Linda

Date: 1960
Director: Don Sharp
Production Company: Independent Artists

Stars: Carol White, Alan Rothwell, Cavan Malone, Edward Cast
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, London, Sussex

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

When he meets a girl, a teenager’s focus drifts away from the gang that he’s a member of.

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson

Once appearing on the British Film Institute’s “75 Most Wanted” list of lost or missing British feature films, since rediscovered and shown on Talking Pictures TV in August 2025.

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The title sequence contains views seen later in the production, except for this one. Looking across the River Thames from Battersea Bridge Gardens SW10 to Durham Wharf in Battersea SW11 with Battersea Bridge to the left.

All change but the bridge is still there. SJ

Number 11 buses negotiate the corners at the junction of King's Road, Park Walk and Milman's Street on the SW3 / SW10 boundary.

The junction now. PW

The camera pans left to look north-east along King's Road, Chelsea.

Facing north-east with The Porticos to the left of centre. PW

Facing the Man in the Moon pubic house at the corner of Park Walk SW10 and King's Road SW3.

Currently, the former pub is an Italian restaurant. PW

With nothing to do, Ted Williams (Richard Palmer) combs his hair, Chief (Cavan Malone) smokes and Phil (Alan Rothwell) leans against the pub doors. The pavement outside the Man in the Moon in Chelsea.

No one hanging around outside when I visited. PW

Across the street, Clara (Lois Daine), Rosie (Vivienne Lacey) and Linda (Carol White) walk into view. Lamont Road Passage seen from Park Walk SW10.

Phone boxes and fencing removed along with a change of bollards. PW

The Lads spot the Girls and make their move. The corner of Park Walk and King's Road in the World's End area of Chelsea, recognised by Louis Moruzzi.

Taken from a similar viewpoint. PW

Continuity remains true as the three Young Women continue their walk towards the Arcade Café set at the studio. King's Road, Chelsea.

Redevelopment is very apparent in the left background. PW

Ted, Chief and Phil set off in pursuit. Kings Road SW10.

The same corner with a closer view of the background buildings. PW

On Sunday morning, Phil's Mother's Boyfriend buys a newspaper. Found with the assistance of Alexander Ross, this is Semley Place in SW1 with the wall of number 4 in the background.

Long since redeveloped, the location is now outside Rileys sports bar beneath Semley House on Semley Place. PW

Reading as he walks, the Man heads back to the flat where Phil is developing pictures that he's taken. Facing Ebury Buildings on Semley Place in SW1 recognised by Alexander Ross. The location also appears in 'Dance Hall' and 'Hunted'.

Taken within the sports bar that now occupies the site, with thanks to the Management and Staff of Rileys Victoria. PW

Meeting her in the Arcade Café, Phil takes Linda to Brighton for the day on his scooter. Old Stein in Brighton, Sussex with the Palace Pier to the top left.

Viewed at ground level from Steine Street. (SD)

The pair stop near the pier. Looking over Grand Junction Road towards the landward end of Brighton’s Palace Pier.

Viewed from the steps at the side of the partially demolished Royal Albion Hotel. (SD)

After a quick look around, Phil moves on to find a parking place. Grand Junction Road and Esplanade in Brighton.

Viewed at ground level from beside the Royal Albion Hotel. (SD)

  • 'Now' required

Making the best of their day at the coast, the two get to know each other before the ride back to London. Dale Hill at the junction of the A23 and A281 West Road to the north of Brighton, Sussex.

Evening is drawing in when Phil pulls in at a roadside pub. The junction of Colinswood Road and Parish Lane at Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire with the Yew Tree public house to the left.

Antony Blair returned to the location 66 years later.

With mascara running down her face, Linda sits on the scooter after Phil enters the pub alone. Outside the Yew Tree on the B473, now A355, which closed in 2006.

Now a Indian Restaurant, as discovered by Antony Blair.

The two make up and the journey home nears its end as Phil and Linda cross the Thames. Westminster Bridge crossing the River Thames from SE1 to SW1 with the Houses of Parliament in the left background.

The main change is the addition of Portcullis House in 2001. (SR)

Chief walks past a demolition site where Ted has got a job. Totteridge Road, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire with the still extant number 30 on the corner of the former Pennington Row as the background.

Antony Blair found number 30 obscured by the building being constructed on the site all those years ago.

Ted catches up with Chief as he passes and is told to gather the others for a meeting at the milk bar at 7 o’clock. Totteridge Road in High Wycombe where Townfield House now stands on the demolition site.

As stated, the capture was taken from where 'Townfield House' now stands, so Phil Richards had great difficulty in finding a suitable spot to attempt a comparative shot. After his own H&S assessment, standing immediately next to the doorway in the capture, on a pallet to see over a ground floor extension, he pressed the shutter button. (RL)

Linda runs to meet Phil and her Friends at the café. King's Road at the junction with Park Walk and Milman's Street.

The pedestrian crossing remains in place. PW

The camera moves with Linda as she runs from view. Looking along King's Road, Chelsea SW10.

The same flats overlook the road towards Fulham. PW

Linda and Phil run from the dance hall leaving Chief, Ted, Clara and Rosie behind. King's Road SW3 from the corner of Milman's Street.

Looking west down King's Road from Milman's Street. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Told by Ted and Joe that they saw Linda with someone else, Phil asks Chief where he can find him as the Lads prepare to face Benson's Gang.

Ted makes his way to the river. Beside Battersea Bridge in SW10 with Cheyne Walk crossing the background.

The stump of the curiously mangled tree remains while the path, also specifically seen from the other direction in 'I'm a Stranger', running off the bottom has been grassed over. SJ

Battersea Bridge Gardens at the corner of Battersea Bridge and Cheyne Walk in World's End, Chelsea.

With a huff and a puff, I climbed onto the wall. SJ

As he nears the river, Ted sees a Young Boy calling from the water. Looking onto Battersea Reach, a location featured in 'The Horse's Mouth', 'Design for Loving', 'I'm a Stranger' and 'Otley'.

Panning left. SJ

Ted descends to the shore. Beaufort Stairs leading down to the shore of the River Thames.

The wall and steps are still there. SJ

As Ted takes off his shoes, the Vicar spots him and the Youngster. Looking down river with Battersea Bridge crossing the scene.

I decided not to pop down to the shore. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Wading into the Thames, Ted rescues Peter Seymour from the water. Battersea Reach of the River Thames with factories, works and warehouses on Battersea Church Road to the top left.

Witnessing the rescue, the Vicar (Edward Cast) has a thought. The view up river from Battersea Bridge Gardens.

I'm a little disappointed with this view as I've omitted the south bank. SJ

The Vicar returns with a Policeman. Battersea Bridge Gardens in Chelsea SW10.

Looking to the east below Battersea Bridge Gardens. SJ

Confirming what had happened, the Officer takes everyone to the police station where a local News Reporter and Photographer record the story. Battersea Bridge Gardens with the four chimneys of Fulham power station in the distance.

The much changed shoreline of Sand's End. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Finding out that Joe and Ted were lying and having made up with Linda, Phil takes her to the fun fair. Battersea Fun Fair in Battersea Park SW11 where Michael Bradley explains that this is the Big Dipper, a wooden roller-coaster that opened in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain. The site of the former ride is now occupied by the Children's Zoo.

Chief leaves Alf's Transport Café on Leonard Road after receiving a letter that Benson's Gang are aiming to take over. Found by Puddy Tat, this is looking Temple End from Frogmore in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire with the disused Intimate Theatre theatre to the left and Paradise Place just past the bridges on the right. The theatre had closed in the late 1950 and the building remains as offices.

Phil points out here that the view is enlarged because in the capture there is a second railway bridge that has now been demolished. Whilst there, he took the trouble to investigate the theatre and all he could extract was to find that it is now a dental surgery. (RL)

  • 'Now' required

After tea and cake, Phil and Linda continue with their afternoon together before he proposes to her. Battersea Fun Fair in SW11.