Circus

Date: 2000
Director: Rob Walker
Production Company: Columbia Pictures, Circus Pictures Development Corporation.

Stars: John Hannah, Famke Jansen, Peter Stormare, Eddie Izzard, Fred Ward, Brian Conley, Tiny Lister, Amanda Donohoe, Ian Burfield, Neil Stuke, Michael Attwell, Jason Watkins, Rob Walker.
Location(s): Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, London, Surrey, West Sussex

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

Con artists Leo and Lily Garfield long to escape from their life of crime. They are leaving for Cuba and have one big job planned before they go. Leo’s cousin and sadistic gangster Bruno Maitland wants Leo to run his casino and needs him out of the way. With the help of his accountant, Julius Harvey, Bruno plans to involve Lily in a tax fraud. Julius though, appears to be working with Lily, or is Lily actually working with Bruno? Leo also appears to be working with Julius against Lily and Bruno. Leo’s psychopathic bookie Troy is threatening to kill him unless he pays his debt. Moose has lost his girlfriend Gloria and is also threatening to kill Leo! Lily’s original partner in crime, Elmo Somerset, is out of prison and wants revenge. This elaborate con is beginning to resemble a three-ring circus!

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Stephen Dean.

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Bruno Maitland sends his enforcer Moose to pick up casino manager Dom. Beacon Hill, Rottingdean, East Sussex.

Beacon Mill has stood here since 1802.

Moose (Tiny Lister) tells Dom (Jason Watkins) that Bruno wants to speak to him. Beacon Hill, Rottingdean.

The view from Beacon Hill, with Brighton Marina over to the right.

  • 'Now' required

Bruno (Brian Conley) holds up two large steaks for the barbeque. Unknown location.

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Bruno asks Leo if he would like to run the casino in Manchester. Unknown location.

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Leo (John Hannah) and his wife Lily (Famke Jansen) have five days before they need to leave. Unknown location.

Julius (Peter Stormare) receives a phone call telling him to be at the Duke of York Cinema in ten minutes. Brighton beach, East Sussex. with the Palace Pier in the background.

The phone box on the beach was a prop.

After posing as a hit-man, Leo meets up with Lily outside the cinema. Electric Cinema, 191 Portobello Road, London W11. On the left is 189 Portobello Road. The Electric Cinema was also seen in 'The Moon Over the Alley'.

A van at Portobello Market now obscures the view.

Leo leaves the flat intending to carry out the hit. Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London, W4.

Looking east towards Duke's Avenue with the tower of the Church of Our Lady of Grace & St Edward prominent in daytime. SJ

Leo is followed by Caspar (Ian Burfield). Pool Valley, Brighton.

In the background is East Street which was seen in 'Quadrophenia'.

Pool Valley facing Grand Junction Road. On the left is the Royal Albion Hotel.

The Royal Albion Hotel was partially destroyed by a fire on the 15th of July 2023.

Caspar stays close to Leo. Kings Road, Brighton. On the left is the Metropole Hotel.

I was able to stand in the road while the traffic was stopped at the lights.

Leo accelerates the car, trying to lose Caspar. Kings Road, Brighton, with Little Preston Street on the left.

Once again I took advantage of the traffic lights and quickly stepped into the road.

The chase continues under a road bridge. Marina Way, Brighton.

Marina Way which leads to Brighton Marina, with the A259 above.

Caspar meets up with Lily on the pier. Palace Pier, Brighton.

The rides have changed but the men's toilet can still be seen.

Caspar tells Lily that he knows about her criminal past. Palace Pier, Brighton.

I found enough space between the rides to be able to replicate the view.

Leo goes to the house to carry out the hit on Julius's wife Gloria. Dorney Court, Court Lane, Dorney, Buckinghamshire. Also seen in 'The Black Cat', 'Father Came Too', 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'The Missionary', 'Number 13', 'Norbert Smith: A Life' and 'Sliding Doors'.

Filming was ongoing when I visited. SJ

Lily tells Leo that Caspar wants to know what they are up to. Brighton Beach, with the West Pier in the background.

All that remains of the West Pier is this rusting framework.

Lily's ex partner in crime Elmo (Fred Ward) books into a room at the Melford Hall Hotel. 90 Montpelier Road, Brighton.

This should have been viewed from the corner of Montpelier Place looking across the garden of 56 and 57 Montpelier Road, but due to the amount of subsequent tree growth a clear view would now be impossible.

Elmo intends to get his revenge on Lily. 90 Montpelier Road, Brighton.

Another clear view from Montpelier Road.

Julius has never been married, Gloria (Amanda Donohoe) is in fact a prostitute. The Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton.

Any prostitute standing here now would be hidden from view. This is beside a path near to the entrance of the Royal Pavilion Gardens.

Julius offers Gloria £1000 to pose as his wife. The Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton.

This replaces my photo taken when The Royal Pavilion was undergoing restoration work. It looks so much nicer without scaffolding.

Moose makes enquiries as to Gloria's whereabouts. Black Rock, Brighton. The terrace and the arch below were seen in 'Playground Express'.

Thankfully no one was thrown from the terrace when I was here.

Leo has some of the money he owes Troy, his loan shark bookie. Meeting House Lane, Brighton.

Meeting House Lane, with number 26 on the left and number 2 on the right.

Leo notices a pearl necklace in a jewellers window. Meeting House Lane, Brighton.

The corner of Meeting House Lane and Union Street.

Leo decides to buy the necklace for Lily. 25 Meeting House Lane, Brighton.

Camelot Jewellers, photographed with the consent of the owner.

Troy (Eddie Izzard) asks Leo if he has his money. Brighton Beach, opposite the Palace Pier.

Now with a much more substantial seating area.

Troy becomes violent when Leo can't give him the amount he asked for. Brighton Beach, opposite the Palace Pier.

The Palace Pier now has a slight name change.

Leo tells his cousin Bruno about the Julius, Gloria and Moose situation. Tarmac Shoreham Wharf Marine Aggregates, 34 Basin Road South, Southwick, West Sussex.

A much wider view of the aggregate machinery. This is seen through the fence on Basin Road South.

A month earlier Lily met up with Bruno's accountant Julius. The Bentall Centre, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, facing Clarence Street.

John Harwood (JH) faced south to catch perhaps an original building on Clarence Street to the left. (SJ)

Lily takes Julius clothes shopping after giving his initial purchases to a tramp (Rob Walker). The Bentall Centre, Fife Road, Kingston Upon Thames, facing east.

JH found the tree has almost outgrown its railing protection. (SJ)

When Leo leaves the railway station after a card game, Roscoe (Neil Stuke) comes to collect the money that Leo owes to Troy. Slough Railway Station, Railway Terrace, Slough, Berkshire.

A brighter view of Slough Station seen from the repaved forecourt.

Moose has a meeting with Bruno. He drives off in his wife's Mini. Hayward Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey.

A nice drone shot from JH. (SJ)

Roscoe takes Leo to see Troy at the nudist beach. The promenade opposite the West Pier, Brighton

The nudist beach is further to the east, opposite Dukes Mound and definitely not beside the West Pier.

Roscoe watches with amusement as Troy asks for his money. Facing Kings Road, with the boating pool wall behind the Rolls Royce.

The area was rebuilt between 2012 and 2014.

Holding Leo's ear, Troy pushes him into the water as he asks for his money. Brighton Beach facing the West Pier.

The West Pier Concert Hall and Pavilion were destroyed by two separate arson attacks in 2003. In 2010 the remains of the Concert Hall was removed.

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Troy and Roscoe are waiting for Leo. Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, W4.

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Troy threatens Leo with a flick knife. Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick.

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Moose saves Leo from Troy but threatens to kill Leo himself. Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick.

Moose chases Leo through Madeira Walk still threatening to kill him. Madeira Terrace, Madeira Drive, Brighton. Madeira Walk was seen in 'Ashes and Sand', 'Brighton Rock' (2010), 'The Girl With a Pistol', 'Me Without You', 'Oh What a Lovely War' and 'Under Suspicion'.

Madeira Terrace has been closed since 2014.

Leo runs out on to Madeira Drive with Moose close behind. Madeira Terrace, Madeira Drive, Brighton. On the right is the Shelter Hall which, since 1999, has been the live music venue Concorde 2. Madeira Terrace was also seen in 'Be My Guest', 'The Double', 'Genevieve' and 'Playground Express'.

2025 could see the start of the much needed restoration work. The first phase of the restoration covers the 28 arches between the Royal Crescent Steps and Concorde 2.

While chasing Leo along Madeira Drive Moose nearly gets hit by a car. He takes out his anger on the car, its driver and passengers. Madeira Drive with buildings on Grand Junction Road and Old Steine seen in the background.

The area of Madeira Drive, where Moose stopped the car, was filmed opposite Bedford Street, but where he ripped off the door was filmed opposite Crescent Place.

Seeing that Moose is distracted, Leo calls out to him. Royal Crescent Steps on Madeira Drive.

Although Madeira Terrace is fenced off, the steps from Marine Parade to Madeira Drive are still in use.

Leo runs through The Lanes with Moose still in pursuit. Meeting House Lane.

On the right is 29 Meeting House Lane.

Leo keeps running. Meeting House Lane, with the Bath Arms in the background.

Number 2 Meeting House Lane is on the left and number 26 on the right.

Leo turns a corner. Meeting House Lane.

Number 25 Meeting House Lane on the left and number 3 on the right, with 27 Meeting House Lane in the background.

Moose runs past the Bath Arms, 4 Meeting House Lane. Meeting House Lane was also seen in 'Ashes and Sand', 'The Brighton Mob', 'Brighton Rock' (1947), 'Brighton Rock' (2010)' 'Jigsaw' and 'The Night We Got the Bird'.

Why do so many films that are shot here feature some form of criminal activity?

Leo runs down another passage in The Lanes. Meeting House Lane.

Number 31 Meeting House Lane.

Leo bets on a game of Find the Lady as he hides from Moose. The Sussex Arms, Market Street, Brighton.

No room to stand around in the seating area of The Sussex Arms.

When the game players scatter Moose spots Leo. Market Street, Brighton. Market Street was also seen in 'Brighton Rock' (1947) and 'The Night We Got the Bird'.

Just a slight touch of scaffolding making the place look untidy.

Leo leads Moose to the hotel where someone is waiting. The Grand Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton. The Grand Hotel was also seen in 'Be My Guest', 'The Girl with a Pistol', 'Position of Trust', 'Quadrophenia', 'Slade in Flame' and 'Smokescreen'.

Now with less decorative windows.

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Moose climbs up the outside of Caspar's house. Hanworth Park House, Forest Road, Feltham, Greater London. This is at the south side of the house. The interior of the house was also used for Elmo's hotel room and Bruno's night club.

Leo discusses the plan with Julius. The Palace Pier, beside the Palace of Fun amusement arcade.

A good place to store new decking. I had this very same problem with 'The Double'.

After dealing with the opposition Julius and Leo run from the flat. The Albermarle, 5-7 Marine Parade, Brighton.

This is the entrance to R-Bar.

Leo drives the car as Julius begins to pass out. The Albermarle, 5-7 Marine Parade, Brighton, with Steine Street on the left. The flat to the right of the hotel sign was used for the interior of Julius's flat.

Shooters became Kruze then R-Bar then Bar Revenge and then back to R-Bar.

Magnus (Michael Attwell) tells Leo there is a game going on if he wants to join them. Slough Railway Station, Railway Terrace, Slough, Berkshire.

This entrance is on the north side of the station and leads on to platform 5.

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Magnus tries to persuade Leo to join the game but Leo has a train to catch. Taplow station identified by Jonathan Horswell who advises that the magnificent footbridge was removed prior to upgrades for the Elizabeth Line.

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As Leo crosses the footbridge someone is waiting. Jonathan Horswell found the footbridge at Taplow station off Station Road in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.