Passing of the Third Floor Back, The

Date: 1935
Director: Berthold Viertel
Production Company: Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Stars: Conrad Veidt, Anna Lee, Rene Ray, Frank Cellier, John Turnbull
Location(s): London

Region(s):

Storyline:

The tenants of an old boarding house are encouraged to treat each other better by a mysterious stranger who takes the third floor back room.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

Beneath the titles, various views of London are seen. At the bottom of the capture, Waterloo Bridge and the temporary iron bridge provided for southbound traffic cross the Thames whilst St. Paul’s Cathedral can be made out to the top left and LEMCO’s OXO Tower stands in the right distance.

  • Capture 2
  • 'Now' required

This and the next capture may be mattes . . . . unless, of course, anyone knows better. It looks as if Dave W knows better for this capture at least, because he sees this as taken from the vantage point of the Gaumont Studio in Lime Grove (the production company), looking north west at the now dismantled spire of St Stephen's in Uxbridge Road. The turreted porticos are of the houses that still remain in Lime Grove, circa number 20. (RL)

  • Capture 3
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. . . . City of countless streets, roofs upon roofs . . . . wilderness of houses of which but a few are homes . . . .

  • Capture 4
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Much of the action takes place within a run-down boarding house overseen by Wright, the landlord.

  • Capture 5
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This is Hotel Belle Vue, where a third floor room at the back is to let . . .

  • Capture 6
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A mysterious Stranger calls and asks to view the room, taking it after looking through the window and seeing the roof tops and chimneys.

  • Capture 7
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Bank Holiday in the house . . .

  • Capture 8
  • 'Now' required

The residents of the Belle Vue enjoy their day off by embarking on a paddle steamer excursion. The pleasure steamer used in the film was Royal Eagle, built in 1932 by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead.

  • Capture 9
  • 31 Aug 2021

Royal Eagle sets of down the Thames, passing Tower Pier. Royal Eagle operated the General Steam Navigation Company’s service from London to Margate and Ramsgate.

This is taken from the Tower Pier for if it were possible to take from a similar spot the view would be obliterated by the much enlarged covered gangways. (RL)

  • Capture 10
  • 31 Aug 2021

Tower Bridge begins to open as the Thames paddler approaches.

I couldn't wait for the next scheduled opening of the bridge. (RL)

  • Capture 11
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The voyage continues along the Thames estuary.

  • Capture 12
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Reaching Margate, two speed boats approach the steamer. In the background Margate Jetty, also known as Margate Pier reaches into the North Sea. Built in 1856 and extended several times, the jetty was largely destroyed by a storm in 1978.

  • Capture 13
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The steamer reaches its destination. Eagle was withdrawn from service in 1950 and scrapped four years later.