Blow-Up

The film opens with a group of ‘rag week’ students driving off road. Economist Building, St. James’s Street, London SW1. Also seen in 'Life at the Top', 'Sebastian', Endless Night', 'The Jokers' and 'Ill Never Forget What's 'isname".

Deserted. SJ

And touring the plaza.

I think some steps from Bury Street have taken away some of the plaza. SJ

They leave the vehicle and rush into the street amongst the unsuspecting pedestrians. St. James’s Street, London SW1

Very tricky to match the angle and the window on the left has disappeared. SJ

The film suddenly cuts to men leaving the Camberwell Reception Centre, a hostel for down-and–outs, headed here by Thomas (David Hemmings). Consort Road, London SE15, the old Camberwell Work House.

Now.

Spruced up with new building to the left along with easier access. SJ

We see them about to pass under a bridge beside a railway line. Consort Road.

Taken from the locked gate, so the white walls are behind me. SJ

Here they start to go their separate ways. Consort Road.

And here is the locked gate, with little evidence left. Not too long ago the yellow gates weren't yellow and used to say The Spike which was the former nickname of this area. SJ

We cut back to the students in St. James’s Street.

Taken from the junction with Ryder Street. SJ

And then revert to see the men each taking their different directions. Consort Road.

Consort Rd. ~ Chris Dorley-Brown

15 years on and not a lot has changed. SJ

Until we rest with Thomas looking carefully at his surroundings and moving off. Consort Road, SE15

Consort Road. London SE15 ~ Chris Dorley-Brown.

The road sign has been replaced. SJ

Breaking into a trot. Copleland Road, London SE15, with a view of No. 149, South Eastern Metal Co., Ray Simmons.

Photo by Mark Malvee, well done

The Lime bike updates this image. SJ

The students are now in Pall Mall as two nuns exit Marlborough Road, London SW1

The pavement has been extended. SJ

Just as Thomas approaches the gates of Marlborough Road the students pounce on him for a donation.

Few changes here on a corner of St. James's Palace. SJ

Having made his contribution he drives on. Tooley Street SE1 near Garrard & Sons, Marine Salvage, with Hay's Wharf in the left background and the walls of London Bridge station to the right.

Replacing PW's off angle shot, Keith Prested faced eastward on Tooley Street where the road layout and some of the buildings have changed but a traffic bollard stands in roughly the same place.

Then turning into Joiner Street.

Keith Prested found that Joiner Street still runs under the platforms at London Bridge railway station but is no longer open to vehicular traffic, instead it provides pedestrian access to London Bridge underground station.

Thomas arrives at his studio premises. Tony Reeves says 32-35 Pottery Lane, London W11.

Pottery Lane: taken 10 years to fill this one. SJ

Washed dressed and shaved and having fitted in a photo shoot he heads out from the rear of his premises. Taverners Close.

This is as far back as I could manage with a wall behind me. All that survives is the shortened length of brick wall next to the gate leading to Sir Clarendon Road, W11. SJ

A passing word with a young lad behind the gates. Taverners Close.

Looking east from Taverners Close off Addison Avenue. The background rear of houses on Norland Square look encouraging. SJ

After visiting a friend across the yard, he finds two girls waiting for him in his office, he drives off into Walmer Road leaving them behind. The Earl of Zetland at 116 Princedale Road, London W11 at that time in the background. Now closed.

Now. Another Mark Malvee contribution. The "Earl of Zetland", as was. John Wood adds the address as 116 Princedale Road and provides the link to revealing the films connection. http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/london/w11_hollandpark_earlofzetland.html (RL)

I attempted to recreate the similar mild Dutch tilt here. SJ

He turns up the music and happily tours through London. Stockwell Road, Pride and Clarke buildings. Sometimes referred to as ‘Snide and Shark’, motor spares dealers. John Tunstill used to live up the road in Stockwell, "mi bruvver lived dahn the road in Brixton", and Roland Francoise, and Ray Simmons also identified it.

Now. Malvee took the picture. Well done that man.

That building, 140-142 Stockwell Road, hiding behind the tree on the corner of Combermere Road is still there. SJ

Further down Stockwell Road. Interesting that Pride & Clark painted all the properties they owned red.

Now by Mark.

Some changes here beyond Rumsey Road on the left. Pride and Clarke, referred to by JT, were at 143 Stockwell Road on that corner with Rumsey Road, occupying the white painted section of the terrace centre-left. SJ

Passing 754 Woolwich Road, SE 7, now demolished.

Not entirely sure about this one, not the best angle either, but the railing and the low lying sheds in the background would suggest so, as well as RFL's address. SJ.

As he turns the corner, more modern housing in course of construction. Tamar Street, London SE7 (Part of what was to be the Morris Walk Estate now mostly demolished.)

More of Tamar Street as was.

Now. Tamar Street is mostly relegated to a footpath. SJ.

Once more, Tamar Street.

Looking the other way. SJ.

Thomas keeps watching the two he has just passed and who stop at the antique shop that he is about to go to. Near Maryon Park, Tamar Street, that is now Cleveley Close. Included to record the houses on the opposite side of the street.

Is that a remnant of 1968 in the background to the right? SJ.

Thomas parks and gets out of the car…. Tamar Street, that is now Cleveley Close.

……to enter the shop. 33 Tamar Street, that is now Cleveley Close.

With a decidedly unhelpful manager or whatever he was, Thomas leaves. Tamar Street, that is now Cleveley Close.

No evidence here. SJ.

He stares back in amazement. Tamar Street, looking south, that is now Cleveley Close.

None here either. SJ.

Returns to his car, collects his camera and takes some photographs. Tamar Street, now Cleveley Close looking towards the entrance to Maryon Park.

Now. Houses all gone, but trees remain. Thanks Mark, but not really reel streets.

We look back at him from Maryon Park.

Big evidence here. The trees still thrive. SJ.

Ian records the character that those trees have developed over the years.

In the park he first crosses paths with the park keeper.

Vince Chittenden has realised that he has had this shot 'in the can' since 2015 when he went on a bike ride to 'Blow-Up Park' specifically to capture comparative shots.

Then passes the tennis courts.

Vince also captured this shot when he passed the tennis courts in 2015

Before seeing a couple together. Jane (Vanessa Redgrave) and her lover (Ronan O'Casey).

Keith Prested found the spot despite the substantial underground growth. The shelter seen in the screen capture is long gone, but Keith confirms that minor evidence remains to re-assure him that he was in the correct location. (RL)

With a spring in his step he athletically climbs the steps.

Perhaps Ian athletically climbed the steps to arrive at this spot.

Seeing the couple again......

Continuity suggests that Keith Prested is right with his feeling that this view is correct and he adds that a YouTube video of the scene from 2011 shows the tall buildings in the background that have since been demolished.

.......he settles to take some candid shots.

Jane sees him and chases after him.

Keith Prested found that the steps leading up to an area of the park known as Cox's Mount have survived but the fence has not.

She returns to her companion and he returns to the antique shop.

Where he is compelled to buy a propeller and leaves it with the owner who is to arrange delivery. Tamar Street, now Cleveley Close looking towards the entrance to Maryon Park.

With no young lady with a propeller to opt for Ian concentrated on the park entrance.

He drives off back into Central London. West Carriage Drive, Hyde Park towards Victoria Gate. A now foreshortened bend.

The foreshortened bend has not helped to speed up the traffic. Looking towards the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Bayswater Road. SJ

Through Kensington Church Street, W8 with a view of No 36, Bacchus Wine Co.

Now at a straighter angle. SJ

Further into Kensington Church Street.

Now. - Kensington Church Street, London, W8

Before making a sharp turn….. A view of numbers 184/5 Aldersgate Street EC1, John Foster & Co Furnishing Fabrics, located by Roland-François Lack.

A comparison has been a long wait: not surprising as it's almost impossible to replicate without avoiding the wall of the old London Museum. So I've stepped to the left of this changed corner to catch possibly the rear of where 185 Aldersgate would have stood (under the extreme right of the walkway). A little further to the east was also seen in Crossplot cap14. SJ

….into Falcon Street and the commencement of new building in London Wall.

Falcon Street disappeared with the first redevelopment, we are probably on the second or third now.

Whilst in Basinghall Avenue, EC2 he passes Girdlers Hall.

Some parts of the City remain untouched.

He instructs his office to telephone his property agent and tell them to ‘phone the young girl at the antique shop regarding a sale of the business. 55 Basinghall Street in the background right.

55 Basinghall Street in the background right as per the capture.

The agent may not be happy to do so but Thomas meanwhile is in Aldermanbury just about to pass the gardens on the site of St Mary’s Church on the corner with Love Lane.

Rather more bikes in the City these days.

We next see Thomas in Draycott Place, SW3.

Looking north-east. SJ

Before he turns into Blacklands Terrace and pulls up.

Now. Well spotted George Thompson.

Looking south. SJ

Walks across the road to a restaurant to deliver to Ron (Peter Bowles), his writer friend, the photographs that he took at the Camberwell Reception Centre. The corner of Bray Place and Blacklands Terrace.

Now. Picture from George T.

8-9 Blacklands Terrace was refurbished in 2012, and it was "The Five Fields" until the restaurant closed in 2025. SJ

Seeing a man outside on the pavement Thomas jumps up from the table and leaves the restaurant…..

Now by George again.

Looking north-west from the restaurant entrance, along Blacklands Terrace to Draycott Place. SJ

….and watches as the man ducks out from behind his car. Blacklands Terrace.

Now. Well done Georgie Boy.

The architecture at 18-26 Blacklands Terrace is unchanged. SJ

Thomas walks over to his car and checks the boot before driving away. Blacklands Terrace.

Similar even to the detail of the post. SJ

Meanwhile the man hurries off into Culford Gardens.

Much better view provided by Richard Lovejoy.

As he drives along Victoria Street, SW1 a policeman escorts a protest march. Buckingham Gate and, of course, The Albert.

The Albert is still going strong. SJ

They are escorted across the road. Victoria Street, London SW1.

Many changes with the notably the building on the left which was just a site in 1966 now replaced by another. SJ

This just had to be included to compare the background. Windsor House built as the Army and Navy Hotel, 50 Victoria Street it was demolished in the early 1970’s.

The Albert and the hotel's, er, replacement. SJ

Thomas couldn’t resist stopping the traffic and accept a placard being placed in his car.

Taken a little closer to the only surviving part of the shot, along with some gridlock. SJ

After a while it blows out of the car and is run over by car going in the other direction. Lower Thames Street, London EC3

The Tower of London in the background. SJ

He arrives back in Pottery Lane, W11.

Looking south down Pottery Lane. SJ

Thomas gets out of his car with his camera in hand. Pottery Lane.

Now.

He blasts the car’s horn upsetting at least one resident.

Now, with, as pointed out by Brian Collins, St. Francis of Assisi Church to the left.

Looking south. SJ

As he puts his key in the lock Jane hurries towards him to collect the photographs he took of her.

77 Pottery Lane rather than 39. SJ

Just as Thomas and Jane are to become more closely acquainted the propeller is delivered.

Now.

A tighter shot. SJ

Thomas develops the film that Jane came to collect, and she believes that she had taken away, to find what he believes is a scenario where someone was trying to kill either Jane or her lover (Ronan O’Casey). Not being able to get it out of his mind he returns to the park under cover of night. Tamar Street/Cleverley Close.

Once again he enters the Park……….. Maryon Park.

………..and where he believes the event took place……..to find Jane’s lover, dead.

Hurridly returning to the studio he then goes out to collect Ron and take him to the scene of the murder. In Regent Street, London W1 he slows, backs up and stops when he sees Jane……

Regent Street indeed. SJ.

….looking into a shop at the mouth of New Burlington Mews, London W1.

This comparison has taken a while to fill, but finally here it is. SJ

Getting out of his car, has she disappeared? Was it her? He looks into Heddon Street without success.

Now. Heddon Street (off Regent Street), W.1.

Turns back to New Burlington Mews, but again, no sign of her.

Some redevelopment here. SJ

Eventually exiting, he finds himself in Oxford Street, London W1 Circa No. 301.

The left background is the London College of Fashion above the shops which helps identify this one. SJ

Given his unscheduled excursions Thomas eventually arrives at 100 Cheyne Walk (aka Lyndsey House) to collect Ron from a party, but he stays.

Taken by Ian Bolton in June 2007 and loaded in March 2009

100 Cheyne Walk in preferred landscape format. SJ

In the morning he is compelled to return to see and photograph the body. But not a trace, not a blade of grass out of place. Maryon Park again.

The curved steps are in an area of the park that has become very overgrown with trees and undergrowth which made it impossible for Keith Prested to capture the same angle.