Key Man, The (aka Life at Stake)

The films opens with celebrations in Piccadilly Circus. The advertising surrounding the Eros plinth would suggest that this could be VJ Day 1945 but a subsequent newspaper front page suggests it is VE Day.

Peter was passing on the top deck of a bus and took this shot of the current hoarding that protects Anteros from Christmas revelers. The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain has moved several times so the angle is hypothetical.

To reinforce the London location a view of the Thames and Houses of Parliament from Albert Embankment.

A similar view in daylight.

Haddow (Henry Vidon) reads the newspaper advertisement of Lionel Hulme (Lee Patterson) stating that the reader will hear something to their advantage if they contact him regarding the whereabouts of Arthur John Smithers (Philip Leaver). He walks on.

No longer an unknown location Christopher Matheson provided the answer, facing south in Bedford Place with Bloomsbury Square in the distance and the "now" shot.

He walks on into the films “Stafford Mews N.W.8” This might be Weymouth Mews that appears later.

Assuming this is Weymouth mews there have been so many changes it is not possible to be sure of the correct corner.

One of the three letters Lionel received saying that they know the whereabouts of Smithers came from Charles Jelf (George Margo), a street photographer in Trafalgar Square. National Gallery background.

No pedestrian crossing there now.

Their meeting is observed from a nearby taxi as they agree to meet at Aldwych Underground Station. St Martin's Place and the Edith Cavell Memorial to the left. The location also appears in in 'The Kitchen' and 'Front Page Story'.

Pedestrianised.

As they part Jelf takes a photograph of the occupant. Looking towards St Martin's in the Fields, left, and Trafalgar Square.

Considerably more pavement now.

Another of the letters to Lionel takes him to a barbers shop where he meets Dimitriadi (Harold Kasket). It even took Dave W time to establish this location, but he eventually found Museum Street, WC1 looking north towards New Oxford Street and Bloomsbury Way. In fact, outside No2, that was indeed a hairdressers, and an almost contemporaneous photograph of the premises can be see in London Picture Archive 73595.

The corner that is no. 42 Bloomsbury Way in the centre distance has survived. But the rest has changed and there could be more development as the trees on the left are under threat according to attached flyers. SJ

Jelf and Lionel meet again. Aldwych Underground station. Strand, London, WC2

Aldwych Station closed in 1994 when the cost of replacing the lifts was not economic.

They “go for a walk”. Strand, London WC2 The entrance to keyman011 would have been just out of shot to the right.

Now re-developed into King's College London.

Down an alley way. Strand Lane, as was, now substantially built on by the King’s College expansion.

Access to Strand Lane may have gone but the background, Bush House (Grade ll listed), survives and is now part of King's College Strand Campus.

Jelf advises Lionel that he is being “tailed”. Strand Lane, London WC2. The location is also seen in 'Crime of Honour' as well as 'Their Finest' and 'Grimsby', the latter two made nearly sixty years later.

At least much of the Lane survives.

Jelf tells Lionel that he shared a prison cell with Smithers and, as Dimitriadi also advised, he is dead. Strand Lane. The ‘Roman’ Bath can be viewed through a window the other side of the railings.

Not much has changed in this historic part of London.

As they climb a flight of steps Jelf tells Lionel that there was another man involved in the £20,000 robbery, Haddow, also that Smithers talked in his steep about “a key”. Surrey Steps, Strand Lane, London WC2.

The sign confirms that I have the right place.

They separate, Jelf is about to enter Surrey Street looking towards Howard Street., long swallowed up in development.

Certainly for now the gates are locked.

Lionel learns from Mrs Glass (Maudie Edwards) the publican, that Arthur Smithers is not only alive but frequents the pub from time to time. Coincidently he calls in for a drink but rushes off before Lionel can meet with him. The Dover Castle, Weymouth Mews, London W1

Presumably it will re-open when the works are finished.

Subsequent events prompt a meeting with Smithers at the "Thameside Restaurant”. Southbank and Waterloo Bridge.

A brief break in the crowds.

A full shot of the Restaurant for record purposes.

No shortage of places to eat nearby now, try the British Film Institute to the right.

In exchange for some money for Smithers “to get away” Lionel obtains the keys to the deposit box at “Key Lane Underground Stronghold Treasury”. Moorgate on the corner with Kings Arms Yard, London EC2

Thankfully all very much the same.

Meanwhile, Lionel’s wife Pauline (Paula Byrne), returns home from her mother’s and is confronted by Haddow. She hastily escapes but Haddow learns of Lionel’s visit to the stronghold. Weymouth Mews, London W1

The shadows suggest much the same time of day.

Around the corner she finds a convenient telephone box. Weymouth Mews, London W1

Could that have been a convenient prop?

Whilst Pauline is on the telephone to the Police Haddow makes his way to the stronghold. Weymouth Mews entering Weymouth Street, London W1

I had to wait a bit for this shot, it seems to be a place to "pop and have a fag".

Haddow, with an original key, assists Lionel to open the safe deposit box as he is having trouble with a duplicate. They leave, Lionel with a gun in his back. Moorgate on the corner with Kings Arms Yard, London EC2

I think that you have to press the buzzer to be let into that bank.

They walk to a bomb site. New Union Street with Moorgate Station to the left of the frame looking across Moorfields.

Difficult to get anywhere near that location now but the background buildings still survive.

They arrive at wooden hut. New Union Street, London EC2

Difficult to be totally exact but the Barbican dominates the scene now.

They stand and “discuss” the situation as to how Haddow “thinks he is going to get away with it”. New Union Street, London EC2 looking towards the rear of the Whitbread Brewery, Chiswell Street.

Even if my angle is slightly off it would remain an uninteresting "now".

Smithers turns up in his Austin A40 Somerset Convertible. Doesn’t look quite the day to have the top down!

Maybe there will be a clearer view when the boarding comes down.

Haddow is “accidently” shot, Smithers and Lionel return to the car with Lionel designated as driver. New Union Street with a clearer view of the Whitbread Brewery.

They head off at speed. Milton Street, London EC2 turning into Fore Street. with Armourers & Braziers Hall, Coleman Street just right of centre.

The eastern end of Milton Street has been absorbed into the Barbican development.

The police having visited the stronghold give chase apparently knowing exactly where the action is. Also turning into Fore Street.

We are probably on the second or third redevelopment now.

They follow the same route passing St. Giles-without-Cripplegate and the remaining building in Jewin Crescent also seen in 'The Weapon'.

Now St Giles Terrace part of the Barbican development.

Smithers and Lionel depart Finsbury Circus via Circus Place, London EC2. Park House in the background.

Once the Crossrail project is over we may be able to see through to the other side once again.

The police are not far behind and follow them into Circus Place. A reverse point of view is seen in 'Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence'.

It makes a welcome change to have the scaffolding only in the capture.

They are back into Finsbury Circus! This and other similar angle shots were also seen in 'The Americanization of Emily'.

Crossrail intrudes once again.

As do the police passing Britannic House designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens.

Rather more parking control these days.

Eventually finding their way to Tower Bridge.

A very convenient traffic island.

Some chancy overtaking. St. Andrews Church, New Kent Road, London SE1. Demolished in 1956

A different spirit is represented now.

Turning sharply left carefully avoiding a pedestrian. New Kent Road into Bartholomew Street with Ada Lewis House, Women’s Lodging House, now Driscoll House Hotel background slightly right of centre.

A surprisingly similar scene today.

Continuing the chase we are now into territory closer to the film studio. Morden Road, London SW19

Industrial units are more sympathetically hidden these days.

The police get ever closer. Morden Road in SW19. a reverse point of view to the previous capture.

I should have captured one of the many police cars that day for an accurate now.

Lionel and Smithers swerve right into Nursery Road, a dead end now and a dead end then. John Muhlhaus points out that a few frames before this capture can be seen the large headboard of the famous factory in the background saying HOME OF PEDIGREE DOLLS. It was the Merton branch of Lines Brothers, who made cuddly toys and also Triang products. The factory has gone now, as seen in your present day shot.

Now they would have had to wait for the lights to change.

The police clip the pavement with their turn.

Maybe that is why the bollard was put there.

Lionel struggles with Smithers to take control of the gun. Watery Lane, Merton in London SW20 with Spencers Garage ahead. The street is also seen in 'The Cross-Roads Gallows', 'Dial 999', 'Marriage of Convenience', 'Dead Man's Chest' and 'Egghead's Robot'.

The garage has long gone.

After the struggle Lionel partly regains control of the car . . . Exiting Watery Lane to enter Kingston Road.

Redevelopment on the far side but otherwise much the same.

…..is unable to stop in time and they appear…..…. not to crash...........

I quite expected to see a British Airways advertisement!

…….…..but provide us with clearer view of the location….. Kingston Road with Long Lodge, Merton Park Studios, centre building.

Long Lodge is still there behind the greenery with suitable plaques.

….before crashing into what appears to be a set built between the Studios and the Leather Bottle public house on Kingston Road, a pub that also features in 'Dead Man's Chest', 'Konga' and 'Never Back Losers'.

The Leather Bottle is still there.