Two Left Feet

These escalators, leading up from the platforms of a London Underground station, set the scene as the credits start to roll.

The main character, Alan Crabbe (Michael Crawford), arrives by train.

With the credits still rolling, Alan leaves the tube station and emerges in Piccadilly Circus . . . .

About here at the top of Lower Regent Street. SJ

. . . . as evidenced when the camera moves to bring the statue of Eros in its original position at the centre of the London landmark.

And now the statue has shifted to the right. SJ

The story follows Alan with the credits still rolling.

Looking towards Cranbourn Street from Leicester Square. SJ

Alan's youthfulness shows as he glances at a young woman.

The east side of Leicester Square and the Odeon still thrives. SJ

Camera and credits follow as Alan continues along this street. Dave W finds himself in Soho, vaguely remembering 'Pricerite', hhmm . . . OK Dave, we will, however, accept that you tell us it is Berwick Street from Peter Street, London W1. (RL)

Changes are apparent in this Covid cleared view on the morning of Christmas Eve 2020. (PW)

Alan pauses to look into the window of a shop selling adult magazines.

Walking down this road, Alan's eyes widen at some of the posters for risqué shows. Dave's eyes however are focused on the fact that he is in our old friend Meard Street, London W1 looking towards Dean Street and W Paxton, music publishers at 36 37 38. Sadly the building has been replaced in recent years. The street appears in many productions including 'King of the Underworld', 'Last Night in Soho', 'Saturday Night Out', 'Two Left Feet', 'All You Need Is Cash', 'The Hippopotamus, 'Man at the Carlton Tower', 'Danger by My Side', 'The Six Men', 'The Teckman Mystery' and 'Don't Open till Christmas'. (RL)

As if Alan's eyes weren't wide enough, he cannot believe what he is seeing in this street. Dave takes a much more factual view as to what he is seeing, Moor Street looking towards Old Compton St and the Casino Cinema, now the resting Prince Edward. (RL)

With the credits over, Alan chats to Ted (Neil McCarthy) at the removal company where they work. Ron and Ray Glenister have this as fronting what was Goswell Place looking towards Peascod Street, Windsor. (RL)

Led by Bill (David Lodge), the guys from the removal firm head for the local café for breakfast. The café here Ron and Ray have identified as being at the junction of Goswell Road and Bridgewater Road, Windsor looking across to the location of the above Capture. Ray and Ron pick up on the point that 'Joe's Café' (a set) was built on the spare ground to the right of the car seen in 'Carry on Cabbie' (C23). (RL)

Out on the job, Alan and a Colleague carry a piece of furniture into a house. Ron and Ray identify Oxford Road, Windsor also seen in 'On The Beat' (C44), here, using No 102. (RL)

Eileen (Nyree Dawn Porter) meets Alan for a date at the rear of her house. The front of the house Ray and Ron say is in Bridgewater Terrace.

Maggi Randall painstakingly matched the bricks to the scene in the movie, whilst Steve Randall took the photo. (RE)

The pair make their way from the house towards these railway arches. This arch Ron and Ray tell us is the Bridgewater Road, tunnel. (RL)

All arches can look the same, but attention to detail by Steve and Maggi Randall notice that the drain pipe on the right is an exact match to that in the scene from the movie. (RE)

Eileen and Alan arrive at The Florida Club, a mutually decided place for their date. Here, Ron is 'guessing' (no, that is not like him but it is hard to be certain) that this is also the Bridgewater Road tunnel as it is quite cavernous. (RL)

Ted and Alan arrive at Beth's house. Outside numbers 2 and 4 Queen's Road in Twickenham, Greater London identified by Ivan from Staines.

61 years after filming, nothing much has changed, except the background buildings and the addition of double yellow lines. (SR)

Having collected Beth, along with her bits and pieces, they drive off. Living in the area in the 1990s, Ivan from Staines recognised Queen's Road, Twickenham, still in Middlesex when filming took place during 1963.

Number 4 has recently been sold. (SR)

Feeling rejected, Alan leaves Eileen's home. As Capture 14 identified by Ron and Ray the rear of Bridgewater Terrace, Windsor. (RL)

Steve and Maggi Randall took this caputure at the rear of Bridgewater Terrace. (RE)

Whilst out on a job Ted and Alan decide to turn off the main road. In the left background stands the Paripan paint works which makes this Windsor Road in Egham, Surrey. (PW)

Nick Boorman returned to the location and advises that the Paripan works disappeared years ago and adds "The current building, hidden by trees, was built in the 80s. The premises were originally a Citroen warehouse before being purchased by Runnymede Council."

. . . and call at a café for a break. Although the paint works were closed and demolished in the early 70s, the café's premises survive on Windsor Road in Egham. (PW)

Keeping off the carriageway, Nick Boorman took this shot where the same wall remains standing.

Back at Beth's home, Ted and Alan unload the van. Ivan from Staines locates this as Queen's Road, Twickenham in Greater London with the rear of the Albany public house in the left of centre background and the railway substation on the far side of the railway to the left.

Having just had a hair cut, Alan looks at his reflection in the window of the barbers to admire himself. Ray Glenister recognises this as looking south across Bishops Bridge Road down Queensway, London W2 with 'Whiteleys' on the right. (RL)

View from outside the window. SJ

Alan walks to Whiteleys department store where Beth works. This is Whiteleys in Bayswater with this entrance at the corner of Queensway and Porchester Gardens W2. Other views of Whiteleys appear in 'What Every Woman Wants', 'Passport to Shame', 'Connecting Rooms' and 'Park Plaza 605'.

The conversion of the old Whiteleys is finally complete. SJ

Arriving at a railway station, Alan prepares to meet Beth for a date.

After getting on a train, Alan and Beth arrive at their destination and, with other fans, rush to board a waiting bus that will take them to the opening of a new Riverside Jazz Club. This is Windsor & Eton station as is evidenced by the railway totem sign. Windsor in Berkshire.

The couple walk down the steps to the river at the Riverside Jazz Club. Di Davies has identified this as Monkey Island Estate, Monkey Island, Bray, Berks. Whilst the mooring and steps remain almost identical the premises have otherwise undergone a substantial 'make over'. (RL)

Monkey Island Estate, a hotel in Maidenhead has had a face lift, but many elements of the original scene from the movie are evident. Thanks to Steve and Maggi Randall. (RE)

Outside the club, Alan and Beth (Julia Foster) are approached by Brian (David Hemmings). Monkey Island Estate, Monkey Island, Bray, Berks. See above Capture. (RL)

Alan and Beth share another date aboard a boat. This is Regent's Park boating lake in London NW1.

Looking east. SJ

Preparing to jump ashore, Alan gets ready to secure the boat. The bridge in the background gives away this location as Regents Park.

The bank of the lake is behind railings and very "wilded," so, short of hiring a boat on the lake, this shot of the Long Bridge may have to suffice. Also seen in "Brief Encounter" (1945). SJ

Alan and Beth are invited to Brian's wedding in 'Sidcup'. In this shot, they have just alighted from a bus and make their way to the wedding. Ron and Ray Glenister have dispelled my personal misery here and identified the pathway that runs between Edwards Square (now Bridgewater Way) and Peascod Street, Windsor with the 'Duke of Cambridge' pub to the right. The alternative view was seen in 'On the Beat'. (RL)

Phil Richards send this comparative shot revealing the many changes that have occurred, particularly the loss of the porch/canopy to the saloon entrance to the late 'Duke of Cambridge' pub. (RL)

The two stand, off camera, and watch the Bride arrive at the church. This is Holy Trinity church on Trinity Place, Windsor in Berkshire which also makes an appearance in 'Carry On Cabby', 'Penny Gold', 'A Pair of Briefs' and 'One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing'.

Holy Trinity church on Trinity Place, Windsor, little has changed, just the addition of a car park. Thanks to Steve and Maggi Randall. (RE)

Following other Guests, Alan and Beth arrive back at the Bride's Father's house for the reception. Another location established by Ron and Ray Chandos Road, Egham, Surrey, looking they say that the wedding party are entering No 24. (RL)

Alan decides to head back to the park to a special tree he saw. This is the bridge in Regents Park, London NW1.

It was quite tricky to make a firm decision which way I should be looking: I opted for north-west with the Inner Circle behind me. SJ

Catching the bus from the park, Alan watches carefully as he crosses the road. Forget the London bus, Ron and Ray point out that the 'Noak's Ark' pub that was on the corner of Goswell Road and Arthur Road, Windsor can also be seen in 'Carry on Cabbie' (C23). (RL)

Having just had another hair cut, Alan decides to head to the department store to see Beth. Another from Ray, corner of Bishops Bridge Road and Queensway with the beautiful wrought iron work of the still existing Victorian toilets. The 'Hairdressers' shop window on the corner is now Nisbets Catering Equipment, part of the tasteful QUEENS development incorporating the old cinema. (RL)

This wing of the Art Deco fronted cinema on the corner was converted in the early 2010s. Now Leyland SDM, a tool shop chain, 96-98 Bishop's Bridge Road. The loos can also be seen in 'Bellman & True'. SJ

At the rear of the department store, the staff are leaving work.

Most of Whiteley's apart from its front on Queensway was razed in 2019 and rebuilding is now nearly completed, which means being able to gain access to Redan Place once again. This is roughly what Alan would now be seeing. But even what was demolished was not the original building but a late 80s version so this is the third incarnation. SJ

Hoping to see Beth, Alan waits against the wall opposite the back entrance of the store. This could be Redan Place, London W2 at the rear of Whiteleys department store, near the Porchester Gardens end.

No could about it. Today Alan would be looking at a building site as the rear has been demolished. SJ

Alan and Beth walk off hand in hand as the movie closes. This view is just along from where Alan had been waiting.

Confirmed as Redan Place looking south towards Porchester Gardens. SJ