Duffer

As the titles roll, a familiar bridge appears at the start of this strange film. Hammersmith Bridge, London W6. The bridge features in 'Curse of the Golem', 'Absolutely Anything', 'Burnt Evidence', 'Theatre of Blood', 'The Man Who Never Was' amongst many productions.

Now. SJ

Duffer (Kit Gleave) walks across a stage off Lower Mall on the north side of the Thames as a girl (Marie-Jeanne Savigny) watches from the bridge.

Ripine access is not made easy here. SJ

'Your Gracie' (Erna May), Duffer's prostitute friend, makes her way to a launderette. David Neicho advises that this is Notting Hill Gate between Clanricarde Gardens and Linden Gardens in London W2.

Peter provides the best angle that he could, having contended with a phone box behind him and the tree in front.

Gracie turns as Duffer appears at the window. Looking out onto Notting Hill Gate identified by David. The street outside features in a number of productions including 'West 11', 'Girl with Green Eyes', 'Castaway', 'Alfie', 'Goodbye Gemini' and 'Lunch Hour'.

A tilt shot starts on, what appears to be, a derelict building. We are indebted to David Neicho who identifies the location as the corner of Burlington Road and Shrewsbury Road in London W2.

The building has long gone and it would be pointless taking a shot of thin air, so here's a lower shot of the same place now. (PW)

The camera moves down to show the building's entrance before panning left. Facing Burlington Road from Shrewsbury Road. Located by David Neicho.

The same location 40 years on. (PW)

A woman crosses the street as the camera pans. David Neicho advises that this is Shrewsbury Road W2 with Talbot Road in the left background and Burlington Road to the right.

Shrewsbury Road now. (PW)

The shot settles on Duffer as he appears around the corner. Shrewsbury Road facing St Stephen's Gardens in W2 which, around the corner, is also where scenes from 'Alfie (1966) were shot. Location identified by David Neicho . . .

. . . . and captured by PW.

A drunken couple (Traute Kraus and Anthony Lambert) comes into view as Duffer walks on. A reverse point of view from image dufr008 looking north towards Westbourne Park Road from Shrewsbury Road. Identification by David.

A railway yard stood beyond Westbourne Park Road at the time of filming. (PW)

I did fear that this, along with many of the other locations featured in this film, had long since disappeared. However, David Neicho advises that this is the corner of Westbourne Park Road looking into Shrewsbury Road to the left. The public house is also seen in 'Clegg' and still stands as The Oak.

Proof provided by PW.

Duffer crosses the road. Looking along the street first seen in image dufr006. Westbourne Park Road looking into Shrewsbury Road again, with thanks to David. 'Mr. Nice' from 2009 features stock footage of Shrewsbury Road.

From a similar viewpoint. (PW)

Panning right from the previous view, a hippy (Johnny Lockwood) strums his guitar as Duffer passes out of view. Identified by David Neicho as the corner of Westbourne Park Road and Shrewsbury Road.

The buildings have long since been demolished and replaced. (PW)

The footbridge starts on Tavistock Crescent W11 and crosses the Hammersmith and City Line just west of Westbourne Park Station, ending on Acklam Road. The wall to the left belongs to the Tavistock Arms public house which was seen in 'Col cuore in gola' and also played the Mother Black Cap pub in 'Withnail & I' whilst the bridge appears in 'The 14', 'La Coda Dello Scorpione', 'Burning an Illusion', 'The Knack . . . and How to Get It', 'The Spaniard's Curse' and 'Innocent Meeting'.

The same location now. Later known as The Frog & Firkin, the pub closed in 2009 and was demolished in 2010. (PW)

An establishing shot of Richmond Bridge from Riverside as the story moves back to the Thames.

There's little change in Nick Boorman's view.

Facing Bridge Street from the Thames Path as it passes through Richmond.

Ian Hedgcock found a bit of redesign here.

The tower behind the trees, also seen later, belongs to the Pitcher & Piano on Bridge Street, Richmond.

Greenery and sunlight mask the view of the tower in this shot from Ian.

Thinking of his sadistic partner, Duffer wanders through the streets as the evening closes in.

Great Western Road in London W9. PW

The camera follows Duffer. The junction of Great Western Road and Elkstone Road (formerly Kensal Road) in W11. The buildings to the right no longer exist.

The same junction now. PW

Duffer looks down to see a fight taking place on the canal tow path.

The bridge carries Great Western Road over the Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal. The location was also seen in 'Sapphire'. PW

This is Cambridge Road, London NW6 and the number 28 bus has just crossed the junction with Carlton Vale. The pub on the right is the Shakespeare Tavern and the church is St John's, which burnt down in the seventies. The area has been redeveloped with only a variation of the 28 bus route remaining. David Neicho provided this wonderful information.

Having confirmed the location, Richard Bennett faced north along the vestigial Cambridge Road towards Carlton Vale.

Duffer takes a bus ride back the way he has walked. This is Great Western Road and the site of the long demolished buildings, coming up ahead, is now occupied by Meanwhile Gardens.

Revisiting the bridge over the Grand Union Canal, Richard Bennett found the railings and brick wall remain in place.

On another day, a young boy (Stephen Taylor) skips his way along The Towpath under Richmond Bridge.

Almost the same. Image by Ian.

The boy talks with a depressed Duffer. Facing Richmond Bridge in Richmond, Surrey.

Contemplation continues after the boy skips away. The Towpath, Richmond.

In his imagination, Duffer enters a derelict street. The corner of Barandon Street and Testerton Street in London W11.

It's difficult to be highly accurate but this is the same place. PW

At the far end of the black street, a malevolent man waits. Testerton Street W11. The area has been completely redeveloped but the name lives on as Testerton Walk. The street was also seen in 'Leo the Last'.

Looking north from approximately where Barandon Street was with the background now occupied by the flats of Hurstway Walk. SJ

But is it in his imagination . . . . or something that really happened? Facing north on Testerton Street.

And this is the sight that greets the eyes now. PW

More dark thoughts by the river.

Duffer steals a book from W. H. Smiths. Waterloo station, London SE1.

As his musings continue, Duffer walks through half demolished streets. Unidentified location.

This is the tower of the present Pitcher & Piano on Bridge Street in Richmond.

Comparison shot by Ian Hedgcock.

The camera tilts down and finds Duffer as he heads down the steps running parallel to Bridge Street.

Changes are apparent in Nick's comparison.

Back to the banks of the River Thames.

Nick Boorman captured a similar view.

Duffer's fingers appear as he climbs a fence. Unknown location.

A parcel containing either the corpse of a child or a doll is thrown into a bin.

After disposing of the terrible parcel, Duffer feels lost. Mac Fisheries and Salisbury's are prominent on George Street in Richmond. The location was also seen in 'Left, Right and Centre'.

Ian Hedgcock captured the same location.

The camera finds the disturbed youth and follows. The corner of King Street looking along George Street with, what is currently, House of Fraser under construction to the left.

The same corner now from Ian H.

That's a number 37 bus turning out of Red Lion Street into Hill Street, Richmond. Nick Boorman advises that the curved building in the background is Viscount Travel where, in the year of filming, he used to have a Saturday job selling theatre tickets.

Nick returned to the location, but not to sell tickets.

The camera continues to follow Duffer. Hill Street with Water Lane coming up on the right.

Nick continues to follow the same route.

A side street is turned into as Duffer heads for the river. Water Lane which does run to the river in Richmond.

Water Lane now by Nick Boorman.

A shot from the reverse point of view. Looking onto Hill Street from Water Lane.

The paint work on the wall remains as Nick discovered.

Duffer loses the sense of what is real and what is not. Water Lane, Richmond in Greater London.

Nick Boorman found a lot a changes here but the doorstep, windows and cobblestone remain.

Back at the river, Duffer feels that he's being followed and never alone. Riverside at the end of Water Lane.

Nick arrived as the tide was coming in.

Duffer runs back home to kill his partner, believing himself already a murderer. The film's continuity is good, Richmond Bridge stands in the background on Riverside, Richmond.

Nick Boorman found a more congested scene some 50 years on.

The hippy plays his guitar as Duffer walks over a bridge. The bridge runs between Tavistock Crescent and Acklam Road and was also seen in 'Burning an Illusion', 'Violent Moment' and 'The 14'.

A newer bridge crosses the railway now. (PW)

A Bystander (Jesus Rodriguez) watches a fight between the drunken couple seen earlier. The corner of St Ervan's Road and Acklam Road in W10. The bridge crosses the Hammersmith and City Line towards Tavistock Crescent.

The Westway is prominent overhead in this vastly changed location. (PW)

Duffer walks away after being attacked by a malevolent man (Bogomir Rampre). This is the corner of Tavistock Crescent and St. Luke's Road in W11. The junction can also be seen in 'Seventy Deadly Pills' and 'Withnail & I'.

Some buildings remain standing to the left in today's image. (PW)

After the deed is done, Duffer rests. Joe Blackwell discovered that this is the subway entrance on the north-east side of Waterloo Road SE1 in front of the Royal Waterloo Hospital.

There have been alterations over the years as can be seen in Joe's comparison view, but the paving slabs still match as do the fourteen steps to the first landing.

Time to move on. Joe Blackwell identifies this as the subway on Waterloo Road.

Duffer passes a gent's toilet as he heads back towards the Thames in Hammersmith. The convenience was also seen earlier and stood on Westbourne Park Road opposite Shrewsbury Road. Location identification by David Neicho.

The toilet, and the railway yard beyond, have been replaced with the Brunel Estate. (PW)