Percy

Date: 1971
Director: Ralph Thomas
Production Company: Anglo-EMI, Welbeck Films Ltd.

Stars: Hywel Bennett, Elke Sommer, Britt Ekland, Denholm Elliott, Cyd Hayman
Location(s): London, Hertfordshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

An innocent young man is sought by the press after becoming the recipient of the world’s first penis transplant.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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Transplant surgeon Professor Emmanuel Whitbread shocks producers when he appears on television to tell the world about his work. The BBC Television Centre on Wood Lane in White City W12.

From ground level with a more open entrance. SJ

Rising above Fitzrovia in London, the iconic Post Office Tower appears during the titles. The tower features in several other productions including ‘Three Hats for Lisa’, ‘Smashing Time’ and ‘Bedazzled’.

Tris looked up towards a bluer sky.

The shot tilts down to find Edwin Antony’s yellow Mini Moke approaching the camera. Looking south-east on Conway Street W1 with the Post Office Tower standing over Maple Street in the background. The street is also seen in ‘Sebastian’.

Whilst Denis Hoare found that nothing much had changed other than the planting of a tree to partially obscure the BT Tower clearly works are in hand. (RL)

Following a visit to the British Museum, Edwin Antony (Hywel Bennett) walks out into the sunshine. The British Museum in London WC1 which is seen in many productions including 'The Limehouse Golem', ‘Night of the Demon’, ‘A Touch of Love’, ‘To The Devil, a Daughter’, 'Isadora', 'The Holly and the Ivy', 'Colonel March Investigates', 'The Mine and the Minotaur', ‘The Mummy Returns (2001)’ and ‘It Happened Here’.

The entrance is unchanged. SJ

Getting into his Moke, Edwin drives from the museum. In front of The British Museum with Great Russell Street in the background.

Not easy to park now. SJ

Spending time on his own, Edwin wanders around London Zoo.

These look like the same bird cages. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Leaving the zoo, the young man returns to his antique shop. London Zoo in Regent's Park NW1.

During a break from the shop, Edwin makes his way along the alley outside his shop where he speaks with two young women. Camden Passage in Islington, London N1.

The view across Camden Passage now by Tris.

  • 'Now' required

Delivering a chandelier to a customer, Edwin arrives outside a high rise block where, in an upper floor apartment, Helga Rogers is in bed with her lover. Flat hunting, or should it be apartment hunting Dave W found Porchester Place, London W2 as seen from one of the well-appointed apartments of Park West. (RL)

While Edwin walks towards the entrance of the building, Helga's husband Charles returns home upstairs. Hyde Park Crescent in W2 with St. John’s church in the background.

South outside Castleacre. SJ

A Man looks up as Helga's Lover falls from bedroom window. Hyde Park Crescent with the eastern end of Somers Crescent on the left.

Greener, slightly, now. SJ

Cars collide and a Cyclist falls from his bike as the naked man falls onto Edwin and the chandelier. Hyde Park Crescent with Southwick Street to the extreme right.

Nice sharper signs. SJ

Passers by run to the scene to find a mutilated Edwin lying beneath the dead Lover. Hyde Park Crescent W2 with Castleacre standing in the right background.

Also seen in "The Internecine Project." SJ

An ambulance carries the unconscious Edwin and the Lover's body to the Bowchester Royal Hospital where Professor Whitbread is waiting.

A quieter moment on the same street. (PW)

Whilst under anesthetic, Edwin remembers the day he sold the chandelier and how his wife Hazel was whisked away by television director James Vaile. Looking south-west on Islington High Street N1.

From street level, Tris provides this comparison.

Following a successful procedure, Professor Whitbread is driven to Soho in search of a young woman to test his workmanship. Identified by Richard Lovejoy, this is looking north on Greek Street towards the east side of Soho Square in W1.

Taken by PW, this is also looking north with suitably placed vans as substitutes for the cars.

The surgeon's Daimler draws up outside a strip club. Greek Street, London W1 located by Richard who adds that the House of St. Barnabas stands to the left and what was the Gay Hussar Restaurant is on the right.

Not a very gay sight at the moment. (PW)

Professor Emmanuel Whitbread (Denholm Elliott) is greeted by the club's Doorman as he steps out of the car with Miss Elder (Tracey Crisp). Facing south on Greek Street recognised by Richard.

Taken from almost the same spot. (PW)

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The Professor holds a press conference outside the hospital. The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, which was opened in July 1963 and demolished in 2016. (SR)

After the conference, journalists head away to report their stories while stripper Rita La Rousse (Antonia Ellis) heads to a pub to meet her Mother. Sussex Place looking along Stanhope Terrace, London W2 located by Richard Lovejoy.

Looking west. SJ

Rita approaches the pub inside which she is approached by Arthur Purdey, a reporter. Richard pans with the camera and identifies Sussex Place in W2.

Panning left straight into the sun. SJ

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A queue of hopeful transplant volunteers arrive as Edwin is driven away from Bowchester Royal. The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, which was replaced by the New QEII Hospital in 2015. (SR)

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The volunteers are helped into the Transplant Wing of the hospital. Another view of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in WGC. (SR)

Miss Elder calls from the Daimler as Edwin jumps out whilst being driven to the country for two weeks recuperation. Great Cumberland Place, London W1 looking towards Marble Arch with the central gates closed. (RL)

Marble Arch is currently undergoing work but I'm guessing the gates are closed behind the screen. SJ

With the headlines catching his eye, Edwin buys a newspaper to read his story. The corner of Oxford Street, W1 looking north along Great Cumberland Place. (RL)

The corner is occupied by a Pret. SJ

The unknown celebrity makes his way back to the antique shop. Camden Passage in London N1.

The same doorway to the right and a similar reflection of nos. 9 & 11 Camden Passage in the glass window of no.5, home to Caudalie Boutique. SJ

Looking along Islington High Street from Camden Passage.

Taken by Tris, the view across Islington High Street with the former Duke of Sussex public house at centre, now Frederick's restaurant.

Climbing the stairs to the flat above the shop, Edwin finds that Hazel has taken everything. Camden Passage also features in ‘Interlude’.

The refronted façade of 116 Islington High Street, along with 118, is now occupied by Cotswolds Outdoors, just south of Camden Passage. SJ

Edwin returns to the zoo where he's insulted by a gorilla before he phones Sister Flanagan at the hospital to find out who the donor was.

Indeed this is a "fudged" shot used also for "Arabesque" showing the building of similar architecture opposite where once the Monkey House was. SJ

Carrying a list of deaths that occurred on the day that Edwin was brought into hospital, Sister Kathleen Flanagan (Pauline Delaney) arrives at the British Museum to meet the former patient. The forecourt of The British Museum on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury WC1.

The forecourt is car-free now. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Starting at the top of the list, Edwin visits a shop to speak with Maggie Hyde, wife of the deceased Ernie.

Edwin drives to find the next possibility. This is St. Peter’s Grove W6.

Advert-free wall now. SJ

Spotting someone to ask, Edwin jumps out of the Moke. Looking north on St. Peter’s Grove with Standish House under construction in the right background.

Standish House appears further away without lens trickery. SJ

Mrs. Hedges (Rita Webb) directs Edwin to where Mrs Dorset van be found. Outside 39 St. Peter’s Grove in Hammersmith.

The doorways have been extended out and the front gardens have gone. SJ

Edwin walks towards a school playground. Facing St. Peter’s Road from St. Peter’s Grove in London W6.

Looking south. SJ

Asking one of the adults in the playground, Edwin discovers that Mrs. Dorset is a black woman. Looking through the playground of St. Peter’s School in Hammersmith with The Cross Keys public house on Black Lion Lane in the left background. The school and the pub also feature in 'Not Tonight, Darling'.

It may not have been called St. Peter’s School at the time of filming, but certainly isn't now and the playground has been cut down with a new room. SJ

Next, Edwin drives to an antique shop where he believes he can find out more about Herbert Ross. This is Charlton Place seen from the corner of Camden Passage in N1.

Tris explains that this vacant plot is where the pawnbroker's once stood in 'The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp'.

The camera pans with the Mini Mike. Facing south-west at the junction of Charlton Place and Camden Passage. The crossroads can be seen in 'Arthur? Arthur!' and 'The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp'.

Little has changed in Tris's shot.

  • 'Now' required

Inside the shop, Edwin discovers from the owner that Herbert Ross was not a ladies man. This has the feel of a studio set.

On his way to see Mrs. Gold, Edwin stops when he sees a poster displaying Sister Flanagan advertising for donors. Top right looks like the Water Gardens from Norfolk Crescent, which also appears in a view from above in 'Daylight Robbery'. (SJ)

Looking north onto Norfolk Crescent from Porchester Place. SJ

Discovering that Mr. Gold was Jewish, Edwin heads for Mrs. Warrington address. Facing north on St. Peter’s Square with King Street in the distance.

From the west side of St Peter's Square. SJ

Moira Warrington (Cyd Hayman) is found touching up the paint of the 35 outside her front door. Yes, number 35 St. Peter’s Square W6. Nat Bocking recalls filming taking place and, in another frame, was one of the children lying on the grass behind Hywell Bennett with several of his friends appearing in the background.

35 today. SJ

  • 'Now' required

When asked inside the house by Moira when he tells her who he is, Edwin glances round to see another advertisement for transplant donors.

After Moira confirms that her husband Guy was the donor, a taxi arrives outside Edwin's shop bringing Hazel and James from the airport. Camden Passage in Islington.

Antiques' shops are still a feature as Tris's modern view proves.

Hazel Antony (Janet Key) kisses James Vaile (Patrick Mower) before going inside with her cases, leaving him on the pavement. The corner of Camden Passage and Islington High Street in N1.

Tris captures the scene now from the junction of Islington High Street and Camden Passage.

Working his way through letters from Guy Warrington's girlfriends, Edwin arrives in Piccadilly Circus. This is Piccadilly Circus W1 at the corner of Piccadilly and Regent Street, now Regent Street St. James.

The steps to the underground have swivelled round somewhat. SJ

Edwin wanders towards the Shaftesbury Memorial, or Eros, as it's incorrectly known. Piccadilly Circus with Regent Street to the top left and Glasshouse Street to the top right.

From ground level. SJ

Looking about, Edwin spots the young lady that he's arranged to meet. Below the Shaftesbury Memorial, or Anteros, with Lillywhites at the corner of Piccadilly and Regent Street in the left background.

Couldn't align both the streetlight and Anteros so I went for the former as the memorial was resited in the 1980s.

The quietly spoken Marilyn (Julia Foster) sees Edwin approach. Piccadilly Circus in W1 with Shaftesbury Avenue in the background.

A different road layout. SJ

Marylin is saddened by the news of Guy's demise. Victoria Embankment WC2 with the National Theatre across the Thames in the right background.

From about here. SJ

Finding that they are both 'sort of' married the two begin to get to know each other better. Facing County Hall in SE1 across the River Thames from Victoria Embankment.

This replaces my shot straight into the light taken in the morning about a week ago: I returned in the afternoon for a slightly improved one. Some of the lamps and ornate stands have been removed. This is the furthest south. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Following a drink together, the pair take a cab back to Marylin's flat.

  • 'Now' required

After Charles hammers on the door whilst Edwin is in bed with Helga, the poor victim has a feeling of déjà vu when he climbs out onto the window ledge... This looks like Portsea Place, the northern gated section off Kendal Street, in W2. (SJ)

Edwin returns to Moira to be confronted by Hazel and the press. St. Peter’s Square with the Commodore Theatre at Young’s Corner in the background. The cinema closed in 1963 and continued as a bingo hall until closure in 1981 followed by demolition the following year.

Extraordinary that the Commodore was demolished as its King Street façade was splendid. SJ

Hazel stops off at the hairdressers whilst the cab carrying Edwin continues around the corner. Upper Street in Islington N1.

A utility cover match here found outside Thai Square (347-249 Upper Street). The two businesses to the right tun south to the corner with Camden Passage. SJ

The taxi approaches Edwin's shop. Looking from Camden Passage onto Upper Street with Devon House in the background.

Outside the shop looking towards Upper Street by Tris.

A group of girls surround the cab before it pulls away. The corner of Islington High Street and Camden Passage.

Tris captures the view to the left of the shop.

Wanting to be with her, Edwin meets with Moira. St. Peter’s Square Garden in Hammersmith with Sir William Blake Richmond’s statue of ‘The Greek Runner’ to the left.

In the centre of the garden looking west. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Watched on television news by Edwin and his wife Moira, a plane full of transplant patients arrive from the States to be greeted by Professor Whitbread.