30 is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia

Determined to achieve two things before his thirtieth birthday, aspiring composer Rupert Street (Dudley Moore) is on a mission. The corner of St. Leonard's Terrace and Walpole Street in London SW3.

This replaces my Oct '25 effort which was confounded by a intruding scaffolding. SJ

Approaching a ladder on the pavement, the 29 year old is faced with a dilemma. The ladder is resting against Burton Court on Franklin's Row SW3.

Taking the now shot, Peter Zazzi adds "Burton Court has two identical entrances but perspective wise I think I have the right one".

Above the high street, a Technician adjusts the time on a clock. The clock is attached to the Old Town Hall, Kings Road in Chelsea . . .

. . . and survives. PW

Rupert strides purposefully towards the Registry Office. Looking north-east along St. Leonard's Terrace from the corner of Walpole Street.

This scaffolding may take a while to come down, I thought in Oct '25, but it did and this replacement is much clearer. SJ

Spotting the oddly changing time, Rupert does a double-take before backtracking when the hands of the clock move in reverse. The corner of Kings Road and Sydney Street in SW3 with the closed Granada Studio 10 on the right.

The curve of the replacement building to the right reflects the original. PW

Outside the Registry Office, Rupert pauses to pose in a wedding photograph before entering to book his own marriage ceremony. The pavement outside Chelsea Registry Office, the Old Town Hall on Kings Road.

A similar ceremony was on show for my visit. SJ

Rupert is thrown out by the Registrar after explaining that he hasn't anyone in mind to be his bride yet. Chelsea's Old Town Hall also features in 'Up the Junction', 'Food for a Blush' and 'Die Screaming Marianne'.

The same location with dreaded reconstruction work taking place. PW

A short distance away, Rupert sees a Young Woman and imagines her dressed as a bride as music begins to play. Looking north-east on Kings Road SW3 from outside the Old Town Hall.

After 44 years, the tree doesn't appear to have grown that much and traffic levels look the same. PW

Cutting back to Rupert, the camera finds him dressed in a morning suit. Facing the Old Town Hall on Kings Road, Chelsea.

Looking west. SJ

Rupert leads the Young Woman towards a group of other Women dressed as Brides and the titles begin. Beneath the canopy of the Odeon cinema at the corner of Kings Road and Chelsea Manor Street in SW3. Previously the Gaumont Theatre, the cinema closed in March 1972.

I'm not sure that it's the same canopy. PW

More Brides flock to Rupert who ushers them onto a waiting bus before he waves from the platform as it leaves the stop. St. Leonard's Terrace with the corner of Smith Street in the background.

Looking south-west with the trees on left belonging to Tedworth Square. SJ

Having departed with a full load of Brides, the Routemaster travels through Chelsea while Rupert sprinkles confetti over the passengers. Facing north-east on Royal Hospital Road SW3 with buildings on Pimlico Road in the distance.

With Sloane Court West on the left. SJ

The bus crosses the river. Battersea Bridge crossing the Thames between Chelsea in SW3 and Battersea SW11.

Not quite the right angle but I nabbed the bus. SJ

Rupert and his bevy of Brides step in time down the steps of the Albert Memorial. The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens SW7, a location that can be seen in many productions including 'Jubilee’, '23 Paces to Baker Street', ‘The Million Pound Note’, 'Recoil', 'Three Hats for Lisa', 'Joanna', 'The Shakedown', 'Hangman's Wharf', ‘The Assassination Bureau Limited’.

A lone jogger braves the less summery scene. SJ

A corner is taken with Rupert waving from the platform of the RML. The 1966 bus, registration JJD 364 D turns from Danvers Street onto Chelsea Embankment, found by members of the Britmovie Forum.

Captured by Peter Zazzi, complete with an early morning Thames mist.

The titles end and Rupert is brought back to reality before continuing his walk to Jock's Box, the night club where he's employed as a pianist. Christopher Matheson (Britmovie) identifies this as Medburn Street NW1 with the background flats on Goldington Street. (RL)

Looking east with restored railings. SJ

Sitting on a see-saw, Rupert talks with his friend Oscar about wanting to write a musical and become a great composer.

Rupert tells Oscar (Eddie Foy, Jr.) that he's set a deadline of his 30th birthday in six weeks on September 13th . . . and he's going to get married by then too. A wooden escalator leading down to the platforms of an unknown underground station.

Thinking about placing almost enough money in an honesty box for his newspaper, Oscar tells Rupert that finding a wife is the biggest distraction of them all.

Leaning on Rupert's Morris Minor Convertible, Oscar reads his friend's horoscope "An important opportunity for the career minded!".

Rupert sets off to get his laundry done. Antony Blair recognised Lower Sloane Street SW1, approaching Sloane Square from the south with the Venus Fountain to the middle of shot and Sloane Street in the background.

As he drives, Rupert's mind wanders "Discipline, that's what I need." Ian Hedgcock identifies this as looking north along Sloane Street SW1 with Cadogan Gate on the left and Cadogan Place to the right.

And a supporting photo from Ian too.

"All the greats had it. Ludvig van Beethoven, up at 6am, a few press-ups followed by a cold plunge in the nearby brook . . . then, by 6.25am, eyes down for the first symphony of the day." Albert Bridge linking Chelsea and Battersea.

A detail from Albert Bridge. SJ

Standing up in the car to conduct, Rupert imagines himself as Beethoven. Belgrave Square SW1 with the corner of Upper Belgrave Street in the left background.

A favoured film location, and one of my most visited! SJ

"All that nonsense about marriage being a distraction. Bach was married. I bet Mrs. Bach never got in his way." Looking towards the west side of Oakley Street in Chelsea SW3.

99-101 Oakley Street with the white painted 102 on the right. SJ

"Mozart . . . he'd done the lot by the time he was 30." Rupert arrives outside his lodgings where Mr. Woolley (Harry Towb) polishes the Cadillac Convertible he hasn't got a licence to drive. Outside number 56 Ridgway Place in SW19.

Paul (Nicky Henson) reverses his E-Type Jaguar into Rupert's car after storming out of the house following a row with his girlfriend Louise. Looking onto Ridgway Place from the steps of number 56.

After meeting his new neighbour Louise, Rupert imagines himself wooing the now available girl-next-door. The style of the windows suggests the rear of 56 Ridgway Place.

Further daydreaming has Rupert driving in a stock car race to win Louise's heart.

Sporting a broken arm, sustained whilst intervening in a row involving Paul, Rupert and Louise Hammond (Suzy Kendall) pass Enid Woolley (Patricia Routledge) and her Husband as they leave the house. Identified by Sandgrounder on Britmovie as number 56 Ridgway Place in Wimbledon. (RL)

On the north side with an extension to the right. SJ

After tensions with Louise become apparent and his employer Jock McCue threatens him with court if he should fail to perform as usual, Rupert heads to Ireland with Oscar.

As the pair disembark from the ferry, Oscar reads a letter from Rupert's Doctor informing him that his arm isn't broken after all.

The two walk through Dublin city centre and Oscar begins to tell his life story. The Ha'penny Bridge crossing the River Liffey between Wellington Quay and Ormond Quay Lower in Dublin. The bridge also makes an appearance in 'Another Shore', 'Ulysses', 'Rooney', 'Flight of the Doves', 'Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx' and 'The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne'.

Taking this comparison, Pat Cleary tells us that despite the many bridges built across the Liffey since 1968 this one remains as popular as ever with Dubliners and tourists alike.

"At the age of 24 I was riding high. I had my shirts made in London, my hair cut in Rome. I was opening in my first Broadway show." Ha'penny Bridge with McGrath Brothers Tea Rooms at the corner of Liffey Street Lower and Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1 as the background.

The new entrances at both ends greatly enhance the bridge, as Pat Cleary's shot shows, with the entrance on the north side leading to boardwalks left and right.

"My girlfriend Adelaide got jealous of my success. And just before the final walk-down, she sprinkled marbles all over my staircase. When I picked myself out of the strings section I was unemployed." Facing numbers 19 and 20 Mountjoy Square East in Dublin 1.

Pat Cleary captures an excellent refurbishment that makes for very attractive view of these Georgian Houses.

Lodgings are found where Rupert can work on his musical. John Wallace locates the Wall Arms at 21 Gardiner Place, just off Mountjoy Square.

Pat Cleary found that traffic Lights, a street dustbin, electronic keyed doors and wall cables galore have been added over the years.

Failing to find the inspiration to compose, Rupert walks through Dublin with Oscar. Looking across the River Liffey towards 30 Lower Ormond Quay.

With the Liffey Boardwalk dating from 2000 crossing the scene, Pat Cleary's angle is a little to the right due to a large tourist bus stopped to the left.

Unable to find stimulation, Rupert listens to Oscar as the two walk between huge 500 gallon kegs which were once used to transport Guinness by ship "You see, I'll never dance again." Georges Quay, Dublin 2 identified by Pat Cleary, with the Loopline Railway Bridge over the River Liffey in the background.

Pat adds that this was as far upriver the Guinness ships could reach to be loaded.

"I'll always have the feeling of marbles under my feet" Donnellys Coal Wharf stood on Hanover Quay, Dublin and also features in 'The Hard Way'.

Marcas Uí Neíll gives thanks to his uncle for pinpointing the location. (RL)

Leaving Oscar to wander off reminiscing, Rupert enters a tower where, in exchange for money for his sustenance, a Storyteller relates the tale of Mehaul and Myra and the evil Sean Dubh. The Martello Tower, which became the James Joyce Tower and Museum in 1962, at Sandycove near Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. The location appears in 'Ulysses'.

Mark O'Neill provides the comparison of what is now the James Joyce tower and museum. (RL)

Oscar spots Rupert in the sea after he finds the inspiration for his musical . . . 'The Golden Legend of Erin'. Sandymount Beach below Strand Road in Dublin 4 located by Pat Cleary. The beach also appears in 'Ulysses'.

Pat discovered that land reclamation has altered appearances here and took this approximate shot showing just the top of the wall seen in the capture.

Oscar reminds Rupert that there are only three weeks until his birthday. Pat Cleary recognised Sandymount Beach with its Martello Tower to the left. 28 Towers were built between 1803-1815 along Dublin's coastline by the British who feared that Napoleon would invade Ireland. Sandymount was one of the largest and has another building attached that accommodated soldiers. In the distance, the Number 1 Chimney of Poolbeg Power Station is under construction, Number 2 was to be erected nine years later. 

The Martel;lo Tower is still there behind the trees! Pat draws our attention to the right of the shot and the iconic twin Poolbeg Chimneys, now out of use but surviving as protected structures. To the centre is a much newer plant that generates energy from residual waste.

Taking a break from composing, Rupert arrives at the Post Office dressed as Handel with another manuscript to be sent to Oscar. Facing the General Post Office on O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1.

The General Post Office frontage on a rainy morning. PW

Returning to England, Rupert discovers that Louise has left the Woolley's house for a teaching job in Birmingham and decides to look for her while Oscar oversees the musicals rehearsals.

As rehearsals continue, Rupert's agent Victor hires Greenslade, a Private Eye, to search for his missing client.

Making his way to Birmingham, Herbert Greenslade (John Bird) begins to look for Rupert. The bridge over the Grand Union Canal that carries tracks between the Coal Shoots on Camley Street N1 and Kings Cross Goods Depot with one of the goods sheds in the background.

Rupert crosses the road as Greenslade walks along the pavement outside the school where Louise is teaching.

Showing him a picture of Louise, Rupert asks a Policeman if he's seen her. Overlooking St. Pancras Basin on the Regents Canal off Camley Street in London N1 with Cambridge Street Loco Shed in the background. The basin lies just north of St. Pancras station and can also be seen in 'Smashing Time' as well as 'The Zoo Robbery'.

From the top of a gasometer, Greenslade surveys the horizon. Kensal Green Gasworks on Ladbroke Grove W10 with the Great Western Main Line passing to the left.

As Greenslade makes his way around the gas holder, Rupert appears on the walkway above. The waterless gasometer at Kensal Green Gasworks.

Looking through binoculars, Greenslade finds Rupert standing a few yards away. On top of the Coal Shoots on Camley Street with gasometers of St. Pancras Gas Works as the background. The coal shoots can be seen from street level in 'Alfie', 'Herostratus', 'Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter' and 'Robbery'.

After reuniting Louise and Rupert, the Private Detective takes them to the airport for a flight to London.

Realising that it's Friday the 13th, the decision is made to drive instead.

In the background, Rupert stands outside the theatre where 'The Golden Legend of Erin' is about to be performed while a Customer at a tea bar watches him being interviewed on television.

Irishmen from all over the British Isles converge on London for the production.

Mr. and Mrs. Woolley tell Rupert that they've passed their driving tests before they all take their seats for the performance.