Illusionist, The (2010)

Paris, 1959 . . . . where the Illusionist is appearing at the Royal Luxor. The view is towards the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement.

As the titles appear, various Parisian entertainment venues are depicted. This is the Olympia on Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement.

Bobino at 20 Rue de la Gaîté in the Montparnasse district, the 14th arrondissement.

The jazz and blues club Le Caveau de la Huchette on Rue de la Huchette in the 5th arrondissement's Latin Quarter.

On the stage at the the Royal Luxor, Tatischeff the Illusionist plies his trade in front of a sparse audience.

Fired by the theatre's Manager, the Illusionist decides to leave Paris. Gare du Nord on Rue de Dunkerque 10.

Travelling to the coast, the Illusionist reaches Calais where he boards a ferry for England.

The ship reaches British waters and the White Cliffs of Dover.

A boat-train brings the Illusionist into London. Battersea Power Station with the Grosvenor Railway Bridge over the Thames that carries the line into Victoria station.

The French magician leaves the Underground and ventures onto London's streets. The number 5 bus route, depicted here, commenced operation towards the end 1959.

A taxi takes the Illusionist to the Emporium Theatre where the Manager gives him a job.

On a rainy day, the Manager puts Tatischeff's poster in a frame outside the theatre.

Rain continues to pour as the Illusionist waits to appear while Billy Boy and the Brittons play numerous encores for their screaming fans.

Outside the stage door, Billy Boy's teenage devotees flock to their idols leaving just two elderly folk as the Illusionist's audience.

Realising that he can't compete with modern entertainment, the Illusionist packs his equipment, takes down his poster and leaves the Emporium.

Whilst playing at a private function, the conjurer is approached by a Drunk who invites him to perform in Scotland.

The Illusionist makes his way to catch a train to the north. Facing Kings Cross station on Euston Road N1.

Busier in real life. SJ

After a quick phone call, Tatischeff boards the express to Scotland.

Departing from the terminus, the train leaves London behind.

Following the long overnight rail journey, a small ferry carries the Illusionist from the mainland.

A car arrives to collect the Illusionist from the ferry and take him across the island.

After a bumpy ride in a small motor boat, Tatischeff reaches his destination, a small, dimly lit bar.

The morning after his appearance that captivated Alice, the Illusionist explores the village.

When a jukebox is installed in the bar, Tatischeff knows that it's time to leave.

Another bumpy motor boat ride carries the Illusionist from the small island.

The Illusionist reaches the ferry to the mainland on which he is joined by Alice.

A ship's horn signals the ferry's arrival in Oban. Looking out across Oban Bay from above the railway station in Oban, Argyllshire.

At the station, Alice draws Tatischeff's attention to a poster of Edinburgh.

The journey to the Scottish capital gets under way. This is the bridge carrying the railway over the north-eastern end of Loch Awe in Argyllshire.

A mixture of smoke and steam billows around the train carrying Alice and the Illusionist as it arrives in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Waverley station with the Balmoral Hotel in the top left background beyond North Bridge.

Taken from Platform 11, the hotel clock can just be seen beyond the platform canopy.

The two friends leave the station. The North Ramp from Waverley station, looking onto Waverley Bridge with Edinburgh Castle in the distance.

The area is presently a bit of a mess with work in progress. The car ramp is closed and the footway has become one way.

Looking around as they reach the main road, the Illusionist meets a fellow performer, a Clown, and introduces himself. Princes Street with the Balmoral Hotel on the left and the Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park in the distance.

The North Bridge visible in the screen capture is obscured by the Waverley Market.

The Clown leads the new arrivals away from the station. Leith Street, looking up towards the junction of Waterloo Place, North Bridge and Princes Street.

Building works continue all around in Edinburgh city.

A little way along the street, the Clown points out the Royal Music Hall. The Playhouse on Greenside Place opposite Picardy Place in Edinburgh.

There never was awning and the doors are arranged differently.

The Clown takes the Illusionist and Alice to the Little Joe Hotel, a boarding house for theatricals. Broughton Place in Edinburgh, with Union Street leading away in the background.

The reality, including the Broughton Hotel on which Little Joe's is based.

After settling into their room, the Illusionist and Alice make the acquaintance of other guests including a Ventriloquist, an Agent and a trio of Acrobats. Likely to be an imagining of a view from Calton Hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh.

Andy's reality includes the Dugald Stewart Monument.

While the Illusionist is at the Royal Music Hall attempting to get a job, Alice goes window shopping. Facing west on George Street, Edinburgh with St. George's Parish church on Charlotte Square in the distance beyond the statue of William Pitt at the junction of Fredrick Street.

The traffic lights are covered for the road closures in operation.

Seeing Women dressed in similar clothes to those in the shop windows, Alice looks down at what she is wearing. George Street with the statue of George IV at the junction of Hanover Street in the background and Melville's Monument in St. Andrew Square in the distance.

The right buildings appear . . . but not necessarily in the right order.

That evening, the Illusionist performs in front of a somewhat less than full house.

Alice waits outside the theatre. Outside the Playhouse on on Greenside Place.

The location now, sans Morris column and pillar box.

On the way back to the Little Joe Hotel, Alice peers at display of televisions in a shop window.

Having seen Alice gazing at a particular coat on the way to their lodgings the previous evening, the Illusionist returns to the dress shop.

After buying the coat for Alice, Tatischeff takes her out for a walk. Princes Street looking west.

Trees obscure St. John's Scottish Episcopal church from view.

Alice spots a lovely pair of shoes before being pulled away from the department store's window.

Crossing the road, the two make their way towards a restaurant. West Bow with Victoria Terrace on Victoria Street curving away in the background.

Once filled with vehicles, the street is no longer a thoroughfare.

The prices on the menu suggest that they will be eating elsewhere. Looking out onto West Bow from inside the fictional MacDonnauld's restaurant.

The actual view across West Bow.

Alice enjoys a fine supper of fish and chips while the Illusionist opens his phrase book. Molly Conway advises that the chippy's frontage was based on the very real Porto Restaurant at 25 Promenade on the sea front in Portobello, Edinburgh.

Moving on after a Piper appears, the pair walk down to Grassmarket. West Bow with Grassmarket to the left.

The Grassmarket was a place of execution in the 1600s where many Covenanters were hanged.

The Illusionist urges Alice to continue on her own. The corner of West Bow and Grassmarket with Bow Foot Well to the left. Andy McArthur points out that the blue structure to the left is a Police Box.

The Police Box is still there, repainted and now operating as an ice cream stand.

While Alice walks on, the Illusionist removes a poster advertising for a job from the wall. Grassmarket with the corner of West Bow to the left and Cowgatehead on the right.

Recognisable as the same view.

Taking the poster with him, the Illusionist arrives at a back street garage.

Entering the office, Tatischeff approaches the Manager.

That evening, Alice waits outside the Royal Music Hall as usual. The Playhouse on Greenside Place with what appears to be Union Place in the left background.

An almost impossible scene to recreate as there is no corner beyond the theatre.

Coming out of the theatre, the Illusionist finds Alice dancing on Princes Street after she discovers a new pair of high heels in his dressing room. Princes Street with the Balmoral Hotel in the distance.

Princes Street with the Scott Monument on right.

Alice crosses the busy road before spotting Tatischeff. Princes Street, looking west towards the National Gallery and the Castle above to the left.

On a rainy day.

The Illusionist brings traffic to a halt before a pair of police Motorcyclists approach with their sirens screaming. Outside Jenners on Princes Street.

Taken from the carriageway of Princes Street, looking east towards the Balmoral Hotel.

In a darkened street, the Police find the Clown being set upon.

At the garage, a flashy customer brings in his equally flashy car.

The Illusionist drives the Chevrolet back into the garage after the overnight rain has washed away an oil stain from the driver's door.

On his way home after being fired from the garage, the Illusionist stops to buy sausages. The street sign reads East Adam Street, an area of Edinburgh that has seen substantial redevelopment, and this can only be the corner of the Pleasance.

There's nothing left of the previous buildings at this rather busy corner.

Months pass by as the Illusionist continues to scrape a meagre living for Alice and himself. Princes Street Gardens looking towards the east side of Edinburgh Castle identified by Andy McArthur.

Taken from the footpath parallel to Princes Street, opposite Castle Street.

A taxi drops Tatischeff outside Brown & Blair Pawnbrokers with his belongings after he's dismissed from the theatre. H & T Pawnbrokers on Queen Street located by Andy McArthur.

There really is a pawnbrokers on Fredrick Street.

Leaving the shop without his magician's equipment, Tatischeff passes the Ventriloquist's dummy in the window. Located by Andy McArthur, H & T Pawnbrokers on Queen Street viewed from the centre of the junction with Fredrick Street.

The corner as it appears in the real world.

Suggested by the Acrobats, Tatischeff telephones for a position at a publicity company who have a contract with Jenners department store.

Evening turns to night as Tatischeff sleeps.

Tatischeff sets off to work the following morning. Broughton Place at the corner of Gayfield Street with Broughton Place church to the centre.

The actual Broughton Place has a different background with no road leading away.

In the library across the road from their rooms at Little Joe's Hotel, Alice spots a Boy studying. Looking out from the hotel onto Broughton Place.

Crowds gather outside Jenners as Tatischeff performs his act as a window display. Jenners department store at the corner of Princes Street and South St. David Street.

Jenners store is now closed and is awaiting a new purpose.

With the day's work over, Tatischeff hails a cab. Outside Jenners at the corner of Princes Street and South St. David Street with Edinburgh Castle in the left distance.

The same corner.

After getting to know each other, Alice and the Boy leave Jenners. This is Jenners' South St. David Street frontage.

There's no display of goods now in the windows of the building.

Tatischeff's Agent takes him to an off licence on the way back to Little Joe's Hotel.

Another dawn breaks on which Alice leaves before Tatischeff awakes.

Alice meets the Boy outside the library. Broughton Place with the corner of Gayfield Street to the extreme right.

Parked cars make this another difficult view to recreate.

Waking late with a hangover, Tatischeff calls his agent at Jenners. The upper floors of Jenners department store on Princes Street, Edinburgh. The store closed in December 2020 after trading for over 180 years.

Taken from 21 Market Street.

The day moves on towards lunchtime. George Street, looking north along Frederick Street recognised by Andy McArthur.

From street level.

A compressed view looking west along Cowgate with the upper floors of Bannerman's Bar at the corner of Niddry Street to the right, South Bridge crossing the bottom, George IV Bridge in the distance and Edinburgh Castle to the top.

Alice and the Boy make their way to a bar where they find the Ventriloquist drunk inside. The Barony bar stands at 81-85 Broughton Street near the corner with Broughton Place to the left.

Moving off angle to avoid the white van, Andy found a very similar scene.

It's afternoon before Tatischeff passes Jenners to find that a Magician has taken his place in the window.

Tatischeff hides from Alice and the Boy when he sees them approaching. Facing the Cameo Cinema on Home Street in Edinburgh.

Still going strong after opening in 1914 as the King Cinema.

Leaving Tatischeff behind, the young lovers continue their stroll. Andy McArthur found The Mound, at the junction with New bank Street, Market Street and Mound Place with New College in the background.

Minus the railings in the foreground and with a hoarding covering the refurbishment of the steps leading down from Lawnmarket.

As evening approaches, Tatischeff passes the inebriated Ventriloquist sleeping in an alley. Grassmarket with the Vennel steps to the left of centre.

Taken from Kings Stables Road from ground level.

While Tatischeff releases his rabbit in Holyrood Park, Alice and the Boy walk through the city below. A difficult one to match, however, Andy McArthur found the junction of Cowgate, St. Mary's Street, Holyrood Road and Pleasance.

There never was a pub at the corner to the right.

Alice and the Boy shelter from the rain. Outside Jenners at the corner of Princes Street and South St. David Street.

The reality, an unchanged scene.

Holding a cigarette, Tatischeff watches his train draw into the platform at Waverley station. The LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman locomotive hauling the train is anachronistic but the background stonework suggests Edinburgh Waverley station on Princes Street.

Platform 11 at Waverley station.

Collecting her belongings from Little Joe's Hotel, Alice leaves the room that she shared with the Illusionist for so long. Facing north-east on Broughton Place with the corner of Gayfield Street to the right.

A daylight capture of the real location.

The Boy carries Alice's suitcase as the two of them walk into a future together. Broughton Place, Edinburgh, in Midlothian during the period that the story is set.

Broughton Place on which the view is based.