Street Song

Obscured by the titles, a few scene setting views start the story. This is a still of Rupert Street W1, looking towards Brewer Street with the corner of Winnett Street on the right.

Paul Lincoln captured a much changed scene without the hindrance of screen credits. (RL)

A Constable directs traffic at a junction.

As the credits end, the shot fades to revel the sign for Lucy Gray's pet shop where Mr. Tuttle the landlord has just taken some of her stock in lieu of rent. Facing north on Berwick Street in Soho W1.

Despite inviting others, Paul Lincoln did his own research to establish the exact location, to find that the distinctive property on the corner of Broadwick Street and Berwick Street was the answer, so he returned to take this replacement shot. (RL)

More street scenes appear as busker Tom Tucker chases dance band leader Roy Hall across town. Here we see the 'Royalty Kinema', 5 Hill Street, Richmond, that now appears to be pulling audiences as a dentist. (RL)

Taking this shot, Nick Boorman recalls seeing '2001: A Space Odyssey' at the cinema in the early 70s.

Traffic signals change to let Mr. Hall's taxi proceed towards Broadcasting House. The corner of Oxford Street and Rathbone Place W1 with Dunn & Co. at numbers 54 and 56.

Paul returned to find that the traffic lights have definitely been down sized. (RL)

The cab moves slowly forward in a queue of traffic. Looking into Berners Street from Oxford Street in W1 with Bourne & Hollingsworth in the background, located by Richard Lovejoy.

Paul clearly mkissed the crowds for this one. (RL)

As he begins to turn a corner, the Taxi Driver stops. Richard Lovejoy identifies Oxford Street at the junction of Wardour Street and Berners Street with C&A in the left background at number 134 on the corner of Wells Street.

A token of scaffolding so that Paul didn't feel left out. (RL)

The street is one way! Facing 203 Wardour Street in W1 found by Richard Lovejoy who adds that the building to the extreme right was rebuilt in 1956.

Following all the 'internal discussion' establishing this location Paul found it shrouded and scaffolded when he visited, but within weeks, he has revisited to be able to take the perfect comparative shot. (RL)

Tom Tucker (John Garrick) catches up with the cab as it arrives outside Broadcasting House. Looking onto Langham Place W1 from between the pillars of All Souls' church.

Ah, but which pillars? I opted for these. SJ

The taxi draws up to the pavement. Facing the entrance to Broadcasting House on Langham Place.

Oh dear this entrance looks rather unphotogenic at the moment. SJ

Tom watches from across the street. Langham Place in W1 with the corner of Mortimer Street on the left.

Looking south. SJ

Roy Hall (George Cross) pays the Taxi Driver before entering the building. Langham Place with Broadcasting House to the right.

The hoarding covering the entrance unfortunately hides most of the architectural detail on Portland Place. SJ

Hoping that Mr. Hall will give him a break if he hears him sing, Tom settles down to wait. The steps of All Souls' church on Langham Place.

Facing the same direction as cap11. SJ

Time passes. Looking up at Broadcasting House on Langham Place.

An extension on the roof to the right. SJ

The weary busker yawns . . . Outside All Souls' church on Langham Place W1.

Looking south again from where All Souls' Place meets Langham Street. SJ

. . . as Roy Hall reappears across the road. Broadcasting House on Langham Place.

Not a pretty sight back in Dec '24 when there was shrouding over the doorway for the repair of Eric Gill's Prospero and Ariel statue after vandalisation above the door. SJ

When Tom's playing and singing is drowned out by a pneumatic drill, desperate to earn money he walks away in search of alternative employment.

Tom's feet are superimposed onto a panning shot of an industrial landscape as he continues to walk.

Billboards advertise factories for sale or to let.

The pan comes to an end

As he approaches Workers digging up the road, Tom is hopeful. Dave W has 'dug up' the location to be Manette Street seen from Greek Streeet, W1, noting that the current 'tunnel' appears to be a replacement of the original, for there is no indication of one existing in the capture. (RL)

It would seem that it is appropriate to have wider shot of this location give our talk of a 'tunnel'. Thank you Paul. (RL)

Tom walks towards a sign that reads "No hands wanted".

At a busy construction site . . .

. . . Tom finds another "No hands wanted" notice.

After Lucy falls out with Tom's pal Wally Parker, a crook who had robbed Mr. Tuttle's shop, her son Billy runs into the road as a truck approaches. Crown Road in Twickenham, Middlesex found by Richard Lovejoy.

John Harwood finds the correct spot with the right shaved off. (SJ)

Listeners tune in as Roy Hall makes a broadcast featuring Tom Tucker. Across the street is a branch of J & M Stone, a radio retailer established around 1929 which grew to have a number of premises across the country by the 1950s.

As Tom sings at the end of the production, a shot of Broadcasting House appears. Facing north on Langham Place W1 with Langham Street and the pillars of All Souls' church to the right.

The busy street today. SJ