Hammer the Toff

The title sequence, shared with 'Salute the Toff', features the Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, London W1.

Equally, Paul Lincoln shared his comparative shot. (RL)

Stepping from the hotel, the Honourable Richard Rollinson (John Bentley) appears. Mayfair's Dorchester Hotel, which can be seen in many other productions.

Another shared shot from Paul. (RL)

The train to the seaside resort of Brighthaven speeds towards the camera.

A platform comes into view as the camera pans with the express carrying Richard Rollinson and Susan Lancaster to the coast.

The express hurries onward as Morgan drives away from a telephone box after making a call. Looking south-west along the line towards Weybridge from the Signal Box at Walton-on-Thames station in Surrey.

High on an embankment, Morgan parks up and climbs over the railway's boundary fence. Queens Road in Walton-on-Thames with Sir Richard’s Bridge carrying Ashley Road visible through the trees to the left.

With the train fast approaching, Morgan makes his way towards his Accomplice. The view from Sir Richard’s Bridge towards Walton-on-Thames station.

Shots are fired at the train, shattering the window of the compartment in which Richard and Susan are travelling. This appears to be the embankment to the west of Sir Richard’s Bridge.

In Brighthaven, a steamer approaches the pier. South Parade Pier stretching into the Solent off Southsea in Portsmouth, Hampshire. John Wilkinson advises that the vessel is a British Railways steamer, most likely MV 'Shanklin'.

John provides this view of the pier.

The shot moves along the length of the pier. Southsea’s South Parade Pier also appears in ‘Tommy’ . . . on fire!!

Although rebuilt, the styling of the original buildings have been incorporated, as John Wilkinson's view shows.

The pan ends at the promenade. South Parade Pier in Southsea with South Parade to the left.

John Wilkinson returned to the location 71 years later.

A car brings The Honourable Richard Rollinson (John Bentley) to the resort’s Lorne Court Hotel. Outside the Royal Beach Hotel at the divergence of St. Helen’s Parade and the Esplanade in Southsea.

John Wilkinson found scaffolding spoiling the shot when he arrived at the hotel.

That night, the Toff runs from the hotel in pursuit of two Men who attempted to ransack Susan's room. In front of the Royal Beach Hotel at the corner of Alhambra Road and St. Helen’s Parade.

An establishing shot of the pier to set the following morning's scene. South Parade Pier, Southsea.

A close up of the detail taken by John Wilkinson.

Rollinson and Susan walk along the pier to meet her Uncle off the early ferry from the Isle of Wight . South Parade Pier, Southsea with the corner of South Parade and Clarendon Road in the left distance.

The pair move towards the steps from the landing stage after the Doctor's steamer arrives. The seaward end of South Parade Pier.

Dr. Lancaster (Ian Fleming) kisses his daughter moments before he falls to the ground, dead. South Parade Pier in Southsea, Portsmouth with the Landing Stage visible to the bottom left. John Wilkinson identifies the background vessel as MV 'Balmoral' operated by 'Red Funnel Steamers'.

John Wilkinson took this wider view on the pier which gives better context.

At Scotland Yard, Rollinson and Inspector Grice discuss Dr. Lancaster's death by the hypodermic injection of barbiturates and the connection with a gang leader known as "The Hammer". Seen from Victoria Embankment, this is Derby Gate SW1 with New Scotland Yard to the right.

A taxi brings the Toff to Susan's house where he learns that someone had broken in during the night. The same location appears during 'Salute the Toff' and Dave W locates this as 4A Abercorn Place, London NW8. (RL)

Following lunch at La Cigale, Rollinson and Susan head to his apartment. Pall Mall in London SW1 with the dome of the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square in the right distance.

Leafier. SJ

Admiring the architecture, the two continue along Pall Mall. The corner of Pall Mall and Waterloo Place.

Looking across the corner of the Institute of Directors. SJ

The pair stop in their tracks when they spot the Man who left the Isle of Wight ferry at the same time as Dr. Lancaster. The junction of Pall Mall and Waterloo Place with Regent Street in the background.

The architecture is unchanged. SJ

Kennedy (Lockwood West) walks towards them. Looking southward on Waterloo Place. The location has appeared in many productions including ‘That Riviera Touch’, 'Brannigan', 'Murder Without Crime' and ‘The Sandwich Man’.

The vans are a little in the way. SJ

Fleeing after the Toff makes a grab for him as he passes, Kennedy runs towards a cab. The crossroads formed by Waterloo Place and Pall Mall in SW1.

Bit of a struggle with the traffic. SJ

Accompanied by Susan, Rollinson carries the Man's hat and briefcase home. The corner of Gloucester Terrace and Lancaster Terrace W2 located by Jon Walken. The location also appears in 'Mantrap', 'Whispering Smith Hits London', 'Paul Temple Returns', 'Hammer the Toff', 'Salute the Toff', 'Song of Paris', 'The Saint’s Return', 'Operation Diplomat' and 'Flannelfoot' was well as in the background during 'The Italian Job'.

The background properties have disappeared. (PW)

The pair enter the building where Jolly greets them in Rollinson's flat. Jon Walken identifies this as Maitland Court at the junction of Gloucester Terrace and Lancaster Terrace.

The entrance to Maitland Court now. (PW)

In disguise, the Toff is led through darkened back streets to the East End hideout of Jim Linnett, also known as "The Hammer". One of several sets that also appear in 'Salute the Toff'.

Rollinson drives to the Red Lion in London's docklands. Assisted by Jon Walken's identification of the next capture, this is the now lost Barrie Street in W2 with Brook Mews North on the left and Gloucester Terrace crossing the background.

Caroll House now partly occupies the site of Barrie Street. (PW)

The Toff parks up outside the pub before entering to find his pal Bert Ebbutt. Jon Walken advises that this is looking north along Craven Terrace in Bayswater from the junction of Barrie Street and Elms Mews with the Mitre public house at the corner of Lancaster Mews to the top left.

Just a few more parked cars than seventy years ago. (PW)

After a misunderstanding during which Bert tells him not to come to the pub again, Rollinson heads back to the lodging house where he met "The Hammer". This is the cleared bomb site between Gloucester Terrace, Barrie Street and Elms Mews in W2.

A guestimate of the angle. (PW)

The shot follows Rollinson across the waste ground. In the background from left to right stand the single storey number 5 Marlborough Gate Stables and numbers 4, 5 and 6 on Elms Mews.

Marlborough Gate Stables hasn't existed for a long time. (PW)

A cut finds Rollinson a short distance away at the junction of Barrie Street, Elms Mews and Lancaster Gate, with Maitland Court visible in the top left background.

Caroll House now stands to the left. (PW)

Moving right from the previous capture, this is looking south into Elms Mews in Bayswater W2.

The contours of the mews remain the same. (PW)

Rollinson approaches Janet Lord's lodging house. Another studio set which played a different crook's lair in the first film featuring the Toff.

Sent by Bert as bodyguards, Flatty (John Powe) and his Companion approach the Toff as he leaves the boarding house before following him through studio sets.

Rollinson approaches Morgan and his Accomplice near the windmill where Susan is being held by a crook impersonating "The Hammer". Wimbledon Windmill, Wimbledon Common SW19, which also appears in 'Hoffman'. (SR)