Ballad in Blue
Date: 1965
Director: Paul Henreid
Production Company: Alsa Productions, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Stars: Ray Charles, Mary Peach, Tom Bell, Dawn Addams, Piers Bishop, Lucy Appleby
Location(s): London, Paris
Region(s): France, London A-B
Storyline:
Famous singer tries to encourage the family of a blind boy to have a sight operation. SJ
Additional Information:
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
- 08 Dec 2015
Charles visits a school for the blind on a rainy day.
It still stands on Cooper's Row, London EC3. SJ
- Capture 2
- 08 Dec 2015
From the doorway of the above as Charles leaves.
Looking towards the corner of Cooper's Row and Trinity Square. SJ
- Capture 3
- 08 Dec 2015
Charles arranges for his chauffeur to drop off Peach and her blind son Bishop after a trip in the car along Whitehall. Andy Harris has identified that 42 Crutched Friars also appears in 'Escape Route', 13 years apart. (RL)
But in reality they live at 42 Crutched Friars, just around the corner from Cooper's Row. SJ
- Capture 4
- 08 Dec 2015
A nice clear indicator as Peach and Bishop enter their house.
At the corner of French Ordinary Court. SJ
- Capture 5
- 08 Dec 2015
The car drives off.
Crtuched Friars at the corner of Seething Lane. The church is St. Olave's. SJ
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Bishop and Appleby sneak out to meet Charles. This may have been shot at the studio, based in Ardmore, Ireland. Stephen Smith tells us that this exterior shot is the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin but the interiors were indeed the Ardmore Studios. (RL)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
The action switches to Paris with Bell accompanying the family.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
Definitely appears to be Paris. It is, this is the Olympia Theatre on Boulevard des Capucines 75009. (PW)
- Capture 9
- 09 Jun 2019
Bell steps out into the nighttime Parisian air. Outside Chez Barre on Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris 75018. (PW)

Unfortunately, getting up early to beat the crowds has the sun too low for an unspoiled shot. (PW)
- Capture 10
- 09 Jun 2019
The camera pans upward to reveal the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. This is Rue du Chevalier de la Barre seen from the junction with Rue du Mont Cenis. The streets around the Basilica also appear in 'The Red Balloon', 'Paris Blues', 'The Man Who Watched Trains Go By', 'The Rebel' and 'The Man on the Eiffel Tower'. (PW)

From a similar position. (PW)
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
A Parisian street, not easy ...
- Capture 12
- 09 Dec 2015
. . . but this helps!
Taken in June but it will not have changed much since then. (RL)

