Tread Softly

Establishing the world of theatre is the opening scene looking across the forecourt of the Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus, London W1 towards Moor Street.

Paul Lincoln somehow managed to avoid a white van that would have completely filled his frame. (RL)

Lead singer Madeleine Peters (Frances Day) walks out of the production for which she is rehearsing and visits Philip Defoe (Olaf Olsen) who wants to buy the production cheaply. Athenaeum Court, Piccadilly, W1 on the junction with Down Street. Re-developed to what is now the Athenaeum Hotel.

The buildings either side of the new façade are original. SJ

With Philip deeming his contract to lease the theatre to Keith Gilbert (John Bentley) cancelled as a result of Madeleines withdrawal Keith is forced to find an alternative theatre. Shaftesbury Avenue looking towards Piccadilly Circus from Rupert Street.

And not a bus in sight when Paul was there. (RL)

With little or no funds Keith is eager to re-open ‘The Regency’ theatre that has been closed for 40 years following the death of Castleton Mayne, murdered on stage, whilst playing ‘Hamlet’. He calls upon Isobel Mayne (Nora Nicholson), his wife, to discuss the possibility. Dave W knows where Isobel lived, we won't enquire how, but suffice to say 199 Albany Street, London NW1.

Paul noticed that the street lamp had been moved during the intervening years. And the property has acquired a Blue Plaque to the composer Constant Lambert who lived there from 1947-1951. (RL)

Despite the “powers of evil still active” Alexander Mayne (Michael Ward) over rules his mother and reluctantly agrees. Vanston Place, London SW6 looking west with what was the Granville theatre to the left and what remains as ‘Samuel Lewis Trust Buildings’ to the right.

Tangye Ward (Patricia Dainton) who is the potential replacement star of the show, Clifford Brett (Robert Urquhart), Keith and theatrical agent Angus McDonald (John Laurie) arrive at the theatre only to find Alexander Mayne, dead.

Madeleine pulls out of a side road to stop outside the films ‘The Regency’ theatre. On entering, she meets Tangye and warns her that it is important everyone leaves the theatre immediately. Dave W's keen eye places this as Old Marylebone Road NW1 looking south-west with Transept Street off to the right. The buttressed front elevation of St Mark's Church is darkly visible on the left.

Paul Lincoln was able to capture a much clearer shot of those buttresses. (RL)

Madeleine returns to Philip’s apartment where she tells him that ‘she cannot go through with it”. Piccadilly looking east with 105 Piccadilly to the left of capture.

A relatively intact foreground to the left. SJ

Inspector Hinton (Ronald Leigh-Hunt), who is investigating the murders, returns to the police station and suggests that interviews should be carried out again as some people have not been telling the whole truth. This certainly not the same location as the police station seen in a later capture. Whilst in the area Dave W sees the inspector certainly not returning to the police station, but entering the doorway of St. Mark's Church Hall that was the home of Marylebone Studios, as the camera looks across Old Marylebone Road into Cabbell Street. The award winning film 'The Bespoke Overcoat' was made at that studio.

Paul was unable to get back any further, a fine shot of those mansions nonetheless. (RL)

Rehearsals continue but are interrupted by Keith’s proposal of marriage to Tangye. What was 'The Gaiety Theatre', Aldwych, Strand, demolished in 1957, looking towards ‘The Wellington’ public house. Also seen in ‘St. Martin’s Lane (aka Sidewalks of London)’

South-west from what has now been pedestrianised. The tree in the middle seems to have the same kink at the top. SJ

Inspector Hinton discusses the case further with his Sergeant after the interviews. Rather off patch, 104 Albany Street, London NW1 Now re-developed.

Denis Hoare found the exact location, now part of the Regent's Park Estate, and unsurprisingly also found scaffolding.

The first night opening and a ‘trap’ is set between Inspector Hinton and Angus McDonald’s secretary Olivia Winter (Betty Baskcomb) with a view to discovering where emeralds stolen 40 years ago have been hidden. SJ's comparative shot for 'Talking Feet' today prompted sharp eyed (and good memory) Dave W to identify this previously unidentified location, the Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2.

The match of the canopy at the top clinches it. Now liberated from the scaffolding scourge which plagued the 'Talking Feet' comparison. SJ

Additional shot of the theatre entrance perhaps to hopefully aid identification. In fact, it confirms Dave W's identification of the Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2.

From ground level but still off angle due to obstructions. SJ