, London.
Good old Piccadilly, "But I should have been further back" admits Peter.
- Capture 35
- 24 Jan 2024
Wide shot of car arriving at the hotel. Could it possibly be another building dressed for the film? Well website visitor Steve Randall has cracked it - this location is The Helicon which is at 1 South Place, London EC2M 2UP. The Helicon was named after the sacred mountain of the muses in Greek mythology and in reference to a bookshop called ‘Temple of the Muses’ that previously occupied the site.

On the corner of City Road. SJ
- Capture 36
- 24 Jan 2024
Close-up of 'Blacks Hotel' but not sure if that ever was a real hotel. This location has been solved by Steve Randall, who pointed out that it was The Helicon on London’s 1 South Place, EC2M 2UP. Completed in 1996, this building was one of London’s first sustainable developments to combine retail and offices into a building that is energy efficient and economical.

A close-up of the revolving doors. SJ
- Capture 37
- 26 Feb 2019
Close up of an apartment on New Broadway, Ealing W5 (SJ)

Unchanged today with Ealing Council next door. SJ
- Capture 38
- 13 Dec 2023
After we puzzled over this location for years, site visitor Steve Randall spotted that Laurence speeds up through Stanley Park Crescent and onto Kensington Park Gardens…

Taken without lens distortion. SJ
- Capture 39
- 13 Dec 2023
And then the red car continues down Kensington Park Gardens, London W11, towards the junction with Ladbroke Grove. Steve Randall did a fine job in finally solving this and the previous location.

I had a choice of shots, separated by a couple of weeks, for this: one with leaves, the other without. I opted for the eye-catching autumnal look. SJ
- Capture 40
- 14 Apr 2016
The red car hurries along Melbury Road, London W14, Tower House in the background. Also seen in The Crowded Day.
Tower House now. SJ
- Capture 41
- 21 Mar 2016
The car zooms across Albert Bridge, London.
More clouds when Peter visited the bridge.
- Capture 42
- 21 Mar 2016
In a flashback, Frank and Martha are seen in Battersea Park, London.
Peter also had a flashback to Battersea Park.
- Capture 43
- 21 Mar 2016
Laurence follows behind Frank and Martha in Battersea Park, London (with Chelsea Bridge in the background).
Terrace Walk along the Thames in Battersea Park. Picture from Peter. The location was also seen in 'Soapbox Derby'.
- Capture 44
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha + Frank stop off at a building on Greycoat Street, SW1. (SJ)
Replacing my previous shot which wasn't the best angle. SJ
- Capture 45
- 07 Apr 2016
Joseph Fiennes and Monica Potter walk across Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.
From the bridge looking north-west at Digby Mansions. SJ
- Capture 46
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha follows an annoyed Laurence on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.
Looking south-west towards Barnes towards St Paul's playing grounds. SJ
- Capture 47
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha listens patiently on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.
Could do with a lick of paint. SJ
- Capture 48
- 07 Apr 2016
Martha and Laurence talk things out on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.
This is the bench they sit on. SJ
- Capture 49
- 07 Apr 2016
Laurence and Martha watch the sunset from Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.
Slightly earlier in the day. SJ
- Capture 50
- 14 Apr 2016
Victoria Embankment in London WC2 with the Opal Riverfront Bar to the lower left and, in the background, Savoy Place.
Peter observes that there are not many cyclists on the, yet to be officially opened, Cycle Super Highway to right of the shot.
- Capture 51
- 26 Feb 2019
The red car trundles along New Broadway, Ealing W5

From ground level. SJ
- Capture 52
- 26 Feb 2019
The red car turns into an apartment complex on New Broadway, Ealing W5 (the same as in martha037)

Best I could do from ground level. There may be a better vantage point from the Premier Inn next door. SJ
- Capture 53
- 08 Mar 2016
I doubt that these phoneboxes are really on this unidentified London street.
Actually they are: corner of Belgrave Road and Warwick Way, SW1, more used for dodgy adverts rather than 'phoning for the most part! And note that the road crossing has been set back since. SJ
- Capture 54
- 08 Jun 2016
Looking up the River Thames in London at Waterloo Bridge.
A brighter shot of the same vista by Peter.
- Capture 55
- 04 Aug 2017
A market (probably dressed for the film) in London at Clerkenwell Green, EC1 (SJ)
From a ground view rather than from a window in the Old Sessions House behind me. SJ
- Capture 56
- 30 Sep 2016
Martha ponders her next move with an arch of Old Sessions House in the background, just across from Clerkenwell Green, EC1
Been under scaffolding for ages and my patience has run out to wait for it to go. SJ

