Very Edge, The
Date: 1963
Director: Cyril Frankel
Production Company: Raymond Stross Productions
Stars: Anne Heywood, Richard Todd, Jack Hedley, Jeremy Brett, Nicole Maurey
Location(s): Dublin, London
Region(s): Ireland, London T-Z
Storyline:
Pressure is put on a marriage after a young wife is assaulted and stalked by an obsessed maniac, causing her to miscarry.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson
Christopher Matheson (www.londononlocation.co.uk) kindly brought to our attention a report in the Daily Express 23rd August 1962 that begins ‘High up on the flat roof of a tall housing block in Dublin, I watched the last scene of a new film being played. It is rightly called “The Very Edge.”’ The report, written by Godfrey Winn, goes on at length about Anne Heywood and Jeremy Brett being on the roof but there are no details about the filming location. With that extract, Christopher sent two further screen captures now added to our listing as Captures 37 and 38. That added detail enabled Pat Cleary to provide us with the location identification.
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
After breakfast, Geoffrey Lawrence (Richard Todd) leaves the house to get into his car.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Tracey Lawrence (Anne Heywood) waves goodbye to her husband.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
Geoffrey drives away, heading to the offices where he works as an architect. Barry Fantoni has an idea that this is somewhere in Blackheath, having watched homes like this being built when lived in the area as a young boy.
- Capture 4
- 29 Jul 2023
Following an attack on his pregnant wife by a maniac, Geoffrey drives her to the hospital. Opposite the hospital entrance in Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, discovered by Steve Randall. (SR)
Pat Cleary found that that despite the more modern surroundings, the trees on this road still stand proudly.
- Capture 5
- 29 Jul 2023
Inside the hospital, Tracey loses the baby that she was carrying. The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, founded in 1897. (SR)
Only the cars have changed over the years. Pat Cleary recalls having his tonsils removed at this hospital in the 50s. "It was a conveyor belt system. About ten children marched down to sit outside the operating theatre before being brought in one-by-one for the procedure. I can still see the nurse placing the "gas" pad."
- Capture 6
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Following her recovery, Tracey takes neighbour's child Selina (Verina Greenlaw) to the zoo. Elephant enclosure, Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8. (SR)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
As Selina takes an elephant ride, Tracey spots her attacker, Mullen (Jeremy Brett). Dublin Zoo. (SR)
- Capture 8
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Becoming distraught, the young woman faints. Dublin Zoo. (SR)
- Capture 9
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Police cars are mobilised after a phone line trace pinpoints Mullen. RL noticed that this is the same vehicle seen in 'Murder Ahoy!' and 'Murder at the Gallop'. And all these years on Dave W has finally tracked down the location of that background building......222 Kensal Road, London W10 also seen in 'The Traitors'. The red brick 'Pharmaceutical Warehouse' has survived the re-development and is now Canalot Studios offering office and studio space. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Another nearby car is dispatched. Those small, presumably leaded windows belong to what was St Thomas Church, Kensal Road that was indeed derelict at the time of filming, indeed, in larger detail in Capture 18 of 'The Traitors'
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Views of the locations behind the vehicles in the previous two screen captures. The right image appears to be a derelict church. See two previous captures but in summary the propery to the left is the still extant 222 Kensal Road and that to the right, the bomb damaged church of St Thomas. (RL)
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
By the time the police arrive, Mullen has gone. Rather like buses Dave W finds one location and then another quickly follows, this he finds is the impressive corner building being 'The Portobello Arms', 248 Kensal Road that finally called 'last orders' on the 28th April 1958. (RL)
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
With pressure causing a rift in her marriage, Tracey packs a case and leaves home.
- Capture 14
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Tracey purchases a ticket for the 2.7 pm train to London. The former Broad Street station fronting Liverpool Street in EC2.
- Capture 15
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Police Officers (Michael Collins and Christopher Hancock) carry out a thorough house to house search. Having visited Tavistock Crescent, London W11 in association with 'Three Hats For Lisa' Dave W was naturally drawn once again when viewing this capture, in particular to No 107. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
One of the Policemen spots vital clues through a basement window. As the officers visit the basement well of 107 Tavistock Crescent, London W11 Dave W picks up on the corner projection of 59 All Saints' Road as matched in LPA 89183 with this Capture showing the first floor windows of 82 Tavistock Cres., immediately opposite 107, now swept away to for the Tavistock Gardens. (RL)
- Capture 17
- 05 Sep 2016
Geoffrey arrives at the station looking for his wife. The corner of Old Broad Street and Liverpool Street in EC2 with The Railway Tavern in the background.
Peter found that there was too much clutter in the street for a correct shot.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
The worried husband rushes up the station stairs. The stairs leading up from street level to Broad Street station's concourse.
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
Tracey hurries across the concourse when finding that her train's platform has been changed. The concourse at Broad Street station, former terminus of the North London Railway.
- Capture 20
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When the train departs without Tracey, Geoffrey spots her on the platform. The station was also seen in 'Give My Regards To Broad Street' and 'Night Mail'.
- Capture 21
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Inspector McInnes (Jack Hedley) arrives at the station. The station was closed and demolished in 1986 to be replaced by the Broadgate development.
- Capture 22
- 29 Jul 2023
After Mullen is caught and imprisoned, Geoffrey and Tracey take a holiday. Killiney Bay, on the South Dublin coast. The beach is seen in 'Dead Man's Evidence' and the far end, near the cliffs, also features prominently in 'My Friend Joe' from 1996.
The incessant July rain ensured that Pat Cleary got an empty beach.
- Capture 23
- 'Now' required
Putting thoughts of the attack behind them, the couple move into a new home.
- Capture 24
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Escaping from custody, Mullen attacks an RAC Patrolman and takes his motorcycle before heading to the Lawrence's house.
- Capture 25
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Mullen discovers that Tracey and her husband have moved.
- Capture 26
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A Newspaper Boy is called over and questioned.
- Capture 27
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Geoffrey leaves the new apartment and sets off to work in his car.
- Capture 28
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The RAC Patrol Bike is revealed after Geoffrey drives away.
- Capture 29
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When he can't contact Tracey, Inspector McInnes questions Simmonds (Patrick Magee), the caretaker.
- Capture 30
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McInnes walks back to the waiting car.
- Capture 31
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Having doubts, the Inspector looks back at the apartment block.
- Capture 32
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Tracey drives past the home of Geoffrey's secretary.
- Capture 33
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As she passes, Tracey sees her husband's car parked on the driveway.
- Capture 34
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From the apartment block's roof, Mullen makes his way towards the Lawrence's flat. Pat Cleary established the location as 'Cherry House', Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4, as a result of the additional Captures, 37 and 38, together with support information that was provided by Christopher Matheson (www.londononlocation.co.uk), see Header Section. (RL)
- Capture 35
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When Mullen is cornered whilst chasing Tracey across the roof, he jumps to his death.
- Capture 36
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As Inspector McInnes makes it to the roof, Geoffrey rescues his wife.
- Capture 37
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An additional shot provided by Christopher Matheson (www.londononlocation.co.uk), see Header Section, with the location identified by Pat Cleary. 'Cherry House', Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4, looking south south west to the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains and the steeple of the former Christ Church, but now that of the Romanian Orthodox Church. 'Cherry House' entrance can be seen in 'A Question of Suspense'. (RL)
- Capture 38
- 'Now' required
A second screen shot provided by Christopher Matheson (www.londononlocation.co.uk) providing further location detail, see Header Section, with the location identified by Pat Cleary. 'Cherry House', Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4, 'Cherry House' entrance can be seen in 'A Question of Suspense'. (RL)