Rough and the Smooth, The (aka Portrait of a Sinner)

Date: 1959
Director: Robert Siodmak
Production Company: George Minter Productions

Stars: Nadja Tiller, Tony Britton, William Bendix, Natasha Parry, Norman Wooland, Donald Wolfit, Tony Wright, Adrienne Corri, Joyce Carey, John Welsh, Martin Miller, Michael Ward, Edward Chapman
Location(s): London, Elstree

Region(s):

Storyline:

An archaeologist forsakes his fiancée for a passionate affair with a beautiful young German woman, but Ila has more than love on her mind….

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Richard Lovejoy

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

Being unable to find an available taxi Mike Thompson (Tony Britton) manages to share one with Ila Hansen (Nadja Tiller) from outside a pub.

  • Capture 2
  • 05 May 2021
13 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1 Circa 1959

They arrive at Mike’s house, the films ‘7 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1’ but in reality it would appear to be No 13, “but only the ground floor flat”.

A parked car was in the way of a more felicitous angle of No.13. SJ

  • Capture 3
  • 14 Sep 2023
Fleet Street, London EC4 Circa 1959

Mike and his work colleague David Fraser (Norman Wooland) are “summoned’ to meet with the uncle, Lord Drewell (Donald Wolfit), of his new fiancée, Margaret Goreham (Natasha Parry). Fleet Street, London EC4. The street is seen in many other productions including ‘The Day the Earth Caught Fire’, ‘Strange Bedfellows’, 'Children of Men', ‘Front Page Story’, ‘Defence of the Realm’, ‘Sea Wife’, ‘The Third Visitor’ and ‘A Run for Your Money’.

Recent demolition has created a temporary gap on the south side of the street. SJ

  • Capture 4
  • 29 Jul 2020
164 Fleet Street, London EC4 Circa 1959

We focus on Lord Drewell’s newspaper offices where he offers to sponsor an archaeological expedition for Mike and David. 164 Fleet Street, London EC4

A replacement facade. (PW)

  • Capture 5
  • 05 May 2021
118 Eaton Square, London SW1 Circa 1959

Having met up with Ila again, his evening is interrupted by an unexpected visit from his fiancée who hurriedly departs when he tells her that he needs time to think about their relationship. 118 Eaton Square, London SW1 in the background.

A window rearrangement to the left. SJ

  • Capture 6
  • 'Now' required

The following morning he looks out of his laboratory window to see Ila in the street below sends David down to tell her that he never wants to see her again. Likely to be a back projection from that angle but Imperial Institute on Imperial Institute Road, London SW7 also appeared in 'Three Cases of Murder', 'Raising a Riot', 'Against the Wind' and others.

  • Capture 7
  • 28 Jul 2020
The Edgwarebury Hotel, Barnet Lane, Elstree Circa 1959

Ila agrees to spend a couple of days away with Mike. The Edgwarebury Hotel, Barnet Lane, Elstree now know as 'The Manor Elstree'. Also seen in ‘School for Scoundrels’, ‘The Devil Rides Out’, ‘Spider’s Web’, ‘Never Too Young to Rock’, ‘Stardust’, 'Sons of the Sea', ‘Stranger from Venus’, ‘My Lover My Son’, 'The Liquidator’, ‘A Woman Possessed’, ‘So Evil, So Young’, ‘Mosquito Squadron’, 'Man Accused', ‘Night Must Fall’ and many others as well as episodes of 'The Avengers' and 'Randall and Hopkirk Deceased'.

The entrance as seen in 2012. SJ

  • Capture 8
  • 28 Jul 2020
The Edgwarebury Hotel, Barnet Lane, Elstree Circa 1959

The vital ‘wedding ring’ as they are booked in as Mr and Mrs Grange.

Off-angle but this is the window arrangement seen behind them. SJ

  • Capture 9
  • 'Now' required

Ila goes to see her lover Jack (Tony Wright) who needs £1500. A quayside somewhere. Christopher Matheson tells us that this is Tidal Basin Road off Silvertown Way, London E16 looking towards Royal Victoria Dock similarly seen in 'The Leather Boys' and 'Law and Disorder' (1958). (RL)

  • Capture 10
  • 'Now' required

A further capture that may help with the location. Tidal Basin Road off Silvertown Way, London E16 identified by Christopher Matheson who also highlights the fact that Ila is going down the steps that lead to the pub in 'The Leather Boys'. (RL)

  • Capture 11
  • 05 May 2021
Looking north along Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1 Circa 1959

Having finally been rejected by all the men in her life that she has used and abused, including Mike, Ila walks off into the night. Looking north along Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1

Not sure what that black mark is on the left! The battery died soon after so maybe a re-take is in order. SJ