Stormy Crossing (aka Black Tide)

The scene is set behind the credits. A view of East Cliff and The Warren, Folkestone, Kent

This gives way to a closer shot of Dover beach, the hill topped by Dover Castle and the Church of St. Mary in Castro.

The voice over tells us that “It all began here in Dover, England”. Dover Castle, Kent.

Griff Parker (John Ireland) brought his kid brother Danny (Sheldon Lawrence) over for a Channel swim. Dover Bay, Kent

Griff tells us that he trained Danny from the moment he became professional. The background is 'White Cliffs', a home of Noel Coward from 1945 until 1951 when he sold it to Ian Fleming who used the White Cliffs of Dover and the picturesque surrounding region as the setting for the Bond novel 'Moonraker'.

Noel Coward would not have been troubled by “a beach crowded with noisy hoi polloi” today. The reason he sold 'White Cliffs'.

Swimming the Channel was “just another job”. St Margaret’s Bay, Kent.

Rather more cars and rather less rock face now.

The following morning Danny starts his training. “Headquarters of BUTLINS world Channel Swimming Races”. FolkestoneRotundaSwimmingPool now long gone.

Howard found that the trees make a direct comparison picture unobtainable but the gap in the trees did allow an 'almost there’ shot, the junction in front of the pool and the new development is obvious.

As Danny gets his first experience of the cold waters of the Channel he and Griff see Kitty (Joy Webster) and her trainer Bill Harris (Leslie Dwyer) as she prepares for a similar “dip”. St. Margaret's Bay.

The winter tides and wind have raised the level of the sand considerably.

Danny and Griff return to their hotel. Earls Avenue, Folkestone at the junction with Clifton Crescent.

With the progress of years it is perhaps a pity that trees do not obscure the new properties leaving the old to be seen. Howard provides a first class comparison shot nonetheless.

In the morning Danny and Kitty go for a practice swim together. St. Margaret's Bay.

No brave swimmers today.

As Bill and Griff discuss the two swimming the Channel together Shelley Baxter (Maureen Connell), the hotel receptionist, brings them breakfast. St. Margaret's Bay.

We had to buy our own breakfast but the bacon baps are highly recommended.

Danny and Kitty leave the water having had the obligatory kiss. Howard advises that this is the beach at Dover, the cliffs giving the game away.

Howard provides us with a comparison shot of the beach at Dover showing the port in much busier times. What was a stroke of luck for him, was that the water was the actual water that was used in the film and in the same position!

Kitty hurries to catch a train. Dover Priory Station.

The station has changed little, the gates and surround are the same, and Howard found that holes in the wall where the tie display case has been removed can still be seen. The 'Way Out' sign remains in the same place.

The nearest train door is conveniently open.

With no trains in the station Howard was able to capture the tunnel at the end of the platform more clearly.

She arrives at Charing Cross Station, London.

Extended pavement and bollards. SJ

Where she gets a taxi to take her to see her employer and sponsor Paul Seymour (Derek Bond). Dave W confounded himself for a time and then came up with 2 Jones Street, London W1 looking across to Grosvenor Hill.

Looking north across Bourdon Street. A building has been added to the right on Grosvenor Hill. SJ

Having returned, the following morning Kitty and Danny meet at the swimming pool once again. The pool has long gone but the background properties of Marine Crescent remain.

Those red barriers and more prevented Howard Baker from achieving the exact angle. (RL)

That evening the swim takes place but Kitty is missing after severe fog disrupts the “race” and Griff returns to the hotel. Earls Avenue, Folkestone at the junction with Clifton Crescent.

Howard apologises for the pole.........but that's progress! (RL)

Inspector Parry (John Horsley), having interviewed Danny at the hotel returns to the police station. The scene has a studio premises feel about it and Antony Blair recognised Southall Studios on Gladstone Road, Southall in Middlesex.

And this is Antony's comparison showing that the same brick structure remains.

Following the inquest Bill leaves the Coroners Court . . . . Southall Studios on Gladstone Road in Southall identified by Antony Blair.

As there's little left to indicate that the site was ever a film studio, Antony provides this shot of the location as it appears now.

. . . . followed by Danny, Shelley and Griff. “Death by Misadventure” but Danny is not happy with that. Antony Blair located this as Southall Studios on Gladstone Road, Southall. Parts of the studios also feature in 'Miss Robin Hood', 'Date with Disaster' and 'Escape by Night'.

Again, Antony took a general view of the former studio site.

Another day dawns, Danny having expressed his doubts to both Griff and Paul Seymour, splits with the former and is offered sponsorship by the latter. An overview of Folkestone town with the tower of Holy Trinity Church, Sandgate Road prominent.

Danny leaves the hotel to go for his swim. Earls Avenue, Folkestone in Kent at the junction with Clifton Crescent.

Thanks Howard, at least some of those 'classical' buildings remain. (RL)

Paul Seymour sits and watches from his A90 Atlantic. Looking out to sea from Earls Avenue with the now re-developed end property of Clifton Crescent.

Howard captures the redevelopment and the trees that have grown up. (RL)

Danny arrives at the beach. St Margaret's Bay looking eastward towards 'White Cliffs'.

Meanwhile Paul parks to get to his motor launch. The Stade, Folkestone.

Howard reveals that the cobbles remain. (RL)

He descends the stairs. Included for historic purposes as they have long gone.

Howard proves the demise of the stairs. (RL)

He unties the boat and starts the engine to set off and kill Danny.

This shot from Howard shows the changes since the loss of the staircase access. (RL)

Griff starts to think that Danny is right and goes to the beach with Shelley, where, hearing a motor boat in the apparent fog, happens to find a convenient boat that is not in the fog. St. Margaret's Bay.

A repeat comparison from earlier.

Danny now goes missing and Griff wants to know from where Paul made the phone call about his “troubled” car and being unable to be at the start of the race. He checks all garages along the route. Antony Blair locates this as the forecourt of premises on Park Avenue in Southall, Middlesex with the roof of Southall railway station in the left distance and Southall Sisterhood Hall at the corner of Villiers Road in the right background.

The garage adjacent to number 35 remains as an MOT station but Antony took this view closer to the junction of Villiers Road due to access reasons.

On to the next. With thanks to Ted Holdford on 'Ivers and Langley Community & Memories' Facebook who remembers 'Bakers Garage' that was situated in High Street in Iver, approximately where the Iver Village Hall is now.

And the next. “Weatherleys Garage was where 'Motor Max Iver' is now, 26 Langley Park Road, Iver in Buckinghamshire.

Antony Blair returned to the scene 67 years later to find that the garage is now a car sales lot.

What was Denham Garage, Village Road in Denham, Buckinghamshire now just a house. The property to the right, however, survives. Again thanks to Ted Holdford.

The garage has long since ceased trading but Miss Marple's Cottage remains standing in the right background of Antony Blair's view.

A better view of the house and the bridge over the River Misbourne. This section of Village Road is also featured in ‘Don't Take It to Heart’, ‘Too Many Crooks’, 'Deadlock', ‘Man in the Moon’, 'Dark Places', 'Vice Versa', 'Murder at the Gallop' and ‘Murder, She Said’.

Antony Blair captures the location now.

Now this one is more helpful to Griff. With thanks to Peter Adams for bringing to my attention that there are two Amersham Road's, in fact with the passage of time, this is now Old Amersham Road, Denham at the junction with the A40. The garage remains, but now substantially larger, a Volvo dealership and MOT Test Centre.

Antony Blair took this view of the background properties.

He approaches the entrance. Peter Adams found the building on Amersham Road in Denham while Peter Brown adds that the Jeep was registered in County Mayo, Ireland before October 1954.

The dealership that now occupies the site captured by Antony Blair.

Paul speeds away from the hotel abducting Shelley. That could be Folkestone harbour in the murky background.

Whilst Griff makes his way back. Train stop blocks and wagons can be seen to the right. The railway sidings have, of course, long gone and the land redeveloped but 35 and 37 Park Avenue, Southall, left background still stand.

Antony Blair faced Park Avenue from the former railway sidings which is now the site of industrial units, pointing out that an additional house now fills the gap between the semi detached properties and the terrace.

To find himself at the steps to Paul’s power boat mooring.

By chance, Paul together with Shelley is also making his way there but Griff gets to Paul just before the police. Numbers 35 and 37 Park Avenue in Southall, Middlesex, stand in the background. The road and the railway yard can also be seen in 'Account Rendered'.

Taken by Antony Blair from a similar position 62 years later.

Shelley and Griff leave Danny recovering in hospital with a pretty nurse…

…..just before ‘THE END’.