Cracksman, The
Date: 1963
Director: Peter Graham Scott
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
Stars: Charlie Drake, Nyree Dawn Porter, George Sanders, Dennis Price, Percy Herbert, Eddie Byrne
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, London
Region(s): London C-D, South East A-D
Storyline:
An honest locksmith, who can’t resist the challenge of a lock, gets conned into a safe cracking scheme by ruthless gangsters.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill. Uncredited ‘now’ images by PW.
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- Capture 1
- 23 Jul 2012
Establishing shot showing St. Lukes Church with its distinctive spire.
Whitecross Street looking towards Old Street, London EC1.
- Capture 2
- 23 Jul 2012
Tilt shot from image crama001. The street on which locksmith Ernest Wright's shop stands.
Whitecross Street, London EC1.
- Capture 3
- 26 Sep 2012
Ernest Wright (Charlie Drake) walks along Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1.
Now. SJ
- Capture 4
- 25 Nov 2012
Ernest crosses the road just before being asked to break into a car by Grantley. The Junction of Lambeth Road and Lambeth Palace Road SE1. The area is also seen in 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter', 'A Dandy in Aspic', 'School for Scoundrels', 'Seventy Deadly Pills', 'Mr. Denning Drives North', 'The Man Without a Body', 'European Vacation', 'The Tunnel', 'Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman', 'Der Bucklige von Soho' and 'Too Hot to Handle' amongst other productions.
Surprisingly difficult to replicate. Junctions, trees, street furniture and traffic islands are all in the conspiracy. SJ
- Capture 5
- 23 Jul 2012
Grantley (Dennis Price) visits Ernest's shop.
The building where the shop is no longer exists and that side of the street has been redeveloped. Whitecross Street EC1.
- Capture 6
- 26 Nov 2015
Ernest leaves Wandsworth Prison after serving his sentence for a burglary. The imposing prison entrance also features in 'Information Received', 'Face of a Stranger’, 'The Ringer', ‘Daybreak’, ‘Calculated Risk’, 'The Birthday Present', ‘Emergency’, 'Time Without Pity', 'The Price of Silence', 'The Stable Door', 'The Time of His Life', 'The Was a Crooked Man' and 'The Dock Brief'.
I wonder if you paid for parking in 1963? (RL)
- Capture 7
- 23 Jul 2012
Ernest visits his local, the Friendly Hand public house, which is just along the street from his shop.
The pub still stands and is now known as The Trader. Whitecross Street, London EC1.
- Capture 8
- 14 Aug 2012
After being ostracised by customers in the pub, Ernest heads for the Embankment.
Temple Place above Temple station, London WC2.
- Capture 9
- 24 Jul 2012
A view along the Embankment from Temple Place WC2.
The same location now.
- Capture 10
- 24 Jul 2012
Lunch time overlooking the Thames. Temple Place WC2.
Victoria Embankment Gardens above Temple station.
- Capture 11
- 24 Jul 2012
Ernest is taken in by Sandra (Wanda Ventham) and agrees to open a safe for her.
Victoria Embankment Gardens on Temple Place WC2.
- Capture 12
- 07 Jun 2013
Grantley in Trafalgar Square, London WC2.
I should be a bit further back and to the left. SJ
- Capture 13
- 24 Jul 2012
Grantley heads for the Tiki nightclub.
Buckingham Street at the corner of John Adam Street, London WC2.
- Capture 14
- 25 Jul 2012
The Tiki Nightclub on Buckingham Street, London WC2.
The same building now - almost as exotic.
- Capture 15
- 27 Aug 2012
Ernest leaves Springhill Prison after serving time for cracking the safe. This is Aylesbury Prison on Bierton Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire which also appears in 'The Villiers Diamond' and 'Joanna'.
The same place now. The prison is now a Young Offenders Institute.
- Capture 16
- 27 Aug 2012
Ernest is driven away from prison.
Just outside the main gates of the prison on Bierton Road, Aylesbury.
- Capture 17
- 29 Jan 2018
Ernest takes a taxi to meet with the criminals who plan to steal the Stamford Collection of Fine Gems. By coincidence it takes "a cabby" to locate this one. Tony Kutner tells us that it is Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead, London NW3 looking south with Lyndhurst Road/Akenside Road to the left. (RL)
Having identified the location Tony provides an up to date shot and even waited for a taxi to approach. (RL
- Capture 18
- 15 Dec 2013
The Prince Edward Museum where the Stamford Collection of Fine Gems are on display.
Peter identifies this location as Little St. James's Street off St. James's Street in London SW1 and provides the proof.
- Capture 19
- 23 Jul 2012
After the crooks are caught by Ernest with the help of undercover policewoman Muriel, the pair get married. Whitecross Street, London EC1.
The side of the street where the shop and advertising boards stood has now been redevelped.
- Capture 20
- 23 Jul 2012
Ernest and Muriel (Nyree Dawn Porter) set off on honeymoon by bicycle.
Whitecross Street EC1.
- Capture 21
- 15 Aug 2014
As crowds watch, Ernest and Muriel cycle away.
Nick Cooper identifies this as The Merchant Navy Memorial, Tower Hill (from the south-west) and sent this Google Image in support. (RL)