Charlie Bubbles

An establishing shot of London's Admiralty Arch standing between The Mall and Trafalgar Square in SW1, which Charlie Bubbles' gold Rolls Royce will soon be passing through.

Now, nearly dead on but not quite. SJ

The Silver Cloud convertible draws up outside a gentleman's club where Charlie has arranged to meet with his agent. A City of Westminster lamp post of the era aided Dave W to pinpoint Chesterfield Gardens, London W1, outside No 7 and looking towards Curzon Street. (RL)

A white van to admire in place of the Rolls. SJ

Charlie Bubbles (Albert Finney) enters the club and spots his old pal, Smokey Pickles during lunch. No 7 Chesterfield Gardens, London W1 identified by Dave W. (RL)

This replaces Dave's Google Earth View as it is today without as he says "that garish striped canopy." SJ

After a food fight in the club's restaurant, Charlie and Smokey Pickles (Colin Blakely) walk through the West End. Regent Street with the entrance to Tenison Court in the background.

Peter took this comparison.

The two friends draw strange looks from the passers by. The camera follows along Regent Street.

The same location from Peter.

Piccadilly with the corner of Eagle Place to the top left.

Peter took this shot from ground level.

Charlie and Smokey enter the Simpson department store. Piccadilly in SW1.

Again from street level by Peter.

The camera tilts up the building as the pair purchase new clothes. Simpson later moved to premises on Old Bond Street and the building has been occupied by Waterstones since 1999.

Peter found the building almost unchanged.

Charlie and his secretary Eliza (Liza Minnelli) depart after leaving Smokey with Maud (Diana Coupland).

The two stop off at a petrol station on their journey towards the north of England. Ian McGreevy identifies this as opposite Tithe Walk on Watford Way, Mill Hill in London NW7. It is now a car dealership only but at time of filming it was K-Garage, noted for being "last petrol before the M1".

Denis Hoare stopped off to capture the forecourt as it is now. (RL)

The Garage Attendant (George Innes) walks over to fill Charlie's car. K-Garage on Watford Way, Mill Hill located by Ian McGreevy.

Parked cars now take the place of petrol pumps. Denis thinks that he should perhaps have panned a little further to the right, but we get the picture of a much changed scene. (RL)

Another stop is taken at a motorway services. The sign that they passed a few frames ago read Newport Pagnell Services, and this footbridge was seen in 'Layer Cake'.

Richard Winchester visited the bridge during a quiet moment.

Airman (Alan Lake) gets out of the car after being given a lift home by Charlie and Eliza. John Aird Court, Little Venice, London W2, found by Steve Randall.

A new playground to the left. SJ

As Charlie drives away the RAF squaddie heads to the door of the block of flats. John Aird Court, London W2. Also seen in 'Side by Side', and 'Entertaining Mr. Sloane' (SR)

A few details have changed in the landscaping otherwise as is. SJ

Eliza takes photographs whilst the two travel around Charlie's home town of Manchester.

The camera moves with Eliza as she takes more shots.

Charlie drives on. The urban landscape was once Pendleton in Salford, now in Greater Manchester.

The camera pans with the car as it travels through the dereliction.

Several tower blocks come into view.

The pair continue their exploration of the once urban landscape. Bury Street, now Loganberry Avenue, lies on the extreme left and the nearmost tower block was Lilac Court which has since been demolished.

An ariel shot sees the gold Rolls Royce pass along demolished streets.

Eliza sits on the car's bonnet as she continues to take pictures. In the centre distance stands the church of St Thomas on Broad Street in Pendleton, Manchester 6.

Empty terraces stand on rain soaked streets.

More photos are taken by Eliza, including one of a bus queue . . . . . . .

. . . . . and one of a marching band.

Charlie drives after the band before heading into the city centre.

Looking south-west across Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester towards Piccadilly Plaza and the Hotel Piccadilly with the Sunley Building (since renamed City Tower) to the extreme right.

The same location, well half of it, now. (PW)

The camera moves with the Rolls Royce as Charlie and Eliza near the Hotel Piccadilly. Piccadilly Gardens, which also feature in 'The Lovers!', 'Cup Fever', 'All the Right Noises', 'Hell is a City' and 'Billy Liar'.

Piccadilly Gardens from the corner of Piccadilly and Portland Street. (PW)

A concierge opens the car door for Eliza. Buildings on Portland Street stand in the background with properties at the corner of Aytoun Street to the extreme left.

Peter Brown explains that the building on the right was built for the now defunct Greater Manchester Council and that the building in the background of the capture still stands on the corner of Aytoun Street. However, the role of concierge at the hotel is no more.

Charlie looks out onto the city. Rodwell Tower on Piccadilly stands in the centre distance.

Charlie leaves Manchester and drives to see his son Jack and his estranged wife, Lotti . . . .

In April 2017 Peter Giles provided a view from Google Earth looking NW into the Vale of Edale, taken from near the summit of the road over Rushup Edge. The high point is Grindslow Knoll above Edale village in Derbyshire. Now replaced by SJ

The author heads through the hills. Looking North into the Vale of Edale with Upper Booth at the right advises Peter Giles.

Again replacing Peter's Google. SJ

When he sees the gold Rolls approach, Jack Bubbles (Timothy Garland) runs towards home. Peter Giles advises that this is Crowden Lea, Upper Booth Lane, Edale. (RL)

This was the best I could do without trespass. SJ

The young boy peers over a wall as his father arrives at the farm. Peter Giles advises that this is Upper Booth Farm, Upper Booth, Edale only some 10 metres left of the view point is Crowden Lea seen in chabu033 and other captures. (RL)

This replaces a stock photo with an original shot. SJ

Charlie plays football with his son. Another shot of Crowden Lea on Upper Booth Lane in Edale, Derbyshire advises Peter Giles. (RL)

An off-angle shot which shows the window arrangement nicely. I spoke to the occupiers who were aware of the film and they hope to provide better angles. SJ

Lottie Bubbles (Billie Whitelaw) feeds the dog and the goat at the farm where she lives with Jack. Crowden Lea, Upper Booth Lane, Edale once more. (RL)

On another day, Jack is taken to a football match by his father. In the background stands The Trafford public house at the corner of Chester Road and Warwick Way in Stretford M16.

The Trafford pub is still there on Chester Road in Peter Brown's view.

The two move with the croud as they near Manchester United's ground. Sir Matt Busby Way, formerly Warwick Road North.

Peter Brown advises that the building at the corner of Warwick Road North, to the left in the screen capture, has been demolished and replaced by a car showroom, whilst the one in the right background has been re-clad.

A view from the stadium sees the supporters arrive for the match between United and Chelsea. The bridge carries Warwick Road North over the railway line runing between Manchester and Warrington via Urmston and a train can be seen pulling into Old Trafford Football Ground station.

Peter Brown could only obtain a street-level shot here which is obscured somewhat by cabins.

Father and son watch the game in silence before Gerry, an old school friend, arrives in the private box.

Antony Blair was at the same location 56 years later when Manchester United were playing against Brentford in front of 74,000 fans.

Fans disperse after the match.

Gerry (John Ronane), now a reporter, follows Charlie. Manchester United's ground and the surrounding streets also appear in 'The Lovers!', 'Cup Fever' and 'Billy Liar'.

Jack runs down the stands towards the pitch.

Outside the ground, the newspaper man has a dig at the local boy who did good.

Gerry follows as Charlie searches for his son. John Burton advises that in the left background stands Royal Mills alongside the Rochdale Canal in Ancoats, Manchester which was then in Lancashire.

A good match from Peter Brown who adds that the area has undergone extensive regeneration in recent years with more to come. Royal Mills, and the other cotton mills in the area, have been converted into apartments and a marina has been built beyond the bridge on the Rochdale Canal which is navigable once again.

The two men walk down United Road alongside the North Stand of Manchester United's Old Trafford ground. The tower of Kilvert & Sons lard refinery stands to the extreme left which has been replaced by the A5081, Wharfside Way.

The North Stand has been extended out over the peripheral road to form the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand advises Peter brown adding "This has created a tunnel but the line of the 1960s stadium can still be seen on the right. The site of the Kilvert & Sons factory can no longer be seen but this site is now occupied by Hotel Football, a football themed hotel owned by most of 'the Class of '92'.

Leaving Jack to find his own way home, Charlie stops abruptly whilst heading back to the farm. Lancashire Hill in Stockport, Cheshire identified by Ian Barrie.

Ian returned to the location to capture the scene now.

Charlie dashes from the car to be ill at the roadside. Ian Normansell identifies this as Lancashire Hill in Stockport with Pendlebury Hall in the background and Ian Barrie adds "There was a small graveyard there when the film was made".

Ian found that the small graveyard is now a rather overgrown seating area.

The next morning, when he spots a hot air balloon in a nearby meadow, Charlie sets out to investigate. Peter Giles advises that this is Crowden Lea, Upper Booth Lane, Edale once more. (RL)

Charlie walks towards the balloon before climbing into the basket and launching himself into the air. Ian identifies this as somewhere along the A54 road running between Buxton and Congleton, as you can clearly see Tegg's Nose to the right.

Peter Giles disagrees with Ian's identification and with this shot from Google Earth, says that this is once again the Vale of Edale in Derbyshire. The distinctive peak to the right is Lose Hill, with Broadlee-bank Tor to the left. The balloon is on the ground in a field just west of Highfield Farm, near Upper Booth, about 250 metres from the Streetview location. (RL)