Great Van Robbery, The

The Royal Mail van leaves the compound, whilst being watched. Once again, the magic of Dave W produces, not a rabbit out of the hat, but this time Kirtling Street, London SW11 that we were both relieved to see still exists. But for how much longer?

Not to lose the moment one of us had to 'hot foot it' and capture the scene now asap. My visit was rained off so Dave wasted not a moment. Brickwork, window, all as was.

Behind the start of the credits we see the van move away from camera followed by the car. Kirtling Street, SW11 as found by Dave W.

As revealed in the previous capture, Dave flound that re-development was indeed now all embracing. Without the credits to mar the detail all remains in place but for how much longer will we be be able to appreciate that which has managed to avoid the 'wrecking ball'.

Further into its journey and the credits, we see the convoy heading eastward along Clarence Way towards Kentish Town Road here with 57 Hartland Road, London NW1 in the background.

At least the building still stands, if one overlooks the graffiti.

Passing the camera in Clarence Way it is about to cross Castlehaven Road and 'The Victory' public house on the extreme right, towards Kentish Town Road.

'The Victory' is another pub that has been lost, closing in 1993.

Later to make a right turn out of Prince of Wales Road, London NW5 and NW1, with Weedington Road (now Talacre Road) to their left, into…..

A momentary break in the traffic.

.....Prince of Wales Crescent, a turning that no longer exist having been absorbed into a larger development,.……….

The larger development speaks for itself.

…....to appear exiting Harmood Street, London NW1, left, into Prince of Wales Road.

Greenery softens the modern day view.

....before turning right from Prince of Wales Road into what was Weedington Road, now Talacre Road, London NW1……

They would have a longer wait to turn right these days.

…..and then appearing in Vincent Square, London SW1, looking north, closely followed by the car. The same location is also seen in ‘Innocent Meeting’ and 'Make Mine Mink'.

One way these days.

Looking south in Vincent Square. The rear of Rochester Row police station is to the right. Also seen in 'Innocent Meeting'.

A tranquil setting to take a photograph.

Together they emerge in Stanhope Street, London NW1 looking south towards William Road that is going off to the right. The camera, Dave says, was situated on the roof of 'The Perseverance' public house that was on the corner with Netley Street. See the following Capture.

A greatly changed view from ground level. SJ

The Royal Mail van is brought to an abrupt halt as a lorry pulls in front of it. ‘The Perseverance’ public house on the corner of Netley Street and Stanhope Street, London NW1 can be seen ahead.

Looking north on Stanhope Street with the entrance to Netley Street blocked off on the right by Netley Primary School and Stanhope Apartments. SJ

The driver is coshed and a bystander prepares to make chase. Stanhope Street, London NW1

The west side of Stanhope Street between William Road and a new approach to Clarence Gardens. SJ

The van with a new driver, followed by the car, move off at speed. Dave W identifies Cringle Street SW11 looking towards Nine Elms Lane, with the side elevation of Nine Elms Baths visible on the right. The tank can also be seen in 'The Good Die Young'. (RL)

So many changes and there are still some to come on both sides of Cringle Street. SJ

The police swing into action….. Muswell Hill Police Station, Fortis Green, London N2. The same sequence is seen in ‘Innocent Meeting’, 'Make Mine Mink' and 'The Child and the Killer'.

Substantially less activity now the station has been converted to apartments.

….filling the cars. The corner of Fortis Green and Fortis Green Avenue, London N2

All remains very much the same on the opposite side of the road.

We cut to an overhead shot of the cars pulling away. Muswell Hill police station Fortis Green, London N2

The blue lamp has gone and the "cop shop" is now, not surprisingly, called "Peel Mansions".

We pan to see them move off east down Fortis Green.

Was that scaffolding erected especially for the RS shot?

Further cars leave another police station… The rear of Rochester Row police station, Vincent Square, London SW1. The same footage is also seen in 'Innocent Meeting', 'The Child and the Killer' and 'Make Mine Mink'.

A little more than at 'His or Her Majesty's Pleasure' to be staying there now.

...…to proceed north out of Vincent Square.

Are those speed bumps really supposed to slow down traffic?

Even more cars are to be seen leaving their base to deal with the aftermath of the robbery. This is also seen in 'Innocent Meeting'. Dave W berates himself for not having found this much sooner, it is the vehicle entrance to the police station seen in Capture 15, therefore, Fortis Green Avenue N2. The sequence can be seen in 'A Woman's Temptation' and 'Innocent Meeting', both of which were also released in 1959.

As was said previousely, find the previous capture and this is is solved. Therefore, Dave says, they gather speed along Fortis Green Avenue with Annington Road going off to the right.

Yet more cars leave Rochester Row police station….. Vincent Square, London SW1

We are getting the picture of what it is like now.

......to depart in Vincent Square, London SW1 while the numbers of the stolen notes are circulated throughout Britain and Interpol communications.

Substantial changes to those properties on the right.

Action moves to a house where the thieves negotiate the worth of the £150,000 onto the ‘black market’ for distribution. Only £150,000! An unknown building that can also be seen in 'The Depraved'.

Events supposedly move to Brazil with a stock footage of Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and then the offices of a branch of the ‘Banco De Brazil’ where Feenan (Peter Elliott) sits down in front of the Bank Manager (Peter Allenby) with a view to opening an account.

The Manager recognises that the numbers of the notes are on his list to watch out for and the police arrive to take Feenan away for questioning. Is this a set or could this be a UK location? It is particularly a London location, indeed, what was White's Hotel but now Thistle Hyde Park, also seen in 'Strictly Confidential', 'The Battleaxes' and 'Moment of Indiscretion'. (RL)

An ornate awning has been added. Closed on my visit. SJ

It is now a year on since the robbery and Scotland Yard and Interpol are gearing into action as a result of the notes turning up in Brazil. D.I. Caesar Smith (Denis Shaw) is dispatched to Brazil. B.O.A.C. de Havilland Comet. London Airport? Jim Richings resolves this one for us, Hatfield Aerodrome, Hertfordshire showing one of the two prototype de Havilland Comets in BOAC livery. (RL)

Oh dear! Mid flight he seems to be on a different plane. Square window de Havilland Comet but what is the airline? Manuel Gurtner advises that this is stock footage from 1949 with the De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 prototype G-ALVG of De Havilland Aircraft, already wearing the "Speedbird" symbol of the launch customer, B.O.A.C. (British Overseas Airways Corporation). All helped with superior quality footage.

On his arrival we switch back to the bank, do those buildings in the background help….location/set/location/set? Location, the Bayswater Road entrance to 95 Lancaster Gate with the elevations of circa 55 Lancaster Gate in the background as established by Dave W. (RL)

Hindered by parked cars, this is not quite the correct background with it being Barrie House, a popular location. Just east of capture 27 so likely filmed on the same sunny day. SJ

Feenan appears to have been paid in stolen notes for a genuine coffee deal he transacted with Mara (Vera Fusek) who has returned to Italy. Caesar leaves for Rome. Rio de Janeiro Airport.

Caesar in mid flight. Anthony Spencer confirms that the aircraft is a Lockheed Constellation L-749.

Arriving at Rome Airport(?) With 'Air France' steps and what looks like doctored lettering this could well be Orly Airport, Paris. No, definitely Rome says Manuel because we see the East wing of Ciampino Airport, Rome’s main airport until 1960, when Fiumicino Airport was opened during the Summer Olympics.

He is taken to the offices of ‘Polizia Scientifica Roma’. Not Rome but, with thanks to Geoff Dodd, ‘North Gate’, Prince Albert Road, London NW8 that also appears in ‘Nowhere to Go’.

This replaces Geoff's GEV of Dec '20. This entrance to the North Gate block is actually on St. John's Wood High Street. SJ

Caesar arrives at Mara’s offices to discuss the transaction that does not appear in her company’s records. 46 Clarendon Road in Watford, Hertfordshire. The building also appeared in ‘Innocent Meeting’, 'Compelled' and 'Sentenced For Life'.

Having elicited that she and her partner Toni (Paul Stassino) are ‘innocent’ of the underlying crime, he also learns that the money came from a company in Paris, ‘Marcel Imports’, so that is his next stop. Orly Airport, Paris.

To further establish the location the customary shot of the Arc de Triomphe, Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France.

Caesar makes his way from the airport. Quai de la Tournelle, Paris, France. This location and sequence is also seen in 'Sleeping Car to Trieste' and 'The Missing Man'.

Arriving at the offices of “Marcel Imports’. Rue de la Huchette 75005 in Paris. The hotel is Hotel du Mont Blanc. The location is also seen in 'The Missing Man' and 'Sleeping Car to Trieste'.

Google Earth View provided by Chris Dale and Dominic Regan who have also sent us a postcard of the same location even before the date of the film and a photograph of the corset shop, as it was, that appears in the screen capture.

He finds that ‘they have gone” so he makes his way to visit the police. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Quai François Mitterrand, Paris.

Both Caesar and the French police decide the next step is to trace the route of the coffee. South Bank, London looking across to the north bank with the Monument visible towards the right hand side.

While Caesar sleeps the French police continue to search around the docks. The travelling cranes of Irongate Wharf with Tower Bridge in the background.

Certainly a thorough search. Irongate Wharf to the left and St Katharine Wharf behind the policemen in the capture.

The French police find that the coffee has been shipped to Tilbury Docks so Caesar makes his way back to the UK. Quai Saint-Michel, Paris looking towards Notre-Dame de Paris.

Naturally, he is collected when he arrives at London Airport……

…..to be taken to Scotland Yard to update Superintendent Mercer (Tony Quinn). Victoria Embankment, London WC2 looking towards the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower... This shot was seen previously in Moment of Indiscretion (1958). (SJ)

Still with the scaffolding: this now was originally taken for Moment of Indiscretion. SJ

Then to meet with Ralph Chase (Philip Saville) the importer of the coffee. See also Capture 61. Unknown location.

There he learns that the coffee has been delivered to the customer, Sam Venner (Geoffrey Hibbert) of Venner & Company at the film's ‘St Marks Lane, Covent Garden’. 'Granary', Nine Elms Lane, London SW8

Caesar jumps onto the loading bay to investigate further. The ‘Granary’, Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 with the 'Meaux Horseshoe Brewery' in the distance across the road.

Wally (Tony Doonan) and Peters (Bob Simmons) have been ordered by Chase to kill Venner and now to tail Ceasar and let him know where he goes. Wally has also been ordered by to ‘take care of him’. Tower Court, London WC2 looking towards Earlham Street.

I make this looking south towards Monmouth Street. SJ

Caesar visits a bar to find out more about Venner’s contacts. Tower Court, London WC2 found by Adrian Grepnold.

Comparison photo by SJ.

Wally does as he was asked. Tower Court, London WC2

R. Voigt at 51, now rebuilt, was all AG needed and SJ confirmed.

Ceasar returns to Scotland Yard. Victoria Embankment, London WC2

Less accessible nowadays. SJ

Meanwhile, Wally and Peters watch for his further movement. Quite how that was possible from Cheyne Walk, London SW3. Originally identified by Dave W who informed us that the former Kings Head And Eight Bells Pub is visible on the corner and wondered whether the voice of Mick Jagger lingers from No 48 where he once resided.

Replacing Dave's Google shot from Dec 2020. SJ

Believing that Chase is ‘above board’ and that Marcel and Venner were the same person, Caesar leaves Scotland Yard to set off for home. Victoria Embankment, London WC2 but viewed by Wally and Peters from their car in Cheyne Walk.

Now. SJ

Driving along the Embankment, followed by Wally and Peters. Victoria Embankment, London WC2 looking west with Charing Cross underground station to the right.

And Hungerford House (an early power station now a restaurant) on the far right. The original turning off from the main road in front of the tree appears to lead to Victoria Embankment loos. SJ

…..through, Cambridge Circus, London WC2 looking directly towards Moor Street.

A shot from ground level looking west. SJ

Finally arriving at his home. ‘Shrewsbury House, Cheyne Walk, London SW3, but not, Dave W told us, the original 1519 of that same name.

Replacing Dave's Dec 2020 google. SJ

Wally and Peters pull up, to later enter his apartment, where, being awoken, he is shot at. Yes, the same location and film footage from where they watched him at Scotland Yard. Cheyne Walk, London SW3

And again with a replacement. The pub is now a 'Brasserie'. SJ

Nursing a head wound, and on enforced ‘sick leave’, Caesar goes over events that lead him to now mistrust Chase so he makes his was to Chase’s warehouse to gather evidence. Meanwhile, Chase, together with Wally and Peters goes to his warehouse to move the coffee, thereby implicating Venner. Unidentified location.

Needless to say Caesar finds the stolen money before Chase arrives and the police arrive just in time. Unknown location.