Human Factor, The (1979)

A commuter train brings Maurice Castle home from his mundane job at MI6. Berkhamsted station in Hertfordshire on the West Coast Main Line out of London.

Changes to the platform make a more accurate comparison impossible. (PW)

After showing his season ticket, Maurice Castle (Nicol Williamson) descends from the platform. Facing south on the island platform at Berkhamsted railway station.

A new lift makes access easier. (PW)

The civil servant makes his way through the station subway to where his bicycle is stored. The subway runs beneath Berkhamsted station.

I almost needed my sunglasses! (PW)

Leaning his bike against a wall, Maurice puts on his bicycle clips. Outside the subway, next to the main building of Berkhamsted station.

The door to the left has gone and the office within is now a shop. (PW)

With clips suitably applied, Maurice mounts his machine. The station car park outside the station’s booking hall entrance.

At a similar angle. (PW)

The shot follows the low ranking bureaucrat as he heads for home. Looking towards Lower Kings Road from the station car park in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

Taken from a similar position. (PW)

Quieter streets away from the station are reached.

Turning off the road, Maurice arrives at the house where his wife Sarah has called Doctor Barker to attend to her son Sam.

Invited on a shoot by Sir John and Lady Mary Hargreaves, a car brings MI6 security officer Colonel John Daintry to their country home after the day’s sport.

Maurice makes his way to purchase a book. Facing west on Cecil Court with Charing Cross Road and Hunt’s Court in the right background.

Peter sent this shot of the same place now.

After glancing at the display in a pornography bookshop opposite, Maurice turns to enter the premises of Halliday & Son. Cecil Court in London WC2.

Another shot from Peter.

Sarah (Iman) and Sam (Gary Forbes) are followed by Maurice when they leave a tailor’s shop after kitting out the youngster with his new school uniform. Outside 195 High Street in Berkhamsted.

An altered doorway. (PW)

The family make their way home. Looking south-east along High Street in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

No post box now. (PW)

Maurice, Doctor Percival (Robert Morley) and Arthur Davis (Derek Jacobi) walk through the streets after an evening at the Playgirl Club.

When the Doctor takes his leave, Arthur divulges to his colleague that he was told that apparently the British were further ahead with biological warfare than the Americans.

Having being spotted in a restaurant by Colonel Daintry, Arthur leaves after being stood up by his date. Facing south-east on Hollywood Road in West Brompton SW10 with the Hollywood public house to the top left of centre and St. Stephen's Hospital on Fulham Road in the distance. Scenes for 1953's 'Recoil' were filmed just 100 yards to the north on Hollywood Road.

Just north of the gated Hollwood Mews. Not particularly easy to replicate as the Hollywood Arms has spilled out into the road. SJ

Maurice approaches a phone box and calls Boris, the Soviet agent who helped to smuggle Sarah out of South Africa.

At the request of Sir John Hargreaves, Maurice agrees to entertain South African Official Cornelius Muller. Geoff Dodd pinpoints this as 'The Plough (aka Magic) Roundabout' in Hemel Hempstead, adding, that the building to the right is the Telephone Exchange but the buildings to the left on the A414 St. Albans Road have been replaced. (RL)

Antony Blair returned 44 years later.

In the Daimler Limousine, Maurice listens to the man who failed to bring him under Pretoria’s control.

Maurice opens the limousine’s door for Cornelius Muller (Joop Doderer) when it comes to a halt at the end of his driveway.

The two men walk towards the house where they are met by Sarah.

A flashback to Maurice’s time in South Africa sees him opening his car door for Sarah Mankosi. The sequences set in and around Pretoria were filmed in Kenya.

On another day, Maurice approaches a litter bin and takes out a newspaper on which a message to meet at the Carlton Hotel is written.

As feelings grow stronger between the two, Sarah and Maurice continue to meet in secret.

As Sarah places another newspaper into a litter bin she discovers a flower.

The young woman walks away smiling.

At a busy junction, Sarah gets into Maurice’s Austin saloon. This is University Way in Nairobi, facing the corner of Uhuru Highway with the Uhuru Lutheran Chapel to the right.

Maurice drives Sarah to the country for a picnic. Facing west on University Way towards the junction with Nyerere Road and State House Road with the tower of St. Andrews Presbyterian church in the right distance.

A few days following an argument during their last meeting when she revealed that she was pregnant with her former boyfriend’s child, Sarah makes her way to Maurice’s apartment

The camera follows Sarah to the building’s entrance.

A tap on a cafeteria’s window signals that Maurice should follow a Tall Man (Leon Greene). Looking westward on Cheapside EC2 with the entrance St. Paul’s Underground station in the right distance.

A lot of changes at this junction. SJ

The Tall Man leads the way. Cheapside at the junction of the realigned New Change with Octagon Point to the top right.

Octagon Point has maintained its shape. SJ

Cheapside at the junction of New Change EC4 with St. Paul’s Cathedral in the right background and the spire of the ruined St. Augustine’s church in the left distance.

Only a seasonal shot would show the spire now. SJ

The pair cross St. Martin's-le-Grand where Maurice is left to enter a building where Boris is waiting to meet him. A now impossible view across St. Martin's-le-Grand towards the dome of the Central Criminal Court on Old Bailey in the distance beyond Christ Church on King Edward Street to the right.

I stepped well to the left onto Cheapside to capture Christchurch Greyfriars or else it would have been a shot of shrouded scaffolding. SJ

Colonel John Daintry (Richard Attenborough) drives past Maurice’s house, looking away when he sees the suspected mole at the window.

Having activated his escape route to Moscow, Maurice is driven to Heathrow by his Soviet contact, Halliday. The forecourt of the Sheraton Skyline Hotel on the A4, Bath Road opposite Heathrow Airport in Harlington, Greater London.

Maurice enters the Sheraton Skyline hotel. The entrance to the Sheraton Skyline Hotel in Harlington.

Passing the pool inside the hotel, Maurice makes his way to a room where an Agent hands over travel documents before fitting a wig and moustache to the escaping traitor.

Suitably disguised, Maurice is assisted towards the boarding gate for a flight to Paris.

Outside Maurice’s Mother’s house, Inspector Butler (Denys Hawthorne) pick up Sam’s football.

The Inspector knocks at the door and asks for Sarah Castle.

Sarah makes her way to a meeting with Dr. Percival. On the River Thames below Victoria Embankment in WC2 with Waterloo Bridge crossing in the background.

Best I could as I was politely informed I was on private space. SJ