Dance with a Stranger

Flowers are delivered to the Court Club where Ruth Ellis works and lives. Park Close off Knightsbridge, London SW1.

This replaces an earlier less precise match. This angle, looking towards Hyde Park, was replicated in The Stranger in Our Bed in 2021. SJ

David Blakely takes Ruth Ellis motor racing. Opposite the entrance to the pits at Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, West Sussex.

Victor Lane provides this shot of the pit area, taken a little further on at the since reconstructed circuit.

Cliff Davis (David Troughton) with Ruth Ellis (Miranda Richardson) at Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester.

David Blakely (Rupert Everett) signs autographs. Goodwood, West Sussex.

Ruth sends flowers to Blakely while Desmond Cussen (Ian Holm) looks on. The view from inside a florists shop which, Christian Overal suggests, could be the former "Moyses Stevens" florists shop in Bruton Street, London W1 as the card seen to the bottom of the capture has the word Stevens printed on it... Not a bad shout as that does look like a side of Berkeley Square House over the street (the view on Bruton Lane is similar): apparently the florist's was based in Lansdowne House but that would make the angle very tricky indeed. (SJ)

Desmond longingly watches Ruth through the florists window.

Ruth and Desmond enjoy a day at the beach with Andy, Ruth's son. Marine Parade, Worthing, West Sussex.

Stephen Dean found this. Excellent.

Ruth and Desmond watch Andy with Worthing Pier and the Pavilion Theatre in the background. Worthing, West Sussex.

Now, without the fishing boats. SD

Andy (Matthew Carroll) digs in the sand. Worthing in West Sussex.

Stephen again.

Ruth and Desmond with the Dome Cinema in the background. Also seen in Wish You Were Here (1987). Marine Parade, Worthing.

Sorted by Stephen.

Blakely takes Ruth to the area where he grew up. Hambleden, Buckinghamshire.

Now. SJ

Arriving in the village. Hambleden in Buckinghamshire. The location can be seen in many other productions including 'The Christmas Tree', ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, ‘The Avengers’, ‘101 Dalmatians’, ‘The Legacy’, ‘Death on the Nile’, ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’, 'Diamonds on Wheels', ‘Another Country’, 'Child's Play', The Witches’, ‘The Black Cat’, ‘The Blue Geranium’ and ‘Hampstead’.

Now. SJ

Blakely speaks with Ruth before visiting the local pub. Hambleden.

The hedge has grown. SJ

Waiting for Blakely to return. Hambleden, Buckinghamshire.

The tree to the right of the then has been sawn off. And now cars park around its stump. SJ

Ruth with the tower of St Mary the Virgin Church in the right background. Hambleden in Buckinghamshire.

Now. SJ

Walkers appear from inside The Stag & Huntsman public House. Hambleden near Henley on Thames.

Now. SJ

Still waiting near the village cross. Hambleden.

Now. SJ

Blakely returns with a drink for Ruth. Hambleden.

Now. SJ

Next, Blakely drives Ruth to his parents house. Identified by Richard Cox as Culham Court, Berkshire. (RL)

Blakely's childhood home. Richard Cox identifies this as Culham Court, Berkshire (RL)

Heading back to London. Culham Court, Berkshire says Richard Cox. (RL)

After an argument with Blakely in the nightclub, Ruth loses her job and has to move out. Dolphin Square, Grosvenor Road in London SW1 identified by John Tunstill.

Fence has gone. And in a different season. SJ

Desmond helps Ruth move her belongings. Dolphin Square off Grosvenor Road SW1, again identified by John Tunstill.

Now with extra tree, it seems, in the corner. SJ

After moving in with Desmond, Ruth walks along an unidentified street.

Blakely waits for Ruth. Unidentified location.

Ruth runs away from Blakely.

Robert Clack identifies this as the corner of Brushfield Street and Crispin Street, Spitalfields opposite the market. He supports with this cropped part of a shot he took in November 2014 and an even better one that he took in 1990 before the area was "trendy". (RL)

Blakely catches up with Ruth. Looks like Green Dragon Court, Borough Market SE1. SJ

Yes, that's the one. SJ

Having made up, the pair end up walking together.

Not 100% sure but possibly the same place now - look at the foreground pillars. Borough Market, Southwark Street, London SE1.

Desmond suspects Ruth of seeing Blakely and sets out to investigate. Denis Hoare recognises this as Orchardson Street, London, NW8, looking west towards Edgware Road. The flats on the left being Frampton House and those on the right are Orchardson House. This street is also shown in the film/documentary 'London Can Take It'. (RL)

Denis provides a comparative shot to support his identification. (RL)

Further along the road en route to find Ruth. Orchardson Street, London NW8, looking west towards Edgware Road as in the previous capture located by Denis. (RL)

To match the capture Denis sends this further shot. (RL)

Desmond sees Ruth with Blakely. St Ermin's Hotel on Caxton Street, London SW1 as seen in 'Mona Lisa' and 'Diamonds for Breakfast'.

Rather an inelegant flower trough now obscures the bottom of the balustrade. SJ

After Ruth moves out of Desmond's home, she and Blakely leave a launderette together... Just south of Seven Sisters Road, the launderette stood in more or less the middle of the purpose-built parade of shops in Woodberry Grove, N4 2SB, which served the Woodberry Down Estate. The launderette was at 109, facing the road called Woodberry Down. The shops ran from the Happy Man pub almost to Lordship Road. They stopped just before the top of Newnton Close, at a place now called New River Path. Apart from the pub, all the shops were demolished in the ongoing process of gentrification for the Woodberry Down Estate. This included the Council flats above the shops, and many other low-rise Council blocks in the vicinity. Now replaced by private flats, including two massive tower blocks. With thanks to TP Keating. (SJ)

David Blakely's house. Looking south-west from the junction of Well Road and Cannon Lane in London NW3 recognised by Tris.

From a similar position by Tris.

Ruth returns with Desmond to The Stag & Huntsman to look for Blakely. Hambleden near Henley on Thames.

Same parking protocol. SJ

After a fight between Blakely and Cussen, Ruth is taken back to London. Hambleden, Buckinghamshire.

Not a perfect match. SJ

A jealous Ruth arrives at Blakely's home. The view looking north-eastward on Well Road NW3 located by Tris.

The proof from Tris.

The upper floors of Blakely's house. Tris identifies this as Well Road in Hampstead NW3.

With move leaves on the trees by Tris.

Establishing shot of The Magdala public house. In reality the pub stands on South Hill Park, NW3 . . . . . .

. . . . . . but in the film it's played by The Three Kings, Clerkenwell Close, London EC1 as proven by Peter.

Ruth views The Magdala through the railings opposite. Clerkenwell Close EC1.

Peter provides the evidence as this is a local watering hole of his.

Blakely is murdered by Ruth. Clerkenwell Close, London EC1 with St James Church on the right. The street appears in 'Love, Honour and Obey' as well as 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' and the church's tower is seen in 'The Magic Box'.

The same location now by Peter.