Frightened City, The

The film opens with a man being chased by a car in a darkened garage/service area with fatal results. Unidentified. The premises were maintained by 'Maintenance Cleaning Services Ltd', 162 Kings Road, London SW3

Behind the opening credits is a pan of Piccadilly Circus. The camera is panning left just passing Shaftesbury Avenue.

Taking advantage of a moments break in traffic.

The camera progresses up Shaftesbury Avenue. About to pass the Lyric and Apollo Theatres on the left.

The theatre signs provide the required alignment.

Continuing along Shaftesbury Avenue towards Cambridge Circus, just about to pass what was the ‘George & Dragon’ on the right at No 64, on the corner with Wardour Street, W1

Unfortunately there is no traffic island to provide camera shot safety.

To arrive at Cambridge Circus with Shaftesbury Avenue continuing straight ahead, but where the camera turns into Charing Cross Road, W1 travelling north.

A difficult shot to take from the roadway with an incessant flow of traffic. PW

Here, almost level with what was New Compton Street on the right, now apparently called Caxton Walk.

A pity about the scaffolding but at least a central traffic island assists with this shot.

Continuing until a car screeches to a halt right in front of us. Almost midway between Goslett Yard and Sutton Row, W1

Substantial redevelopment has taken place in all but the background.

After the 'Riviera Club' is wrecked we see Det. Inspector Sayers (John Gregson) pull up in Rathbone St. to investigate the affair. Headlam & Sims were at 37 & 35 Newman Street. Found by Adrian Grepnold.

Now. (SJ)

The following morning we visit 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1. Currently being re-developed to up-market office space.

Work is definitely in hand.

To pan up the building to the ‘offices’ of Waldo Zhernikov (Herbert Lom). 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1

Maybe Waldo had to temporarily move out.

Attention turns to Scotland Yard and the offices of the Asst. Commissioner (Bruce Seaton) where a letter of complaint against Det Insp. Sayers is brought to his attention.

Paddy Damion (Sean Connery) and Sadie (Olive McFarland) drive to the 'Taboo Club' where she works. 13-15 Rathbone Street, W1. Discovered by Greg Mishevski.

Now "Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy", 13-15 Rathbone Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1NB. (SJ)

Various unclear background scenes of premises feature behind Paddy collecting protection money for Wally (Kenneth Griffith) before settling on Carnaby Street, London W1

Now very trendy.

Where Paddy gets out of a car, Standard Vanguard Mk lll Vignale. Carnaby Street W1.

A pan shot from the previous comparative.

To use the telephone……. The corner of Carnaby Street and Lowndes Court W1.

The same corner 65 years later. PW

……. and call Sanchetti (George Pastell) about ‘protection insurance’. Lowndes Court, W1 looking towards Newburgh Street. Adrian Grepnold.

The telephone box has gone, if it in fact ever was real, the bollards remain as does the White Horse hidden by Paddy. Marlborough Court through to Newburgh Street. The narrow alley can also be seen in 'Last Night in Soho' an 'A Little of What You Fancy'.

It is not long before Paddy and Nero (Robert Cawdron) make a visit to Sanchetti to collect. 71 Dean Street, W1

'Al fresco' dining now available.

Watched by Det. Insp. Sayers and Ogle (Frederick Piper) 72-74 Dean Street (Royalty House) in the background.

The numbers prove the location. PW

Who see them leave. 71 Dean Street W1.

The door portico is right as are the subsequent building lines and the apparent gaps for Meard St and Bouchier Street.

From ‘small time’ protection, Waldo Zhernikov tests the prospects of larger businesses and ventures. Here, delaying a building venture. Unknown location but has this been seen in another film? Seems familiar.

Alf Peters (David Davies) decides to leave the syndicate and hit back on their ‘protected’ clients. Newman Passage in Newman Street, also seen in ‘Last Night in Soho’, ‘Peeping Tom’, ‘Das Geheimnis der gleben’ Narzissen, ‘Flannelfoot’ and ‘It Happened in Soho’.

The criss cross ironwork at No 28 still exists.

Newburgh Street, they break a window and pour petrol inside.

A somewhat quieter scene whilst I was there.

Harry Foulcher (Alfred Marks) shoots Peters dead at the gym, all the ‘witnesses’ refuse to talk, but Paddy, who set the meeting up, is now wanted by Sayers in the hope of him testifying. Paddy telephones Anya (Yvonne Romain) who in turn telephones the police. Great Marlborough Street W1, looking west along the side of Liberty’s with the ironwork of the men’s toilets over his shoulder.

An original view rather than a back projection. PW

Following arrest, Paddy escapes. Tower Bridge to establish the location cut…….

Clearly it was appropriate that I visited in the winter.

……..to Tower Wharf to see Sadie hastening to meet Paddy.

Now. (SJ)

Sadie would be lost in the crowd these days.

She sees him waiting by the display of canons. Tower Wharf.

Now (SJ)

The lifebuoy has been updated.

She gives him £50 and his bag, he refuses to be ‘got out of the country’, he wants his revenge for the killing of Peters.

Now (SJ)

A token canon remains in view.

Sadie looks back as they go their separate ways.

Now (SJ)

Changes continue to the right of camera shot and at the time of my visit it was impossible to attempt the capture that follows.

Soon to be confronted by Ogle who takes her to Sayers “to answer some questions”.

Now (SJ)

Paddy pays a visit to Waldo at 21 Bloomsbury Street.

I think completion is a little behind schedule.

Making his way to the side of the building to make an alternate entrance. Bedford Avenue, WC1 I don’t believe this emergency exit exists anymore and perhaps has been made into a window. Nowhere else does the surrounding architecture conform.

A personal viist confirms that the architecture seen in the following capture appears nowhere else on the building.

He opts to climb a drainpipe to Walso’s balcony. Bedford Avenue, WC1

The drainpipe remains should he still wish to climb.

While Paddy holds Waldo at gunpoint awaiting the arrival of Harry…….. 13-15 Rathbone Street, W1 discovered by Greg Mishevski.

Now (SJ)

…….Sayer, and Ogle, together with Sadie, sit watching the 'Taboo Club' from further down the road. Outside 17 Rathbone Street. Jaguar, likely Mk lX, also seen in ‘Beat Girl’.

Rebuilding is apparent. PW

In due course to see Harry and his men leave. 13-15 Rathbone Street, W1 discovered by Greg Mishevski

Now (SJ)

As a fight between Paddy, Waldo and Harry progresses, Sayer’s party, together with back up, arrives at the front door of the block to commence the arrests. 21 Bloomsbury Street.

It is a pity that the new grand entrance has yet to be revealed.

Sayer returns to ‘the Yard’ just managing a sight of his journey before the rolling casting makes identifying the route difficult. Turns left into Charing Cross Road from Cambridge Circus https://history.hsbc.com/collections/global-archives/hsbc-uk-midland-bank/records-relating-to-bank-buildings-1/4110602-photograph-of-the-midland-bank-branch-at-cambridge-circus-shaftsbury-avenue-london-uk

Some halfway through we get a shot of South Africa House on the corner of Trafalgar Square and Duncannon Street WC2

The end however, also provides a compromise as we see him turn into Whitehall, SW1 facing the 'Trafalgar Theatre' that was at the time the 'Whitehall Theatre'.