Sailing Along

Carrying bricks from Brightlingsea to Reading, Skipper Barnes and his Crew arrive in the Pool of London where they lower the red sails of their barge. In the background, Tower Bridge spans the river between E1 and SE1.

The buildings are getting higher. SJ

Having stopped to arrange a tug, the sailing barge is towed up river. Facing eastward on the River Thames with the walls of the Tower of London to the extreme left and the cranes of St. Katherine Docks in the distance.

Panning left. SJ

Reversing the route of the sailing barge in ‘Flood Tide’, the Houses of Parliament are passed. The often seen view is from Albert Embankment in SE1.

And I've oft been here too for the comparisons. This particular angle is from just to the right of Lambeth Pier. SJ

The two vessels pass through Windsor in Berkshire. In the background stands Windsor Castle.

Kay Martin (Jessie Matthews) shows off her new dress to Skipper Barnes. In the background stands All Saints’ church in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The church appears in other films including ‘Before I Wake’, ‘Three Men in a Boat’, 'Purab Aur Paschim' and ‘The Sinister Man’.

The riverside now, revisited by Antony Blair.

The young orphan walks along the deck towards the Skipper who rescued her when her father's barge sank. St. Peter Street in Marlow with the still extant slipway to the left.

86 years later, Antony Blair returned to the scene.

Skipper Barnes (Frank Pettingell) watches Kay go below to show off her frock to his son Steve. In the background stands the since demolished and replaced Thames Lawn at the bend on Mill Lane in Marlow.

On the bank of the river, Anthony Gulliver (Roland Young) listens to music on the radio as his Chauffeur removes a fish from his line. Roger Wilkinson explains that, at the time of filming, on the far bank of the river was just a field, but during WWII evacuees from London escaping the Blitz bought plots and it became a caravan park. In the post war years the land was eventually built over which is why the houses on the River Gardens estate are all different!

The millionaire soup magnate is captivated as on the barge, Kay begins to sing and dance to the music. Looking across the Thames towards Mapledurham Lock at Purley on Thames in Berkshire identified by Roger Wilkinson.

Roger captures the location now.

Kay’s song and dance routine continues. Approaching Mapledurham Lock at Purley on Thames recognised by Roger Wilkinson.

Steve Barnes (Barry MacKay) is annoyed by Gulliver's suggestion that Kay meets his artist friend Sylvester. Roger Wilkinson locates this as Mapledurham Lock on the River Thames at Purley On Thames.

Roger took this wider view from across the river.

When Kay returns to the canal with news that she is to be introduces to theatrical producer Dicky Randall, Steve picks her up and carries her to the barge. With so many of the Thames locks looking similar all those years ago, this may be Marlow Lock at Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

Antony Blair captured Marlow Lock to enable a comparison.

After a good portion of the story passes at the studio, Kay brings a bottle of champagne to join Skipper and his Pals as they celebrate his birthday on the barge. The River Thames with Westminster Bridge in the background.

River scenes convey the passage of time as Kay entertains the Men with a song.

A small craft makes its way along the river.

As Kay's song comes to an end, a launch brings Anthony Gulliver towards the barge. Facing south on the Thames with Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament in the background.

Kay becomes upset when she sees Steve climb into a car with Dicky’s wife Stephanie Randall (Margaret Vyner).

In the West End, auditions for the show in which Kay and Dicky will star take place.

Having trained as an industrial statistician, Steve Barnes realises his dream to make money on the Stock Exchange after being employed by Gulliver.

The bright lights of London’s Piccadilly Circus in W1 set the scene for the show’s opening night at the Frolic Theatre.

Looking towards Shaftesbury Avenue. SJ