Notorious Landlady, The

The respectable Gray Square in a fashionable district of London. In reality, Park Boulevard at the Columbia Ranch in Burbank, California. The fountain to the left can be seen in the opening credits of the 1990's television series 'Friends'.

As the title music plays, the camera pans across the grand Mayfair properties overlooking the park. The Columbia Ranch at 411 North Hollywood Way in Burbank identified on IMDb and Wikipedia.

A taxi is followed around the square. Park Boulevard at Columbia Ranch.

Hiding in a doorway, a Boy (Ross Brown) holds his toy pistol ready as Mrs. Agatha Brown (Philippa Bevans) pushes Mrs. Dunhill (Estelle Winwood) towards him in her wheelchair. Columbia Ranch on North Hollywood Way.

A loud shot rings out causing the Boy to run away before Mrs. Dunhill exclaims that it was a real pistol firing from number 33. Columbia Ranch in Burbank where television and film serials including 'Batman', 'The Monkees' and 'The Three Stooges' were shot.

Neighbours appear at doors and windows as Mrs. Dunhill tells her Nurse that it sounded like a .38 calibre revolver. The facades of buildings on Park Boulevard at Columbia Ranch.

From an upper floor window, one of the square's Residents sees a Body being dragged through a doorway. Columbia Ranch at the corner of Hollywood Way and Oak Street, Burbank.

A Man runs to the mews at the back of the properties. As detailed on Christopher Matheson's London on Location website, this is Pont Street Mews in SW1 with buildings on Walton Place beyond the archway.

I was here for Fumo di Londra in a different season. SJ

Another Neighbour appears at a window. The upper floor of number 48 Pont Street Mews in Knightsbridge.

The numbering is rather random in the mews. This appears to be no.22 although next door is no.46. SJ

As the Man approaches a pair of open garage doors, a Jaguar XK pulls out and drives away. Looking south on Pont Street Mews with the backs of properties on Pont Street as the background.

A few more cars occupy the mews. SJ

Looking for accommodation after being transferred to London from Saudi Arabia, US diplomat William Gridley (Jack Lemmon) checks an address in his newspaper before walking over to Carlyle Hardwicke's house . . . number 33. Columbia Ranch in Burbank, California. Park Boulevard was demolished in 2023.

After persuading the reluctant Landlady to let him take the flat, Bill Gridley makes his way to the United States Embassy. Grosvenor Square SW1. The zebra crossing was also seen in 'Children of the Damned' and 'A Game for Vultures'.

The west side of the square was pedestrianised many years ago. SJ

Bill crosses the road towards the building for his meeting with Franklyn Ambruster. Facing the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square in Mayfair identified on the London On Location website along with many other London locations for this production.

Conversion work on the ex-embassy is nearly finished. The Chancery Rosewood hotel is due to open in 2025. SJ

Tilting up the brings the US flag and American Bald Eagle into view above the Embassy at number 24 Grosvenor Square.

The eagle still overlooks the square. SJ

A Scotland Yard Detective is driven through the thick London fog as Mr. Ambruster talks with Sergeant Dillings outside 33 Gray Square. Columbia Ranch at 411 North Hollywood Way, Burbank.

As Patrons arrive by car, Detective Carstairs (Dick Crockett) enters the Lamplighter where Bill has taken Carly to dinner. In 1970 fire destroyed a quarter of the lot at Columbia Ranch.

Following dinner, Carlyle Hardwicke (Kim Novak) speaks to a Stranger (Henry Daniell) outside the restaurant. Columbia Ranch at 411 North Hollywood Way in Burbank, California.

A Fire Engine races to a blaze started by Bill when his barbecue gets out of control in the back yard of 33 Gray Square. Facing north on Walton Place in Knightsbridge SW1 located by Christopher Matheson.

The trees have given a greener look to this busy area, being so close to Harrods. Ball pillar tops were added to the plinths on the far left in about 2013. SJ

The camera follows the appliance into the mews. Facing the entrance to Pont Street Mews from Walton Place.

Panning right to the east. SJ

The following day . . . Edward Hodges Baily's statue of Horatio Nelson at the top of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square WC2.

This angle is from the SSE of the square. SJ

Headlines about the previous evening's fire appear in the press. Looking north-east from Charing Cross at the corner of Spring Gardens in SW1 with Strand disappearing into the distance.

The statue of Charles I in front of the South African embassy on the left. SJ

"Suspect Husband-Killer and Embassy Official Endanger Mayfair". Facing north from the northern end of Whitehall with the base of Nelson's Column, the National Gallery and St. Martin-in-the-Fields church surrounding Trafalgar Square in the background.

Without the pillar which is outside Drummonds behind me. SJ

Piccadilly Circus in W1 with the corner of Coventry Street and Haymarket to the left.

No sign of the sign. SJ

Even though Franklyn tried to suppress the story, the scandal is reported in all the newspapers. Facing the wall of 52 Regent Street, which has since had the windows extended downwards.

The new windows are illuminated by the sun in a timely shot. SJ

As they try to prove her innocence, Bill follows the Stranger seen outside the Lamplighter while Franklyn follows Carly to where she meets with a mysterious Man on Slaughterhouse Lane. Little Egbert Street at the Columbia Ranch in Burbank.

Franklyn Ambruster (Fred Astaire) climbs the gates of a cemetery to peer through a side window of the pawn shop that Carly and the Man have entered. In 1990 the site was renamed Warner Ranch after Warner Brothers became the owners.

Bill follows the Stranger to a church where he discovers that he's a Minister.

Having discovered Miles Hardwicke's body with Carly standing over him, Bill takes her to the pawn shop next to the graveyard on Slaughterhouse Lane after the Coroner's inquest. Little Egbert Street at the Columbia Ranch on North Hollywood Way, Burbank.

Finding the Pawnbroker's body after Mrs. Brown takes the pawn ticket that Miles had died trying to obtain, Bill and Carly take a cab to Paddington station. The station approach adjacent to Eastbourne Terrace at Paddington station in W2.

This approach recently re-opened upon completion of the Elizabeth line, but the taxi rank is round the other side. SJ

Now wanted by the police after the murdered Pawnbroker is found, Bill and Carly board the Penzance train. Platform 1 at Paddington station on Praed Street.

Nothing on platform 1 but platform 2 is occupied. SJ

A Policeman is alerted to the fugitives as the train to the West Country departs. Paddington station in London W2.

The view north-west from platform 1. SJ

Hoping that Mrs. Dunhill will return with them to testify, Bill and Carly travel overnight to Cornwall. With the footage also seen in 'Train of Events' and 'The Gold Express', this is Colne Bridge or the Colne Viaduct taking the West Coast Main Line railway over the River Colne at Bushey in Hertfordshire located by Jonathan Horswell on the Railway Movie Database website.

When the runaways are spotted at Bristol, Franklyn arranges a helicopter for he and Inspector Oliphant to follow. Westland Heliport off Bridges Court SW11.

Franklyn waits for Inspector Oliphant (Lionel Jeffries) to climb aboard. Westland Heliport with Fulham Power Station across the River Thames in SW6. The heliport also appears in 'Licensed to Kill' and 'The Optimists of Nine Elms'.

The helicopter takes off. Westland Heliport in Battersea with Battersea Railway Bridge and Lots Road Power Station in the distance. Various other views of the power station appear in 'Alfie', 'Night, After Night, After Night', 'Melody', 'The Sleeping Tiger', 'Food for a Blush' and 'Underground'.

A taxi leaves the Wessex Hotel in Penzance.

Reaching the West Country, Franklyn and the Inspector are given directions.

At the hotel, Mrs. Brown is taken away from a "Concert by the Sea" as the band plays Gilbert and Sullivan.

At the top of a ridge above the cliffs, Mrs. Brown lets go of Mrs. Dunhill's wheelchair after giving it a push.

When the out of control wheelchair is spotted by Bill when he and Carly arrive at the hotel, the American runs to save Mrs. Dunhill. IMDb advises that this is Point Lobos Reserve State Park at Carmel in California.

Bill pushes Mrs. Dunhill back to the hotel as Carly fights with Mrs. Brown.

The helicopter carrying Franklyn and Inspector Oliphant arrives at the Wessex Hotel.