Babylon

In the distance, Dave and Ronnie run into view after finishing work. Looking east on New Cross Road, New Cross in London SE14.

Errol (David N. Haynes) and other members of Ital Lion converge on a lock-up railway arch to load their sound system into the back of the van. Looking onto Edward Place, Deptford with Sandpiper Court in the distance.

Huge speakers are lifted onto the Transit. Edward Place in Deptford SE8. The area also features in the Children's Film Foundation's 'Hide and Seek'.

The view today from ground level. SR

Beefy (Trevor Laird) picks up forgotten items and runs after the van as Dreadhead drives away. Looking along Hamilton Street from Edward Place with Payne Street and Maple House visible through the arch.

Hamilton Street now runs through two arches, and the metric version of the bridge height has been added. SR

Cut to the other side of the railway viaduct, where the shot finds Beefy still chasing the Transit. Payne Street SE8 with Adolphus Street to the left.

On a busier street, Dave and Ronnie run towards the waiting van. Clifton Rise in SE14 with New Cross Road and Goldsmiths’ Tavern, renamed back to New Cross House in 2011, in the distance.

The scene now, minus the telephone box.

David 'Blue' (Brinsley Forde) and Ronnie (Karl Howman) catch up with their friends and climb into the van. The corner of Clifton Rise and Batavia Road in New Cross.

The same corner with added bollards. PW

Following a late night, Blue gets up late for work and sprints towards the garage where he is a mechanic.

Alan (Mel Smith) turns when Blue knocks on the office window.

The garage owner is not impressed by his employee's excuse.

Dreadhead, Errol and Beefy drive to Brixton. Atlantic Road at the junction with Electric Avenue in Brixton SW9 which is also seen in 'Alfie'.

The bright morning sun was, thankfully, behind me. PW

The van turns a corner. Coldharbour Lane in Brixton with Atlantic Road and The Atlantic public house on the other side of the railway bridge. The pub and surrounding streets are also seen in 'Black Joy'.

A parked lorry prevented including the post box in the frame. PW

Dreadhead finds a parking space and leaves Beefy in charge. Somerleyton Road in Brixton SE9 with the windows of the old Employment Exchange visible to the extreme left.

The same rebuilt street . . . with rebuilding occurring. PW

Dreadhead (Archie Pool) and Errol head through Brixton Market to haggle with Fat Larry for a tune that will see Ital Lion beat Jah Shaka at the Christmas sound clash. Formerly known as Granville Arcade, the location also appears in 'Two Gentlemen Sharing' and 'Black Joy'.

Facing 1st Avenue from 6th Avenue in Brixton Village. PW

Members of Jah Shaka run towards the market after teasing Beefy when they park up next to Ital Lion’s van. In the blurred background stands Brixton Village on Coldharbour Lane in SW9.

The grass has given way to parking on waste ground. PW

Having lost his job, Blue plays pool as he waits for his friends to arrive. Looking out onto buildings that still stand on the north side of Ilderton Road in Southwark SE16.

Outside the pool room, Blue, Norville 'Lover' Washington (Victor Romero Evans) and Errol chat with Beefy who has turned up with a huge dog. This is one of the long demolished properties on the south side of Ilderton Road where the realigned road now runs.

Les (Anthony Trent) approaches to do business with Errol. Looking towards the corner of Cranswick Road from Ilderton Road as identified on the Transpontine Blogspot.

Errol and the Fence barter over some illicit goods. Looking along Bramcote Road at the junction of Barkworth Road with the trees of Varcoe Road Open Space in the right background.

Leaving the pool room, Errol offers Beefy half of the money he raised from selling the stolen television. Facing east on Barkworth Road with Ilderton Street in the extreme left distance.

Across the road a Rastaman (Cosmo Laidlaw) stops and greets the three friends. On Bramcote Grove SE16 outside The Bramcote Arms public house at the corner of Barkworth Road. Identified on the Transpontine Blogspot. The pub closed in 2012.

Errol, Blue and Beefy laugh at the 'walking flag of Ethiopia'. At the junction of Bramcote Road with Barkworth Road.

A Young Man (Peter Lovstrom) throws glass bottles while a Racist Man (Bill Moody) shouts abuse at the friends when they noisily return from Lover's engagement party. Sandpiper Court from Edward Place in SE8.

A tree adds a little autumn colour to the view. SR

Ronnie and Blue stop Beefy as he heads up the stairs with his knife drawn. The stairwell of Sandpiper Court in Deptford.

Following the altercation outside the lock-up, Blue walks the streets alone. This is Lewisham High Street in SE13 evidenced by Beatties Model Shop window which appears in the next few frames.

Turning a corner, Blue crosses the road to browse in more shop windows. Beneath the railway bridge carrying the platforms of Deptford station over Deptford High Street SE8 with the Mechanic’s Arms public house to the right. The pub closed in 1983.

The Mechanic's Arms has become Tomi's Kitchen, an African Restaurant, and rubbish bins dominate the scene. SR

With windows decorated for Christmas, a model shop and a clothes store are perused. Deptford High Street SE8.

With just side lights lit, a Hillman Hunter draws alongside and slows to keep pace with Blue. The west side of Deptford High Street

The car chases Blue as he makes a run for it when he fears trouble. The Windsor Castle public house at the corner of Deptford High Street and Ffinch Street SE8.

The Windsor Castle closed in 1999 and the building now hosts an after school club. SR

A narrow alley stops the car from following. Facing east on Ffinch Street.

Although there's no sign of his pursuers, Blue continues to run. Looking east on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton SW9 with Rushcroft Road to the right.

From a similar position in daylight. PW

Almost exhausted, the young man climbs the steps of a bridge. This appears to be one of the footbridges that passes alongside the north side of the railway viaduct to the north west of Trundleys Road behind what is now Greenland Mews. The bridges are no longer in situ.

Recovering his breath, Blue continues across the bridge. Ahead is another footbridge that crosses the former railway now occupied by Landmann Way.

As Blue walks beneath railway arches, the car reappears and the chase begins again.

After the occupants of the car beat up Blue before bundling him into the back seat, it becomes apparent that they are Police Officers.

Beefy and Spark (Brian Bovell) set out to put up posters. Alongside the former Astoria Cinema on Old Kent Road in SE15.

The pair cover other posters with one advertising Ital Lion and Jah Shaka's appearance at the upcoming Grand Battle of the Sounds. The Astoria Cinema closed in 1968 and became a sports centre before being demolished in 1984.

Ronnie reminisces about past gigs as he walks with Blue along the shore of the Thames. In the Lovell’s Wharf area of Greenwich SE10 with the domes of the Old Royal Naval College in the centre right distance.

Blue tells Ronnie that he's going to his girlfriend Elaine's that evening. This is an unnamed road from Bay Wharf running alongside the former Molassine Company’s premises in Greenwich SE10.

The two part company. In front of the Molassine Company offices on the A102 Tunnel Avenue in Greenwich.

Finding that Elaine isn't in, Blue heads to the pool room. The landing of 123 to 223 Oldfield Grove in SE16.

With the pool room full of white guys, Blue tags along with William and Rupert as they go cruising. Looking towards the junction of Cranswick Road and Ilderton Road.

Christmas lights span the road as the three reach the West End.

The car negotiates traffic in Piccadilly Circus.

The new display taken by Peter Zazzi looks suspiciously like the one from almost forty years ago.

William and Rupert reach their destination. Great Windmill Street W1 with the Windmill Theatre still packing ‘em in. The location can also be seen in 'Rag Doll', ‘The Small World of Sammy Lee’, ‘Time Without Pity’, ‘White Cargo’, 'Universal Soldier' and ‘Murder at the Windmill’.

The same street with the now closed Windmill Theatre by Peter Zazzi.

In the early hours a car approaches the tower block where Elaine lives. Looking towards Reculver Road on the Silwood Estate in SE16 with the block containing 123 to 223 Oldfield Grove on the right.

Returning home, Elaine (Beverly Michaels) gets out of her friend's brother's Jensen Interceptor. In the background is the corner where Reculver Road becomes Oldfield Grove.

Blue gets angry with Elaine as she explains that she has been out with her friends. Island Road and Regeneration Road now occupy the site of these flats which were demolished in the 2000s.

Elaine walks to her flat alone after telling Blue to leave her alone. Looking over the former industrial landscape from the landing of 123 to 223 Oldfield Grove.

Carrying his belongings in a holdall, Blue walks away. Facing Oldfield Grove SE16 from the bridge over the, then, East London Line with the wall side of the Baron’s Arms public house to the left and the block containing 123 to 223 Oldfield Grove in the background.

Blue returns to the lock up to discover that the sound system has been mashed up. Edward Place SE8 with Deptford station on the viaduct to the top left.

Today's view includes parked cars. (SR)

Beefy admires his graffiti on a corrugated fence. Barkworth Road SE16 with Ilderton Road in the left Distance.

Spark, Lover and Beefy run to the van and head to the lock-up. Barkworth Road with derelict buildings on Bramcote Road crossing the background.

With no sound system, Dreadhead drives the crew to find a replacement. Looking along Belmont Park from the car park of The Kingswood Halls in Blackheath SE13.

This was taken outside the car park's perimeter as the growth of vegetation would have shown very little. As can be seen the box, now a library/book exhange, still stands south of St. Margaret's Passage. Sj

The camera follows the Transit. This is where Belmont Park becomes Kingswood Place in Blackheath, Lewisham.

As above taken from in front of the fence. The properties remain unchanged. SJ

Looking onto Kingswood Place SE13.

There was a gap in the growth so this was taken from within the car-park. The concrete fence is the same. SJ

Dreadhead turns into the car park outside a church. In the background stands the Dacre Arms public house on Kingswood Place.

And the happy news is that The Dacre Arms was doing well on this warm day. SJ

Dreadhead enters the church and calls to a friend in the congregation. The Kingswood Halls, Kingswood Place, Blackheath SE13.

Pity about the cones. This was taken in the afternoon while the original was a morning shoot. SJ

While Dreadhead negotiates to borrow a sound system inside the church, Blue makes his way to where the Racist Man lives. Sandpiper Court on Edward Place in Deptford.

Today's garishly coloured Sandpiper Court. (SR)

Carrying a blade, Blue enters the stair well of the block of flats. Looking onto Edward Place SE8.

Another place for cars to park. (SR)

With no answer after banging on the Man's door, Blue turns to leave when he hears a voice behind him. The walkway of Sandpiper Court in Deptford SE8.

As Ital Lion prepare to play their new tune at the sound clash, Blue heads to join them. The northbound Piccadilly Line platform at Finsbury Park station in London N4.

A few more intending passengers present when Peter visited.