Jazz Boat

As the titles play, the 'Jazz Boat' approaches its mooring in the Pool of London. The boat is the MV Royal Sovereign built for the New Medway Steam Packet Company by William Denny & Brothers in Dumbarton and launched in 1948 while in the background stands Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge built by five major contractors, Sir John Jackson, Baron Armstrong, William Webster, Sir H. H. Bartlett, and Sir William Arrol & Co. between 1886 and 1894 in London.

Off-centre but taken from the river. SJ

A group of leather clad Motorcyclists roar through the streets on their way to a dance at Chislehurst Caves where Ted Heath and his Music are playing.

As the Bikers approach, three Heavies manouver themselves into position at the turnstile. Chislehurst Caves off Chislehurst Road in Chislehurst, Kent.

The entrance, has after 60+ years been changed! Regrettably, no cameras are allowed inside the caves so a comparison shot for the following capture has become rather difficult. (RL)

Having obtained a key from his Father outside, Spider Kelly (James Booth), The Dancer (Al Mulock) and their pals enter the caves where they go over the details of their plot. Inside the man-made Chislehurst Caves in Chalk Pit Wood, Chislehurst. A small housing estate has been built since filming took place and the entrance to the caves now lies off Caveside Close.

The jive music continues as Spider unlocks a door at the back of the caves to let himself, The Dancer and Holy Mike (David Lodge) out. Chislehurst Caves in Kent, parts of which also appear in ‘Beat Girl’ and ‘Inseminoid’ as well as television’s 'Dr. Who' and several music videos.

The three drive to a jewellers warehouse. Anthony McKay researched this location and found that the view is of the space between a pair of buildings at the M-G-M British Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire with an added prop gateway and wall.

Having met electrician Bert Harris whilst at the caves, the following morning The Jinx (Bernie Winters) makes his way to show him the newspaper headlines.

After the Jinx wrongly comes to the conclusion that Bert Harris (Anthony Newley) is a thief known as "The Cat", the two leave the workman's seedy one room flat.

Bert goes off to work on a faulty alarm at Macey's jewellery shop leaving The Jinx to find Spider and the rest of the gang.

Running from their hideout, the gang begin the film's first song and dance arrangement "Take It Easy".

The Jinx, The Doll (Anne Aubrey), The Dancer and Holy Mike perform in front of the crowd gathered to watch filming in the background.

Joined by Spider Kelly, the cast continue their routine.

After the dance causes uproar in the market, The Doll ends the scene.

Outside Morrie Berman's barber shop, Holy Mike asks the others what styles they're having.

Making enquiries into a robbery in Hackney, Sergeant Thompson (Lionel Jeffries) arrives at the barber shop.

After Spider learns that Bert is The Cat, The Jinx leads him across waste ground to the gang's hideaway in a derelict terrace.

That evening Bert and his girlfriend Rene head to Chez Jean in London's West End where French vocalist Jean Philippe sings "Oui, Oui, Oui". The often seen Piccadilly Circus W1.

With Anteros repositioned. SJ

Leaving Rene at the door to Chez Jean, Spider and the gang take Bert for a ride. Dave completes his backward journey telling us that here is Millbank, London SW1, corner with Atterbury Street. With The Tate Gallery in view, as it was called in 1960. (RL)

A daytime shot with Millbank Tower in the background and Tate Britain decorated for Diwali. SJ

The shot pans with the car as horns sound when The Doll steers to the opposite side of the road to overtake two cars. And further back we are Dave says, Millbank towards distant Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1. (RL)

Looking south-west. SJ

Spider warns The Doll not to drive too fast as the journey continues until they reach Macey's jewellery shop. Dave is working backwards here and identifies Ms Doll driving west along Westminster Bridge with County Hall in the background. (RL)

A lighter time of day. SJ

After forcing Bert to help them break into the jewellers, the gang pass bewildered onlookers as the speed away with their haul. As Dave says, panning left from the following capture suggests that this is the west corner of Wilton Road and Gillingham Street in SW1. (RL)

All replaced. SJ

Panning right, the camera catches up with the car as it corners. We kindle more memories for Dave W with this capture of Wilton Street, London SW1 as seen from its corner with Gillingham Street he tells us. On the right we see the lights of the 'Biograph Cinema', and further down the lights of the New Victoria (then) Cinema. (RL)

Replacing Dave's Google view from ten days ago. I remember imbibing at The Fountain on the right corner before it was consumed by the hotel. But The Biograph was destroyed long before that. SJ

Later that night, Sergeant Thompson arrives outside Bert's lodgings where Spider and the gang are hanging around having lost the electrician and the jewels after he fools them into taking him home.

Walking along the shore of the Thames, Bert sings "Someone To Love". Tower Bridge crosses the river in the background.

A little way up river, the 'Jazz Boat' is moored awaiting passengers. During 1967 MV Royal Sovereign was sold to Townsend Brothers and converted to carry a vehicles between Dover and Zeebrugge and renamed. Six years later the ship was sold to an Italian operator and underwent several alterations and further sales before being broken up in Aliaga, Turkey.

The Jinx finds Bert sitting at the foot of a stairway leading from Tower Wharf before telling him that the gang are after him too.

Bert explains that he isn't The Cat before climbing the stairs where he spots The Dancer and Holy Mike.

Bert and The Jinx escape along the shore.

Climbing the next set of steps, Bert finds Spider and The Doll waiting at the top.

Nearby, passengers arrive to board the 'Jazz Boat' . . . Trinity Square in the background (SJ)

Re-development governs where one stands. (RL)

Aficionados of jazz carry their equipment and props onto the boat.

Carrying such props these days is not a good idea. (RL)

Bert and The Jinx mingle with the crowd. Tower Pier off Tower Wharf in EC3.

Whilst I should have been higher this is surprisingly close to the correct angle and witnesses the substantial changes that have taken place in the growth of the Pier. (RL)

Sergeant Thompson arrives near the entrance to the Tower of London. Tower Hill in EC3 with The Tower of London filling the background.

I am surprised that I managed to capture this without similar crowds. (RL)

The Sergeant follows Spider as he and the gang make their way towards the boat after spotting Bert on board. The river end of Tower Hill with Wharfinger Cottage in the left background and, what is now termed as, Tower Place West on Lower Thames Street beyond.

A few changes in the foreground and background, but the middle ground is true. SJ

A Ticket Collector (Tony Selby) challenges Sergeant Thompson who shows his identification before being allowed past. Tower Pier with Wharfinger Cottage visible on the extreme right.

Rebuilding and a new pier surround Wharfinger Cottage. SJ

On the pier a band plays as the titular 'Jazz Boat' sets off for Margate to Ted Heath and his Music playing jive. Tower Pier off Lower Thames Street. The pier and Tower Wharf can be seen in several features including 'Three Hats for Lisa', '21 Days', 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula', 'Alfie' and 'The Diamond'.

After a voyage during which Bert and The Jinx spend most of the time avoiding Spider and his gang, the boat arrives at Margate as a fight breaks out. Looking inland towards The Jetty in Margate, Kent.

Disembarking, Bert runs after Spider followed by the Sergeant. Margate Jetty closed in 1976 and was almost completely destroyed by a storm in January 1978. The remains of the structure were dismantled in 1998.

Margate Jetty stood somewhere around here! (PW)

Holding his face after being slashed by The Doll's stiletto, Spider is chased towards land. Margate Jetty, reaching out into the North Sea from the landward end of the Pier in Margate, Kent.

The approximate position of the end of The Jetty. (PW)

Reaching Dreamland, Spider runs through the crowds into the pleasure park. Other views of Dreamland feature in 'A Man's Affair'.

A Police Car screeches to a halt in the car park causing Spider to change direction. The car park at Dreamland with properties on Belgrave Road to the extreme right and the upper windows of buildings on Grosvenor Place beyond.

Altered background buildings survive. (PW)

More Policemen cut off Spiders escape. The footbridge over the track of the Dreamland Miniature Railway to the south of the station. The original Dreamland closed in 2003 and stood on Belgrave Road in Margate, Kent.