Melody (aka S.W.A.L.K.)

The start of a panning shot during the titles. The road running across the image is Kennington Road with Chester Way to the bottom centre. London SE11. Newy Brothwell suspects that this and the next capture were shot from the top of the London College of Printing where he believes Alan Parker (writer of the original story and screenplay) went as a student. (RL)

Moving southward, the shot brings Denny Street and Denny Crescent into view. To the extreme left is Kennington Lane.

John Harwood explains that a block of high rise flats now prevents taking a comparison at the exact angle.

The Boy's Brigade march through the streets led by their Captain (John Gorman). Battersea Church Road, London SW11.

The wall and Seifert-designed housing tower block still stand. SJ

The company turns from the road towards St Mary's Church. Battersea Church Road SW11.

Yes! Russell Groves took the pic.

The camera pans slightly as the boys march into the churchyard. Off Battersea Church Road.

Russell again. Good work. We were all here with Alfie.

A view of the Thames from alongside St Mary's Church on Battersea Church Road SW11.

Pretty close. Full marks Russell.

The company marches in front of the church. St Mary's Church, Battersea Church Road.

And the fourth from Russell.

Daniel Latimer (Mark Lester) stands uneasily in line. Looking over the Thames from St Mary's Church on Battersea Church Road. The church was also seen in 'Food for a Blush', 'For Them that Trespass' and 'Alfie' while the background appears in 'The Optimists of Nine Elms' as well as 'Night, After Night, After Night'.

Across the river stands the disused Lots Road power station. (PW)

Looking across at Ornshaw (Jack Wild), the Captain remarks about the smart turn out by Daniel. St Mary's Churchyard on the banks of the River Thames in London SW11. A similar shot was seen in 'For Them That Trespass'.

The replacement for Fulham power station stands over the Thames. (PW)

The Captain praises Daniel who tells him that his Mother made him join the brigade. The spire of St Mary's Church rises in the right background. Battersea Church Road.

And it still does! (PW)

Mrs. Latimer (Sheila Steafel) waits to collect her son. Battersea Church Road with Fulham Power Station across the Thames.

An approximation of the screen capture, with no power station as a guide. (PW)

The company disbands at the end of the parade.

St Mary's Church on Battersea Church Road SW11. (PW)

Ornshaw enjoys the ride as he's given a lift home by Daniel's Mother. Steve Harman has identified this as Battersea Church Road, the turning going left in the background being Bolingbroke Walk. (RL)

Looking south-west on Battersea Church Road. SJ

Mrs Latimer pulls up to drop Ornshaw off at 'home'.

Facing north on Kennington Road, London. (PW)

Ornshaw waits for Mrs Latimer to drive away.

Kennington Road, London SE11. (PW)

After Mrs Latimer and Daniel drive away, Ornshaw climbs the garden wall and makes off. Kennington Road.

A little bit closer but the same location now. (PW)

The Ship public house is passed as Ornshaw runs to his 'real' home.

Kennington Road at the corner of Bishops Terrace SE11. (PW)

Ornshaw walks towards the back door of his downbeat house. The long since demolished buildings stand on Morton Place off Cosser Street in London SE1.

From ground level, this is the same location. With thanks to the management and staff at Days Hotel Waterloo. (PW)

Mrs Latimer and her Son arrive home. Musgrave Crescent, London SW6.

There are still "For Sale" boards to be seen. (RL)

Melody Perkins (Tracy Hyde) leaves her flat when she hears a Rag & Bone man in the courtyard below. Surrey Lodge Dwellings in Kennington says IMDB.

Looking up towards where Surrey Lodge Dwelling once stood. (PW)

After receiving a goldfish in exchange for clothes, Melody takes a walk. The courtyard enclosed by buildings on Morton Place, Cosser Street and Kennington Road with Surrey Lodge flats in the background.

This comparison can only be from almost the same spot. With acknowledgement to the management and staff at Days Hotel Waterloo. (PW)

Melody takes her newly acquired goldfish for a walk! After much deliberation, this is identified by Stephen Graham as Kennington Road SE11 with Clayton Buildings on Lollard Place filling the skyline. Steven Harman enlarges of the description adding that the shot shows Kennington Road between Lollard Street and Fitzalan Street.

Taken from from the same position. (PW)

The goldfish is let out to swim in a water trough before Melody sets off along Kennington Lane and Kennington Road, locations recognised by Steve Harman. This is Lambeth Road at the junction with Kennington Road in London SE1.

Almost the same angle due to nearly being run down by traffic. (PW)

Melody departs after finding her Father, Mr Perkins (Roy Kinnear) at the pub. The Ship public house on Kennington Road with Bishops Terrace to the right.

The Ship now. (PW)

Boys play football during break time at school. Newy Brothwell places this as St Paul's School for Girls, Hammersmith. Steve Harman advises that these are the playing fields of St Paul's Primary School, Colet Court, Hammermith Road, which was the building used for the majority of the school interior scenes and also the interiors of Melody, Daniel and Ornshaw's houses. St Paul's School for Girls he adds, does back onto the field and it may have used by both schools, but he is not certain of that point. (RL)

The girls watch as a fight between boys takes place. Similarly, Newy Brothwell places this as St Paul's School for Girls, Hammersmith. Steve Harman advises that these are the playing fields of St Paul's Primary School, Colet Court, Hammermith Road, which was the building used for the majority of the school interior scenes and also the interiors of Melody, Daniel and Ornshaw's houses. St Paul's School for Girls he adds, does back onto the field and it may have used by both schools, but he is not certain of that point. (RL)

Classmates hurry away after school ends with a lesson with Mr. Dicks. Mark Walsh identifies this as Highmaster's House on Hammersmith Road in Hammersmith W6.

Now. Replacing my original photo with a season corrected version. SD

The boys run across waste ground to the disused railway sidings where they play. Steve also tells us that the entrance to the bombsite was the site of St Pauls Boy's School (yes, there were three schools altogether) Colet Gardens and is now St. Paul's Court, residential development. (RL)

Stacey demonstrates his latest homemade bomb as the lads gather around. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. Steve is also able to tell us that this and the location series are all from the Nine Elms North Goods Depot, Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall. (RL)

Ornshaw calls Daniel over when he is seen watching the gang. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. (RL)

The boys run run from the railway yard to catch the bus home. Hercules Road SW1.

The same railway arches. (PW)

Ornshaw, Daniel and the other boys crash into children waiting at the bus stop. Outside The Pineapple public house on Hercules Road in Lambeth.

Less plain now. SJ

After an already full number 21 bus leaves the stop, Ornshaw and Daniel cross the road to catch another into the city. The buses are props for the film as the 21 never ran in this area of London.

Outside The Pineapple pub on Hercules Road now. (PW)

The two pals watch as the bus to town carries them away. Hercules Road SW1 looking at the junction with Cosser Street.

From ground level. (PW)

The bus nears the city. Lambeth Palace Road in SE1. ‘Genevieve’, ’Madame Louise' and 'The Man Without a Body' also passed this way.

Peter took a ground level shot with a tree conveniently obscuring the refurbishment of the Houses of Parliament.

The boys arrive in the centre of London. Trafalgar Square. London WC1.

The location now by Peter, who found the fountain suffering from a water shortage.

Daniel and Ornshaw run through Trafalgar Square before the sequence sees them in Soho on Rupert Street, Meard Street and Soho Square, locations found by the meticulous research of Steve Harman.

Peter snapped the same location now.

The pair attempt to get into an adult cinema. Steven Harman tells us that this is 12 Greek Street, Soho, London W1 and that it was the Carousel Cinema. Greek Street also appears in 'The Blue Parrot' and 'The Look of Love'. (RL)

A wider shot of the location currently undergoing redesign. . . behind the frontage, rebuilding is under way. (PW)

When they notice the time, Daniel hails a taxi to take them home. The location was seen in 'The Wrong Arm of the Law', 'Go for a Take', 'Up Jumped a Swagman', Saturday Night Out' and 'Street of Shadows' . . . .

. . . it's Old Compton Street at the corner of Greek Street in Soho with the Prince Edward Theatre on the right. (PW)

As the taxi pulls away, the doorway of the Three Greyhounds public house is seen. Facing Greek Street from Old Compton Street in London W1.

The same location now. (PW)

The two arrive at Daniel's house. Musgrave Crescent alongside Eel Brook Common, London SW6.

Grass has replaced the pond. SJ

When they get out of the cab, Ornshaw says goodbye to Daniel.

The crescent bathed in early winter sunshine. SJ

The mates talk about films after Daniel begins to follow. Musgrave Crescent in Parsons Green SW6 with a District Line train standing in sidings in the left background.

Roughly here. SJ

Daniel asks his pal to tea but Ornshaw says that he has to go home.

And this is exactly here! On the corner of Kempson Road. SJ

The two continue talking as they head into the park. Eel Brook Common SW6.

Grass has replaced the court. SJ

Another day sees Stacey (Ashley Knight) preparing his latest homemade explosive device as O'Leary (William Vanderpuye) and Burgess (Billy Franks) watch. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. Steve also adds that this was Nine Elms South Goods Depot, Vauxhall, on the other side of the railway line. (RL)

The gang spend the weekend in their derelict playground. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. (RL)

Faced with closed gates nearer to the actual location, Ian Lyall points out that the ground level has been altered here and that the signal box over the railway would have been in the distance.

As the summer continues, a relay race takes place on 'sports day' at school. Newy Brothwell also places this as St. Paul's School for Girls, Hammersmith. Steve Harman advises that these are the playing fields of St Paul's Primary School, Colet Court, Hammermith Road, which was the building used for the majority of the school interior scenes and also the interiors of Melody, Daniel and Ornshaw's houses. St Paul's School for Girls he adds, does back onto the field and it may have used by both schools, but he is not certain of that point. (RL)

After getting the cane, Daniel leaves school holding Melody's hand. The gates of St. Paul's School on Hammersmith Road in Hammersmith W6 identified by Pablo Dumit.

Pablo provides this wider view showing the gates that remain in place.

The pair make their way to the cemetery. Looking onto Old Brompton Road from Brompton Cemetery in SW5 to where scenes for 'Johnny English' and 'Afraid of the Dark' were shot. Other parts of the cemetery feature in 'Under Suspicion', 'Goldeneye' and 'Eastern Promises'.

Nearly all of the memorial masonry still stands in this now shot from Peter.

Inside the cemetery, Daniel and Melody settle down for a picnic between the gravestones. Possibly Brompton Cemetery on Fulham Road SW10 . . . . although IMDB does claim Nunhead Cemetery as a location. Steven Harman suggests this to be Nunhead Cemetery and Sam A. adds that "Most of the graveyard scenes indeed appear to feature Brompton, but at least one establishing shot is Nunhead, it has a more mysterious, overgrown look and appears at the beginning of the sequence."

Melody and Daniel skip school. The approaching 159 bus identifies this as . . . . well, Richard believes this is Kennington Road . . . and Newy Brothwell believes so too, saying that the Texaco garage was there in 2007/08. The 159 is followed by a 109 so it "has" to be Kennington Road, which is confirmed by Steven Harman . . .

. . . Peter understands the problem but did get the identification to work using the still extant Texaco petrol station as a guide.

The two runaways arrive at the coast by train. Weymouth station on King Street, Weymouth, Dorset. The station was also seen in 'Out of Season' and has since been rebuilt.

Following major expansion in the 1950s the station's traffic gradually fell into decline and the current building and track layout was constructed in 1986. (RL)

Daniel and Melody ride the rollercoaster at the seaside fairground. IMDB claims Battersea Park in London . . . . . but see the next capture.

This is what the location looks like now. (PW)

More rollercoastering at the coast. This is Chipperfield's Amusement Park at Westham Bridge in Weymouth. The Backwater Viaduct is seen to the right and carries the railway line between Portland and Weymouth over Radipole Lake, part of the River Wey. The line closed in 1965 and the bridge was replaced by Swannery Bridge in the late 1980s.

A clearer view of the current bridge. (PW)

The two enjoy candyfloss as they make their way towards the beach. Near King's Statue on The Esplanade, Weymouth.

Hard to line this one up as there is very little that is visible. The structure on the right though is the Tea Cabin, which has now been altered from its original octagonal shape. SD

A panoramic view of the beach at Weymouth in Dorset.

The trampolines are still there, only now further along the beach. SD

Daniel and Melody take shelter during a rain shower. The Esplanade, Weymouth with the Pier Bandstand in the left background.

The shelter is a popular place for scoffing takeaway fish and chips. SD

The Esplanade in Weymouth. In the right background can be seen the Pavilion Theatre and the Harbour.

The shelter is opposite the Royal Hotel and is in the right place to be the same one seen in Far From The Madding Crowd. SD

When the day brightens up, Melody and Daniel return to the beach. Weymouth.

No time for sand castles today. (RL)

As they contemplate marriage, the youngsters watch a couple standing in the sea. Weymouth with the harbour extending seaward in the background.

No one brave enough to paddle in March. (RL)

Melody on the beach. The church in the left background is St Johns on Greenhill, Weymouth.

In 1986 two schoolgirls won a competition to demolish the seaward end of the pier. (RL)

Time for a last bathe before returning to London. Weymouth beach with buildings on The Esplanade as the backdrop.

Opposite The Kings Statue, and looking towards St. Thomas Street and St. Mary Street. SD

Soon after Melody and Daniel return to school, they disappear again and the staff follow their Headmaster (James Cossins) from the building to find them. Highmaster's House in W6, now called the St. Paul's Hotel, stands at the corner of Hammersmith Road and Colet Gardens. Information from Mark Walsh.

At the back entrance. SD

Stacey watches Mrs Latimer arrive as the teachers are leaving. Looking out from Highmaster's House. Mark adds that the hotel has a restaurant named Melody and that the location is opposite Colet Court where scenes for 'The Sweeney' were filmed.

Now, looking out through the glass doors of the front entrance. The Melody restaurant has a framed poster from the film on the wall. SD

The Headmaster drives the minibus from the school. Highmaster's House in Hammersmith located by Mark Walsh, and also seen in 'Thunderpants'.

Overlooked on my last visit, now rectified. SD

The convoy heads to the old railway yard where the pupils are. This location also feature in 'The Optimists of Nine Elms' and 'This is My Street' while the Pavilion public house visible beneath the bridge is seen in 'Up the Junction' and 'This is My Street'..

Battersea Park Road at the junction with Havelock Terrace in SW8. (PW)

Mrs Latimer takes the wrong road and turns through the refuge of a pedestrian crossing. Battersea Park Road SW11.

The same location with a safer crossing.(PW)

'Did you just see that?' Battersea Park Road in Nine Elms.

The building is disused now. (PW)

Stacey runs to warn the children about the approaching teachers. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. (RL)

Mrs Latimer follows the school minibus through the gates of the railway yard. Newy Brothwell suspects that the railway arches site has changed again as the US are building their embassy there. This Steve adds is Nine Elms North entered from Nine Elms Lane.(RL)

The children run through the arches of the railway viaduct when the teachers and Mrs Latimer are spotted. The arches also appear in 'Villain' and are now utilised by traders at New Covent Garden Market. Steve confirms that this was Nine Elms South Goods Depot, Vauxhall, on the other side of the railway line. (RL)

Stacey throws one of his homemade bombs into Mrs Latimer's car as the children are 'captured'. In the background, Millbank Tower rises behind the closed Allied Breweries Horseshoe Brewery. The brewery was seen in 'Villain' and 'Soapbox Derby'. (RL)

The struggle to restrain the children stops and everyone turns toward the sound of the bomb's blast. Nine Elms Goods Depot, Vauxhall located by Steve. Dave W adds, "The residential block in the background is the Raleigh House section of Dolphin Square facing Grosvenor Road, and is thus on the other side of the river. Fascinating to see how the camera lens draws it so much closer. (RL)

The car burns after the explosion. Nine Elms SW8. The area is now occupied by New Covent Garden Flower Market.

As the end titles prepare to roll, Daniel and Melody disappear into the distance on a railway pump trolley. Nine Elms sidings, London SW8 confirmed by Peter Brown who adds "This is the extreme west end where the goods roads joined the main line, which is at a slightly higher level just beyond the fence seen on the left. The signal box on a gantry spanning the running lines is Loco Junction Box which controlled movements towards Waterloo and in to and out of the Goods Yard and the Motive Power Depot on the other side of the main lines". The distant building on the extreme right also appears in 'Stardust'.