Keep It Clean

Scenes of a busy London fill the screen as the film gets under way. The 36a bus was a giveaway to Dave W who, for mysterious reasons, the 1956 version of this junction is permanently stamped on his memory. The bus he says is about to turn right into Park Lane W1 having passed the Marble Arch Odeon. LMA Collage 103037 has a reverse point of view showing the distinctive street lamp design, he adds in support. (RL)

On the right is the replacement for the splendid and mourned Odeon Marble Arch. SJ

Annoyingly, the locations in the montage are obscured by vehicles or people. Dave W can see through buses and tells us that in 1956 Park Lane W1 was a modest two-way street. Looking at what is now the Marriot Hotel with its Oxford Street corner just out of shot to the left. (RL)

No guarantees that I've captured exactly the same doorway. SJ

A bicycle also gets in the way. Dave continues on a roll, a pan to the right from Capture 2. Several optimistic legs are attempting to cross Park Lane from Marble Arch. And Dave asks, is our cyclist wearing two pairs of bicycle clips? (RL)

A similar pan and a rare break in the traffic. SJ

Driven by his brother-in-law, a car comes into view carrying advertising executive Bert Lane towards the Dynamic Publicity. This is The Ring adjacent to Park Lane in W1 with the two lodges of Stanhope Gate to the left. One of the lodges is also seen in 'Spring in Park Lane', 'Maytime in Mayfair' and 'This Happy Breed'.

People go about their business in the City. Lombard Street EC3 at the junction with St. Swithin’s Lane EC4 with the corner of George Street, now an extended Mansion House Place, just above centre. The scene is borrowed from 'Mantrap'.

A ground level view of the same corner. (PW)

Running an hour late for work, Bert Lane (Ronald Shiner) explains a new idea to his sister Kitty, the Marchioness of Hurlingford (Diane Hart) as her husband Peter, the Marquess of Hurlingford (Colin Gordon), keeps an eye on the road. Dave W tells us that "the road" is Grosvenor Square looking towards South Audley Street. (RL)

Not the weather for an open top car but Dave W didn't have a vehicle of any description when taking this view on the south side of Grosvenor Square. A lookout was provided so that road safety was not compromised. (RL)

Bert remarks “That’s a funny place to have a bath” as he looks over at window cleaner Hector Tarbottom who has been knocked into his bucket by Peter’s reversing maneuver. Chapel Place South off South Audley Street W1.

A enlarged gateway now stands at the end of the short street. (PW)

Borrowing Mr. Bouncenboy’s Rolls Royce, Bert drives away to meet with Mrs. Anstey to discuss her advertising account. Looking from Chapel Place South onto South Audley Street in Mayfair with Aldford Street to the top right. South Audley Street appears in a number of films including ‘Follow Me’, ‘Bullseye!’, ‘Morgan, a Suitable Case for Treatment’, ‘Stage Fright’, ‘The Grass is Greener’, ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’, ‘A Touch of the Sun’ and ‘A Severed Head’.

A ground level view of the same scene. (PW)

Bert parks up outside Elegance Ltd., the costume hire shop where he obtains suitable attire for his meeting with the crumpet business owner. Dave W places this as Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1, Circa No 28, looking east. (RL)

White van syndrome frustratingly prevented a matching angle but Dave W is reasonably satisfied with the result in Upper Grosvenor Street. (RL)

The Rolls Royce draws up outside the mansions where Mrs. Anstey lives with her niece Pat. Making the most of self-isolation Dave W used his time to find Manor Fields, London SW15. Here, the car is outside Balliol House with the more modern concrete and glass block in the distance now known as Ark Putney Academy. (RL)

A bit of scaffolding and tree growth have obscured the view somewhat, but the lamppost is still leaning a little. The Ark Putney Academy was also seen form the other side in "Love Actually". SJ

James the chauffeur opens the car door as, after a successful meeting with her aunt, Bert drops Pat Anstey (Ursula Howells) off on the way to the west end. Dave W tells us that this shows the distinctive facade of Nazareth House, Hammersmith Road W6. Behind it the towers of the former St Paul's School buildings. (RL)

The red-bricked Nazareth House on the right. SJ

Bringing parcels of clothing after an on-stage appeal by George Buxton, Postmen arrive outside the theatre where Follie’s Review is playing. Rowan Road in Hammersmith W6 with Hammersmith Road in the left background.

The white building survives alongside its green-shrouded neighbour. SJ

Learning that his Peter’s invention, a vacuum cleaner named ‘The Demon’, is about to be repossessed, Bert runs back to the workshop in the basement beneath the advertising agency. Facing the pillars of T. Goode & Sons premises at the corner of Chapel Place South and South Audley Street in Mayfair W1.

There's more greenery now. (PW)

James brings the Rolls Royce to a stand after driving Mr. Bouncenboy from home. Facing Grosvenor Chapel on Chapel Place South.

A less salubrious vehicle stands in shot. (PW)

Mr. Bouncenboy (James Hayter) is caught up in the commotion as ‘The Demon’ is thrown about in the street. Chapel Place South off South Audley Street.

Taken from the safety of street level. (PW)

Escaping with ‘The Demon’, Bert runs to the back of the offices of Dynamic Publicity. Dave W has located this as a concrete parking area (with attendant hut) on Marylebone Lane, London W1 facing the Police Station that also appears in 'The Big Sleep'. (RL)

With the car park now built on Paul Lincoln did well to achieve foreground depth and provide us with what has replaced the Police Station. As he says, with everything built on the two following captures will, likely, always remain a mystery. (RL)

Bert carries Peter's invention towards the building’s fire escape. A rather distinctive lamp post stands to the left. See Capture 16. (RL)

Climbing the fire escape stairs, Bert reaches Mr. Bouncenboy’s office where he begins to clean the windows to impress his boss. Another of the flat lamp posts pierces the roof of what appears to be a makeshift coal shed. See Capture 16. (RL)

Returning to the costumiers, Bert prepares himself for another meeting with Mrs. Anstey. Another from Dave W, the side of Grosvenor House on Upper Grosvenor Street W1. In the distance are the trees of Grosvenor Square in case there was any doubt about the historical ownership of Mayfair land. This is a similar camera position to capture 9. (RL)

No room for doubt in this shot from Dave W which includes the satisfaction of a unchanged pavement inspection cover plate. (RL)

Prompted by Mrs. Anstey (Jean Cadell), Bert carries the Purity League’s banner alongside General Ponsonby-Goreham (Roger Maxwell). The corner of Hammersmith Road and Rowan Road in W6 with The King's Theatre to the right.

The buildings on the west of Rowan Road survive. SJ

Mrs. Anstey leads her protestors into the theatre where they disrupt the performance and end up in court. Outside The King’s Theatre on Hammersmith Road. The theatre was closed and demolished in 1963.

A match in the middle looking west. SJ

Pat and her aunt return from court to find their domestics Gregson (Albert Whelan) and Bridget (Pauline Winter) leaving to find reputable employment after reading the newspapers. Facing Balliol House, Manor Fields, London SW15 Dave W tells us. (RL)

There are three entrances to Balliol House on the south side but this looks the most promising. SJ

In order to get Mrs. Anstey to invest in Peter’s vacuum cleaner, Bert disguises himself as a window cleaner and heads for her apartment. Ray Glenister places this as Brook Green, London W6. (RL)

Replacing Ray's Google Earth View from Feb 2020. SJ

Bert parks the tricycle and carries his ladder and 'The Demon' towards the building. Back to Manor Fields and outside Balliol House, thanks to Dave W. The next block along the road is Selwyn House. (RL)

Again no sign of Selwyn House with those trees in the way. SJ

Window cleaner Hector Tarbottom arrives on the street to start work. Dave found that some minor location trickery took place here. Although Mrs Anstey lives in Balliol House this approach shot is taken outside Somerville House, Manor Fields. (RL)

Not quite the best angle here and needs improvement. SJ

Seeing a competitor cleaning ‘his’ windows, Hector runs to the bottom of the Bert’s ladder. Balliol House again. All of the blocks in Manor Fields are named after Oxford and Cambridge colleges Dave established. (RL)

Free from ivy. SJ

Following an altercation with Mrs. Anstey in her bathroom after Bert suggests using ‘The Demon’, Hector runs from the scene to report her to the police. Dave found further trickery here as Herbert should be dashing away from Balliol House but he is outside Somerville House running towards Balliol. The shadow angles give useful clues to this camerawork deception. (RL)

I couldn't quite get the lamppost on the left of the capture but managed to capture its shadow. SJ

Bert and Peter make their way to see Tarbottom in an effort to get the charges against Mrs. Anstey withdrawn. Colvin Street W6, looking towards Glenthorne Road.

With construction of Sovereign Court continuing, this is looking across Glenthorne Road towards the distant trees seen in the screen capture. (PW)

Outside his front door, boxing blue Peter hits Tarbottom’s lodger Slogger O'Reilly (Denis Shaw) at the request of the window cleaner. These properties appear to stand on Colvin Street . . .

. . . and this is what the entrance to Colvin Street on Glenthorne Road currently looks like. (PW)

Hector attempts to escape from Slogger as the wrestler gives chase. Colvin Street off Glenthorne Road in Hammersmith. The site was cleared in the 60s and a multi-storey car park was built on the site, which in turn was demolished in 2016 to make way for a residential development.

With Slogger knocked out by Peter, Tarbottom agrees to drop his charges. Colvin Street in London W6 with the District Line’s eastbound track crossing the background in front of the disused viaduct that once carried the railway that joined the Hammersmith & City Line north of Hammersmith (H&C) station.

Pleased that they've avoided the arrest of Mrs. Anstey, Peter drives Bert back to Dynamic Publicity. Despite the fact that they do not appear to be going the best way to Mayfair it doesn't throw Dave W off the scent. Outside 94 North End Road W14 looking north beyond the bridge over the District Line towards the curved frontage of West Kensington Court he says. (RL)

Yes this matches up well though perhaps I should've ventured into the middle of the road. SJ

Borrowing Mr. Bouncenboy's Rolls yet again, Bert and Peter set of to the Follie's Review theatre. Chapel Place South off South Audley Street W1.

From a similar position. (PW)

At the theatre, Pat tells the pair that her aunt has already gone inside to confront George about the frilly underwear that was sent to the Purity League. The side of The King’s Theatre on Rowan Road W6.

This is the building which replaced the building which replaced the theatre. SJ

While Bert enters the theatre to find Mrs. Anstey, Pat and Peter wait for Kitty to arrive. Facing south on Rowan Road in Hammersmith with the long lost Rose & Crown public house in the left background. The location is seen in 'The Gilded Cage', ‘Charley Moon’ and ‘The Dark Man’.

The houses on the west side of Rowan Road are still there. SJ