Boys in Blue, The
Date: 1982
Director: Val Guest
Production Company: Apollo Leisure Group, MAM Ltd.
Stars: Tommy Cannon, Bobby Ball, Suzanne Danielle, Roy Kinnear, Eric Sykes, Jack Douglas, Jon Pertwee, Edward Judd
Location(s): Bedfordshire, Dorset, Hertfordshire, London
Region(s): London A-B, South East A-D, South West
Storyline:
Two inept officers run the police station in a quiet coastal town but when the station is threatened with closure they decide to invent some crimes to justify their existence.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill
The film is based on Will Hay’s ‘Ask a Policeman’ from 1938.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Stolen paintings are transferred between vehicles after an art robbery . . . Norma Coggins identifies this location as Shenley Road in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
One of the robbers takes on the disguise of a dustman. Norma Coggins locates this as Shenley Road adding that the building was a dentist's surgery but then became a squat.
- Capture 3
- 15 Dec 2012
The getaway car is transformed into an ambulance. Found by Mariocki on the Britmovie site forum, this is the Total Garage on the North Orbital Road at Colney Heath in Hertfordshire.
Sent in by Neil (NR) as proof. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 4
- 30 Aug 2020
Later, in fictional Little Botham, Sergeant Cannon (Tommy Cannon) tries to get a traffic jam moving. Brook Street in Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire.

The first of seven comparison shots by Antony Blair replacing NR's earlier Google captures.
- Capture 5
- 30 Aug 2020
Sergeant Cannon is shouted at. Brook Street in Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire.

The 'keep clear' road markings seem to be working in Antony's view.
- Capture 6
- 30 Aug 2020
PC Ball (Bobby Ball) attempts to move the cause of the hold up. Brook Street in Edlesborough.

Antony took this shot along Brook Street where newly built properties stand in the left foreground.
- Capture 7
- 30 Aug 2020
PC Ball fails to move the herd of cows and calls to his sergeant for help. Brook Street in Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire.

38 years later, Antony Blair turned up, but the cows had gone!
- Capture 8
- 30 Aug 2020
After Sergeant Cannon takes control of the cows, the traffic moves off. High Street in Edlesborough confirmed by Antony Blair.

Antony found the same two properties on the High Street.
- Capture 9
- 30 Aug 2020
The Chief Constable (Eric Sykes) finds that his car has been damaged. Summerlys, Edlesborough in Buckinghamshire.

The same village store captured by Antony.
- Capture 10
- 30 Aug 2020
Sergeant Cannon and PC Ball are berated by the Chief Constable. Summerlys in Edlesborough.

Antony Blair replaces the last of NR's earlier Google images in the sequence with this view looking along Summerlys from outside the village stores.
- Capture 11
- 09 Aug 2014
The boat being hauled through the earlier traffic jam arrives at the harbour. Cove Row, Weymouth in Dorset.
Location photo replaces Google image (NR). A nice place to park your car and fish for crabs. SD
- Capture 12
- 14 Nov 2015
The boat arrives at a warehouse. Coppermill Lock, Harefield in London which appears in 'The Firefighters' and 'Sons and Lovers'.
Neil Rigby wasn't beaten and pinched this off a YouTube video, a pretty good angle too! The warehouse is now all canal side apartments and known as Coppermill Lock. (RL)
- Capture 13
- 09 Aug 2014
The boys in blue drive along the harbour. Cove Row, Weymouth looking towards Nothe Parade. The road features in 'You Know What Sailors Are'.
Now, with the obligatory cars. SD
- Capture 14
- 09 Aug 2014
PC Ball delivers a box of groceries to a seaman. Cove Row, Weymouth. Just across the river from where scenes for 'The Damned' were shot.
Now. SD
- Capture 15
- 15 Dec 2012
PC Ball and Sergeant Cannon question an estate agent about newcomers into the town. High Street in Wool, Dorset advises Neil Rigby.
"Horace gave the village name on Britmovie forum. I tracked it to High Street in Wool" NR. Image copyright Google
- Capture 16
- 16 Dec 2012
The view from the estate agents office.
View from estate agents. Address as previous, High Street, Wool, Dorset. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 17
- 16 Dec 2012
The duo arrive at John Hilling's house. High Canons Farm, Borehamwood which features in 'Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World' and 'Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall'.
An ariel view of High Canons Farm from Neil Rigby. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
PC Ball talks with Hilling. Shows the rear of the police station. High Canons Farm, Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.
- Capture 19
- 11 Mar 2016
Establishing shot of Little Botham in the county of Dorminster. Lulworth Cove in Dorset, which is also seen in 'Four Sided Triangle', 'Nuts in May', ‘The Black Rider’, ‘The Boys in Blue’, 'Five on Treasure Island', 'World War Z', 'The Flaw' and ‘Out of Season’.
A fence runs along the edge of this steep hill, so some leaning was involved to obtain the correct angle. SD
- Capture 20
- 16 Dec 2012
The boys arrive at the home of Mr. Lloyd. Simon James identifies this as High Canons, Buckettsland Lane near Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. The house has been seen in various productions including 'Rentadick', 'You Must be Joking' and 'To The Devil a Daughter'.
High Canons now.
- Capture 21
- 16 Dec 2012
After questioning Mr Lloyd, the pair leave the estate. The gate house of High Canons on Buckettsland Lane near Borehamwood again located by Simon James.
High Canons gatehouse from Neil Rigby. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 22
- 19 Dec 2012
Sergeant Cannon calls on the postman. Main Road, West Lulworth in Dorset.
The postman's cottage, right by the Cove. The last house.
- Capture 23
- 'Now' required
The pair pause after losing their police car whilst pursuing Lloyd and Kim. Filmed in studios adds NR
- Capture 24
- 16 Dec 2012
PC Ball and Sergeant Cannon commandeer a bus to continue the chase. Tempsford Avenue Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.
The same place from NR. Image copyright Google
- Capture 25
- 02 Jul 2023
An establishing shot of the local town centre . . . which is the B691 Victoria Street in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Steve Randall just happened to be walking down Victoria Street.
- Capture 26
- 09 Nov 2023
Lloyd and Kim wait in traffic. High Road, Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire.

A ground level shot to replace Neil's Google image. (SR)
- Capture 27
- 09 Nov 2023
The bus joins the traffic queue. High Road in Bushey Heath.

Again from ground level replacing a Google shot. (SR)
- Capture 28
- 09 Nov 2023
Passengers board the bus . . . . High Road, Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire.

Taken from in the road, but I was safely on a crossing. (SR)
- Capture 29
- 09 Nov 2023
. . . . . and the chase continues. More of Bushey Heath's High Road.

The view today. (SR)
- Capture 30
- 09 Nov 2023
A policeman spots the stolen bus. High Road, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire.

Despite many changes to this row of shops, the Heath Pharmacy remains. (SR)
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required
The Chief Constable joins in the chase. Unknown location.
- Capture 32
- 'Now' required
The chase ends in a crash on a race track where Mr Lloyd (Roy Kinnear) and Kim (Suzanne Danielle) attempt to escape. Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire located by Geoffrey Rapeseed.
- Capture 33
- 16 Dec 2012
An extra from NR to show the police station. High Canons Farm in Hertfordshire.
High Canons near Borehamwood. Image copyright Google.

