Hole Lot of Trouble, A
Date: 1971
Director: Francis Searle
Production Company: Chairene
Stars: Arthur Lowe, Victor Maddern, Tim Barrett, Bill Maynard
Location(s): Hertfordshire
Region(s): South East E-L
Storyline:
Three workmen dig a hole in the road for an electrical cable. They run into problems with local officials who believe the hole is being dug in the wrong place.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Ray Edwards
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
The opening scene is of a view over a large town or city. Dave W identifies the 'large town or city' as London, taken from what premises that pre-dated what is now known as 'Regent's Place', Euston Road, NW1 looking across Euston Road to the junction with Cleveland Street and then GPS station to Fitzrovia and beyond. (RL)
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
The camera pans around to look at a modern residential area. From the same location as the previous capture Dave identifies looking north from Euston Road NW1 towards Hampstead and Highgate with tower blocks The Combe and Bucklebury in the centre and right respectfully. (RL)
- Capture 3
- 10 Apr 2018
The movie goes down to street level and we see an Evangelist (Leslie Dwyer) leave a church. PW found Elfrida Road in Watford with St. James's church at the far end. St. James's Hall to the left has been demolished and replaced.
It's good to see new buildings that are in keeping with the rest of the estate. (PW)
- Capture 4
- 10 Apr 2018
Changing view to the location where the majority of this movie takes place. An Express Diaries milk float rounds the corner where Benny's Cafe is located. Looking along Neal Street from the corner of Tucker Street in Watford, Hertfordshire located by PW.
No milk floats today. (PW)
- Capture 5
- 10 Apr 2018
Having turned the corner, the milk float pulls into the kerb and we see a road works vehicle approaching. Looking along Tucker Street. (PW) Michael Lansley has sent us an interesting fact about Tucker Street. Three doors up from the telegraph pole, number 32, is where the great comedian Terry Scott was born, the now familiar "blue plaque" is fixed to the house.
Captured from a similar position. (PW)
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
The road works vehicle pulls up alongside the road. Alan Twinam identifies this as the rear of a works at the corner of High Street and Melbourne Road in Bushey, Hertfordshire with number 11 Melbourne Road, Tanglewood, visible to the left.
- Capture 7
- 10 Apr 2018
The camera pans around for a clear shot of Benny's Cafe. The building still stands at the junction of Neal Street and Tucker Street.
The brickwork fails to conceal this buildings retail past. (PW)
- Capture 8
- 10 Apr 2018
Having set up their work site, Percy (Victor Maddern) and Bill (Bill Maynard) prepare to start work.
Roadworks completed . . . that makes a change! (PW)
- Capture 9
- 10 Apr 2018
Benny's Cafe opening up is sure to distract the road workers. The corner of Neal Street and Tucker Street in Watford.
Nothing on sale now. (PW)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Nearby, a neighbour puts her washing out.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
The camera pans away from the neighbour . . . .
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
. . . and we see two Councillors approaching in their chauffeur driven car.
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
The Councillors pull up to this construction site. It has taken Dave W some considerable time to piece together the small subtle elements that he says are shown in this capture to come up with the answer, and even then it was afternoon tea in Fitzrovia for all to be revealed to him. In summary, the contruction site is bounded by Carburton St, Cleveland St, Clipstone St and Gt Titchfield St. Swallowing up the north end of Hanson Street. To further satisfy him, that tall mystery object with the fin projections (top left of centre) is the concrete tower in the south-east corner of the Univ. of Westminster (formerly Westminser Poly) building whose address is 115 New Cavendish St. Perhaps ReelStreets owes you an afternoon tea Dave. (RL)
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Having left the construction site, the Councillors vist a photographic studio where they believe the road workers should be digging a hole.
- Capture 15
- 31 Aug 2023
The Councillors then visit the road work crew and discuss the issue of the hole whilst a crowd gathers and Benny's Cafe sets up an annex to serve the crowd. Alan Twinam found the rear of the works at the corner of High Street and Melbourne Road in Bushey. Alan adds that the works has since been extended and is presently used as office space.
As proof of the previously unknown location, Alan provides this capture from Melbourn Road showing the works on the left and the side wall of Tanglewood to the right. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 16
- 10 Apr 2018
Having been told the hole was in the wrong place it is back-filled. Looking along Tucker Street with Neal Street to the right.
The same corner. (PW)
- Capture 17
- 30 Mar 2018
The Evangelist from the beginning is seen walking past "The King Stag" public house. PW located the establishment on Bournehall Road in Bushey, Hertfordshire and Antony Blair points out that the hostelry also appears in 'Three Crooked Men'.
Peter Thompson provides this shot of the pub now.
- Capture 18
- 10 Apr 2018
In this final scene, another road work crew turn up to dig out the same hole from earlier. The junction of Neal Street and Tucker Street in Watford with the end of Elfrida Road on the extreme right. Location found by PW.
From street level. (PW)