Card, The

As the titles roll, a smokey panorama of the Five Towns is presented. To the right can be seen Newcastle Street in Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. The shot seems to have been taken from the rooftop of the Dale Hall Pottery.

In the left centre is the tower of St Paul's Church which stood on Church Square in Dalehall, Burslem and was demolished in 1974. Levison Wood advises that the street running from the church to the bottom of the image is Sant Street. He knows because he used to live at number 5 and adds that the street was named after the Victorian Building company from nearby Burslem that erected the terraced houses.

After graduating from Hambridge College, Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin (Alec Guinness) peers at the situations vacant through a window of The Staffordshire Sentinel as Herbert Duncalf (Edward Chapman) walks by.

After gaining a position at the solicitors firm of Duncalf & Duncalf, Denry makes his way through Market Place to their offices on Duck Court in fictional Bursley. A studio set included for completeness. A photograph of the set can be seen at http://www.zen171398.zen.co.uk/The_Card.html (RL)

Denry sets himself up as a rent collector after leaving the solicitors practice. The Lynch in Uxbridge, Middlesex located by Bruce Hanson.

Antony Blair captured a similar scene.

The now self employed entrepreneur makes his round, collecting rents for Mrs. Codleyn. Gregor Baddley advises that this, together with captures, 7, 8 and 16 were all filmed in the Middleport area of Stoke on Trent, an area that was subject to slum clearance shortly after filming. (RL)

Feeling pleased with himself, Denry heads back to his mule and trap . . . . The Middleport area of Stoke on Trent advises Gregor Baddley. (RL)

. . . . where he finds local landlord Mr. H. Calvert (George Devine) waiting to enlist his services. A long demolished area of Middleport in Stoke on Trent advises Gregor Baddley. (RL)

As Denry climbs the social ladder, he takes a seaside trip with Miss Nellie Cotterill and Miss Ruth Earp. An establishing shot with the sweep of Llandudno Bay in the background.

A shot of the bay in full colour from Andy Baker. (RL)

Denry promenades with dance teacher Ruth Earp (Glynis Johns) and chaperone Nellie Cotterill (Petula Clark). Looking towards Mostyn Crescent, Llandudno in Caernarfonshire.

Not so many promenading during Andy's visit. (RL)

Ruth and Nellie on the pier at Llandudno. The location was seen in 'Yanks', 'Hindle Wakes (1952)' and 'Hindle Wakes (1931)'.

Andy admits that it is difficult to be precise as to exactly which hut was used but this shot certainly suits the angle. (RL)

The morning after a storm in which Denry makes out to have helped rescue a boatload of seamen, Ruth sees her hero on the seafront. Mostyn Crescent, Llandudno.

Ruth finds that Denry's money is running out. Although the actors were on location in Llandudno, this is a back projection of Mostyn Crescent.

Denry has the idea of buying the boat damaged in the storm and setting up in business running sea trips. Mostyn Crescent as seen from the beach in Llandudno.

Boat owner Cregeen (Lyn Evans) agrees and, after the two seal the deal with a drink, runs the trips for Denry.

Denry returns home to his Mother with the takings from the boat trips. The Middleport area of Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire advises Gregor Baddley. (RL)

After setting up a 'thrift club', Denry visits the home of the Countess of Chell as part of his plan. Tim Harker recognised this as Cliveden House near Taplow in Buckinghamshire.

Andrew Price found that the area in front of the house now acts as the car park for the hotel that the property has become.

Denry finds John, a stable hand, and arranges an accidental meeting with the Countess. Panning from the previous capture we see more of Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire, identified by Tim Harker. The location was also seen in 'Help', 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head' and 'Thunderbirds'.

An establishing shot of Bursley Town Hall where a 'sale of work' is being held. Looks very much like a studio set but it's styled on the Old Town Hall in Burslem.

This is an image of the real Burslem Town Hall in Staffordshire provided by Gregor Baddley.

The Countess leaves her house and is driven to the the opening of the 'sale of work' in aid of the Bursley Cottage Hospital. Cliveden House near Taplow in Buckinghamshire, located by Tim Harker.

Nick Boorman ventured out to take this comparison.

Denry follows the carriage until part of a harness fails, whereupon he rescues the countess with his mule and trap.

The Countess of Chell (Valerie Hobson) is gallantly driven to the Town Hall. Bruce Hanson found The Lynch in Uxbridge, towards Lawn Road.

Antony Blair found the same buildings.

On the journey, the two get along splendidly. A back projection of Lawn Road in Uxbridge, Middlesex confirmed by Antony Blair. Bruce Hanson adds that, to the left, the sign for Randalls can be seen. "Randalls was an old Uxbridge department store that traded in Vine Street for 125 years and the building here, I believe, was a storage facility for furniture. Victoria Road remains largely unchanged and this area escaped the wholesale damage carried out in 1968 by redevelopment."

Avoiding parked vehicles, Antony Blair took a high shot of the street.

Darcy leaves the new and impressive headquarters of the 'thrift club' after the Countess becomes patron. Russ Harvey advises that the building is based on the Wedgwood Institute on Queen Street in Burslem.

Gregor Baddley provides this image of the real Wedgwood Institute showing the detail of the building's design.

Ruth is taken for a ride in Denry's new car. Different woman and mode of transport but the same street seen earlier in another back projection. Antony Blair identifies this as Lawn Road in Uxbridge . . . .

. . . . and provides this proof.

On a very rainy day, the local Bursley football team are losing 15 - 0. Ned Bintcliffe recognised Maidenhead United's ground on York Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

With thanks to the Media Manager of Maidenhead United FC who allowed Phil Richards to access the pitch to take these shots some 73 years on. With the 'Conservative Club' and refreshment hut buildings still in place Phil was able to align his shot notwithstanding the substantial changes that have taken place. As he took this from the centre circle it is fair to assume that those goal posts were a prop. (RL)

The defeated players leave the pitch. Located by Ned, Maidenhead United's ground with the Great Western Main Line in the left background.

The railway is now obscured by trees in Andrew Price's view.

Another match on a brighter day after Denry takes over the club and recruits a professional player to the team. A matted shot of Maidenhead United FC's York Road ground in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Identification by Ned Bintcliffe.

Phil has provided an excellent panorama shot as he was unable to stand any further back so we have selected a portion that generally represents the capture, particularly as the matting eliminated the buildings that we know were there. (RL)

The team goes on to win . . . . and as the film runs to it's conclusion, so does Denry. Maidenhead United's ground on York Road was also seen in 'The Firefighters' and 'Yesterday's Hero'.

Phil advises that nothing of the old stand survives save the changing rooms that were housed underneath the stand itself, but at least those town houses remain as a focus. (RL)