Emil and the Detectives

Emil's idyllic home village. Roland-Francois Lack identifies this as St Mary's Church. Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire. The church can also be seen in 'Mad About Men'.

A fairly unchanged view captured by Antony Blair.

Emil and friends up to mischief . . . . . High Street in Long Crendon located by Roland-Francois Lack.

Antony Blair took this as he walked past the corner of the Old Cottage.

. . . . running up to . . .

. . . . Brill Windmill, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.

Brill Windmill, which has since acquired a brick roundhouse base.

An idyllic home counties village. Ray Glenister identifies High Street, Long Crendon in Buckinghamshire. A similar shot appears in 'Inquest'.

A similar same scene taken 87 years later by Antony Blair.

A railway station by a level crossing . . . . Jonathan Horswell believes this to be Chertsey station in Surrey, as indicated by the sidings beyond the signal box, with Guildford Road passing over the level crossing.

Confirmed as Chertsey with John Harwood's comparison.

. . . . on the Southern Region. John Harwood found this to be the entrance to Chertsey station on Fox Lane North, Chertsey.

The same entrance captured by John.

A Man in a Bowler Hat leaves the train in London. Ray Glenister has found that George Hayes is heading for the exit having crossed the platform bridge. (RL)

London Bridge Station in SE1 to be precise. All long gone and I'm not even quite sure which way this faced.

The scene now, from ground level. (PW)

London Bridge forecourt, we presume.

Taken from a similar position, we presume. (PW)

London Bridge. I think the row of small shops to right were still there until a few years ago, but it's now all bafflingly changed. Ray also advises that this view is from the Northern end of the station toward the railway bridge over Borough High Street. Dave W draws to our attention that the distant shop units are seen in LPA 236528 where the orientation of street layout and viaduct is easier to fathom than in the film capture. (RL)

The parade of shops stood in front of the curve of the original viaduct which can still be seen. (PW)

The bus station outside London Bridge Station.

Looking across the present day bus station to where the building once stood. (PW)

Don't suppose this shot helps.

Jean Biagiola, hairdresser. No record of this in London, maybe a set? ... Roland-Francois Lack found Jean Bragiola in Harrington Road SW7.

Roland-Francois Lack's Street View from 15 May '18 now replaced. Nothing left after wartime bombing. Slightly off angle because of the bus-stand in the way of the western edge of the Bâtiment Primaire, part of the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle, this is on the north side close to the corner with Queensberry Place. SJ

But Boerio's Restaurant did exist on Hanway Street at the corner of Hanway Place off Oxford Street W1. The location also features in 'Rattle of a Simple Man', 'Assassin for Hire', 'Expresso Bongo', 'Last Night in Soho' and 'Play it Cool'.

The same junction now. (AG)

A residential court. Does it still exist? According to Ray Glenister it certainly does still exist, Colville Place, Fitzrovia W1 looking towards Charlotte Street. See also Capture 29. (RL)

Nowadays, there are a few less properties on the left. (PW)

Ah, something we do recognise.

Piccadilly Circus W1, but where's Eros?

Piccadilly Circus, Swan & Edgar and Regent Street Quadrant.

Oh there it is! Eros was moved in the mid-1980s . . .

. . . . and if you believe the continuity, this is right opposite Piccadilly Circus. Where is it really? Dave W tells us that it was Newport Dwellings, Newport Place, London WC2 which can also be seen in 'It Happened in Soho'.

Demolished in the 70s to make way for what Dave's "now" shot reveals. (RL)

An army of street urchins assembles. Taken from the window of a rather grand house. Facing St. Martins in the Fields in Trafalgar Square WC2.

Looking towards Trafalgar Square across St. Martins in the Fields steps. Best viewpoint possible without access to the house or a VERY long selfie stick.

This is still accessible. The Piazza in Covent Garden WC2. The location and its surrounding appear in a number of films including 'Frenzy', 'Circle of Danger', 'Train of Events' and 'Nowhere to Go'.

Covent Garden Piazza now.

Has an 'Inns of Court' feel. Someone will know.

With full acknowledgement to Christopher Matheson who told me where I should stand to confirm his identification. Unfortunately I was not allowed on the grass to include that closer lamp. St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London WC2 (RL)

Soho Square in W1, looking towards Carlisle Street. The square can be seen in 'Burning an Illusion', '84 Charing Cross Road', 'Last Night in Soho', 'The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse' and 'The Sexplorer'.

Looking across Soho Square now. (PW)

Soho Square, panning north . . . .

. . . . with Soho Street behind the tree to the centre. (PW)

Distinctive building. Will it still exist? It certainly does still exist, identified by Jules Ballantyne as Barter Street, London WC1 who advises that it also appeared in 'Mr. Holmes' (2015).

To replace Jules' Google Earth view. (RL)

Further up the street for more evidence. As per Capture 27, Barter Street, London WC1 (RL)

At least some of the original buildings remain. (RL)

Back to the courtyard. As capture 18, this is Colville Place W1 identified by Ray who notes that the same thoroughfare also appears in 'Man on the Run'. (RL)

A rather quieter thoroughfare today. (RL)

A set?

A set?

This looks like stock footage but was probably taken from the same viewpoint as Capture 22.

And here's Peter's view of the same famous location.

The pace speeds up with a taxi chase, going down the east side of Trafalgar Square . . . .

The 'now' taxis weren't planned, it's hard to avoid them.

. . . and the south

Nelson's Column is right behind the traffic light, honest.

Suddenly we're at Marble Arch in W1, a location that is seen in many productions including ‘Nothing Barred’, ‘Play Up the Band’, ‘Wanted for Murder’, ‘Profile’, ‘This Happy Breed’, ‘The Statue’, ‘Two Gentlemen Sharing’, ‘Major Barbara’ and ‘John and Julie’.

The road layout is changed, now pedestrianised. But that didn't stop two huge parked vans blocking the sight-lines.

Marble Arch with the western end of Oxford Street in the background.

The road is now one-way.

Maybe there's a hidden clue where we are now . . .

. . . . but we're back the other side of Marble Arch again.

Hard though it is to recognise now.

The Man in the Bowler hat, played by George Hayes in classic pantomime villain style, pays off his cabbie. What looks like water behind the railings isn't, but there's the weirdest greenery on the right, possibly an ivy-covered corner. Admitting that the John Lewis van did help to focus his mind, together with a recent stroll all helped Dave W to identify this as Manchester Square's corner with Spanish Place with the front wall of the Wallace Collection. See his additional capture and now shot as Capture 40 (RL)

Dave provides this additional screen capture to reveal the background wall to better advantage. (RL)

His "now" shot shows that remarkably, the railing components have not changed since 1935. (RL)

An enclosed square.

Christopher Matheson has provided the location, Franklin's Row, London SW3 looking into Cheltenham Terrace. Replacing Christopher's Google image.....but he was with me! (RL)

A horse ride, or whatever they call them. The Mall? Rotten Row? Kensington Palace Gardens? . . . .

Another location from Christopher. St. Leonard's Terrace, London SW3 looking into Royal Avenue. Google image from May 2018 now replaced by SJ.

. . . and a bridge. Ought to be easy but none quite match. The bridge experts will pounce instantly. As Peter says, Chelsea Suspension Bridge, replaced in 1937 (RL)

The replaced bridge today. SJ

A closer look at the characteristic bridge ironwork.

Somewhere about here. SJ

An embankment, and two bridges, a suspension one in front of an arched one. Peter adds, Chelsea Suspension Bridge and a floating pontoon beyond. Chelsea Bridge can be seen in many other productions including 'Absolute Beginners', 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire', 'Soapbox Derby', 'Col cuore in gola', 'The Mutations', 'Pygmalion', 'Up the Junction' and 'Panic'. (SJ)

It was quite tricky to find the exact spot but here's the gap created by the new Chelsea Quay opposite the Royal Hospital Chelsea which affords a view of Chelsea Bridge. SJ

'H (or M) WATERMAN' above the girl's head.

Given the "Waterman" clue Christopher Matheson came up with 34 Harrington Road, London SW7 on the corner of Queensbury Place. A lightened screen capture reveals the ironwork where Waterman's board was affixed. (RL)... And this replaces the GEV provided in May '18, a second attempt as a parked coach was in the way previously. SJ

Throgmorton Avenue in the City. Now gone.

This is further along, not quote the same but gives the idea.

Throgmorton Avenue in EC2.

Draper's Gardens off Throgmorton Avenue. If this was ever a garden, by then it was an alleyway.

And now merely an office block.

Throgmorton Avenue again.

Throgmorton Avenue at the corner of Draper's Gardens, which was opposite the still surviving Austin Friars.

Approximate position.

The gathered army of street kids harries the Man in the Bowler Hat.

The London Wall end of Throgmorton Avenue.

Austin Friars in EC2.

The start of Austin Friars, from Throgmorton Avenue. The foreground railings have been replaced

The Man in the Bowler Hat is chased past what looks like a city churchyard. All the evidence suggests to Ray Glenister that this is Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2 and Drapers Gardens with the pavement turning, far left, into Austin Friars and Capture 52. (RL)

Back in Throgmorton Avenue again, I think. Does this section still exist?

Cornered in an office entrance. Ray has also provided us with the location of this capture that shows the view from 18 Park House, Finsbury Circus, London EC2 with the London Wall Building in the background. (RL)

This and the next two were taken in April but not loaded properly by me. The view from no18's front door. SJ

Distinctive stonework which may even still exist. No, afraid not, it was demolished in 1936, a year after the film. Ray Glenister found it with the help and support of Brigitte. It was The London Institution and was in Finsbury Circus as per the following Capture, see Wikipedia for details. (RL)

The new look. SJ

Pan to right. This seems to have a slight curve. I tried and failed to match it to Finsbury Circus. We all agreed Adrian, it had the "feel" of Finsbury Circus but Ray went back in time and found The London Institution, the building was demolished in 1936. (RL)

Panning right brings in some matches to Finsbury Circus. SJ