Key, The

Date: 1958
Director: Carol Reed
Production Company: Highroad, Open Road Films

Stars: Sophia Loren, William Holden, Trevor Howard, Oscar Homolka
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

During World War II, an American salvage tug captain becomes involved with a beautiful Swiss-Italian woman after being given the key to a flat.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill

Buy this film on Amazon link

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you help:

If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

A panorama of a busy wartime dockyard is seen. Portland Harbour, Portland, Dorset. The area was also used in 'Morning Departure', You Know What Sailors Are', 'Further Up the Creek' and 'Above Us the Waves'.

  • Capture 2
  • 'Now' required

Captain David Ross (William Holden) arrives in the films Westport dockyard.

  • Capture 3
  • 'Now' required

The Captain is directed to the Commander.

  • Capture 4
  • 'Now' required

David Ross meets Captain Chris Ford (Trevor Howard).

  • Capture 5
  • 24 Aug 2016

Chris takes David to the Seaview Apartments on the Esplanade. The shelter is identical to those in Weymouth, Dorset and this appears to be The Esplanade.

Long has this location been puzzled over . . . this seems to be the place though. It's the end of New Street opposite the seafront. The area to the right in the screen capture was an open space until fairly recently and the ruins and distant ship are probably a matte. (PW)

  • Capture 6
  • 24 Aug 2016

Following a break from his duties, David arrives back at the tug to relieve Captain Van Dam.

Cove Row in Weymouth, looking up river towards the Town Bridge. A similar view was seen in 'The Ship That Died of Shame' (PW)

  • Capture 7
  • 'Now' required

A large key is seen hanging over a locksmiths as David walks through Westport.

  • Capture 8
  • 10 Jul 2023

In the town's market, Stella (Sophia Loren) walks through the crowds. Graham Brooker advises that this is the Market Square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire with County Hall in the background.

Sixty-five years later, Antony Blair returned to the Market Square.

  • Capture 9
  • 10 Jul 2023

Stella makes her way to the Ministry of Labour offices. Aylesbury Market Square, located by Graham Brooker.

Antony Blair faced north-west from the arch of the County Hall building, which is where the David Bowie Statue now stands.

  • Capture 10
  • 29 Oct 2019

David watches as the train carrying Stella departs. Henley on Thames station in Oxfordshire.

Andrew Price provides this view adding that "Of the original three platforms at Henley-on-Thames station, only one remains, along with its awning."

  • Capture 11
  • 29 Oct 2019

Henley on Thames' old station on Station Road was closed and re-sited in 1975. Vivian Jones points out the locomotive in the background is "Rood Ashton Hall" which was based at Oxford at the time of filming. Vivian adds that although the engine's boiler and tender got swapped with those from a different locomotive in 1961, "Rood Ashton Hall" is preserved and is still in use today.

The present station was built in 1985 and is located further south than the original, as Andrew's comparison shows.

  • Capture 12
  • 29 Oct 2019

Kane (Kieron Moore) and David walk from the platforn. Henley on Thames station, Station Road, Henley on Thames.

Andrew advises that beyond the brick and metal boxes on the truncated platform stand offices where the previous station building used to be.