Last of the Blonde Bombshells, The
Date: 2000
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
Production Company: HBO Films, British Broadcasting Corporation, Universal TV
Stars: Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Cleo Laine, Leslie Caron, Joan Sims, Billie Whitelaw, June Whitfield
Location(s): Aberdeenshire (Scotland), East Sussex, London
Region(s): London H-L, North, Scotland, South East E-L
Storyline:
After her husband’s death, a widow tries to reassemble an all-girl swing band in which she played during World War II. JT
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by John Tunstill
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
- 09 Feb 2022

Cemetery. Good sized mausoleum rear left. Neil Rigby doesn't just restrict himself to streets, he even ventures into cemeteries if he has to, via YouTube. He has proven this to be Putney Vale cemetery, London SW15 3DZ (RL)

Peter Bywaters took a trip to the cemetery. (SJ)
- Capture 2
- 09 Feb 2022
Mausoleum and weeping lady on right. Putney Vale Cemetery, Stag Lane, London SW15 3DZ found by Neil. (RL)

Peter found the monuments intact. (SJ)
- Capture 3
- 09 Feb 2022
......and a Celtic cross. Putney Vale Cemetery, Stag Lane, London SW15 3DZ found by Neil. (RL)

Peter found that the Celtic cross is still there. (SJ)
- Capture 4
- 09 Feb 2022
.... and another fine monument. Putney Vale Cemetery, Stag Lane, London SW15 3DZ found by Neil. (RL)

Even the tree at the left looks a match. A final one from Peter. (SJ)
- Capture 5
- 12 Jul 2016
St Martins in the Fields, National Gallery on the left.
A similar up to date shot from Peter. (RL)
- Capture 6
- 03 Aug 2016
And inside the National Gallery is an ice-rink. Changed a bit since I was there! Not really, because this, ltbb007, ltbb008 and ltbb023 is Broadgate, 12 Exchange Square, London EC2 says Neil Rigby. (RL)
Peter found the place.
- Capture 7
- 03 Aug 2016
....with a gallery for afternoon tea.
"Maybe the same corner" says Peter "But probably at a different level where access is not avaiiable when the Chinese restaurant is closed".
- Capture 8
- 27 Jan 2024
....and a gallery of shops. Perhaps this is where the trustees of the Nat. Gal. are flogging off our heritage...or could it just be somewhere else? Indeed it could, Broadgate, 12 Exchange Square, London EC2 says Neil Rigby. (RL)

Taken from an elevated position looking over the circus. SJ
- Capture 9
- 08 Sep 2016
A church across the road? Opposite the pub/hotel in the next pic.
We are still not sure what it is but it is opposite the Crocker's Folly public house in Aberdeen Place, London NW8 says Neil Rigby. Revealed in ltbb010, 011 and 013 I knew the Google shot needed replacing as I passed but couldn't remember the other shots required. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 23 Nov 2016
.....the pub or hotel. A pub, Grade ll listed, called the Croker's Folly, 24 Aberdeen Place, London NW8 says Neil Rigby. (RL)
Confirming Neil's identification but the planters do rather dominate the shot now. (RL)
- Capture 11
- 23 Nov 2016
Better view, which I am sure would have been of help to Neil. (RL)
I am not so sure now! (RL)
- Capture 12
- 03 Aug 2016
....another meeting with Sally Anne. This time at the Brunswick Shopping centre, Bloomsbury, London WC1 says Neil Rigby. (RL)
Another of Peter's comparison shots.
- Capture 13
- 23 Nov 2016
....just one more time, to make sure. Thanks, Neil is now quite sure. (RL)
The background is visible through the "undergrowth". (RL)
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Arriving home. The junction of Lynton Road and Camilla Road, London SE16 (opposite ltbb015) says Neil Rigby. (RL)
- Capture 15
- 26 Jul 2016
Home sweet home. Church next door?
Neil Rigby narrowed it down with the help of Google to Lynton Road opposite Camilla Road, London SE16. (Opposite ltbb014) The church was St. Augustine's Parish Church, now converted into flats. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
Elephant and Rhino Pavilion at the Zoo, London Zoo?
- Capture 17
- 14 Jul 2016
Going into the tunnel, Blackwall, Mersey or another.
Yes, another, Rotherhithe Tunnel, London SE16, spotted by Neil Rigby who supports with the aid of Google Earth. (RL)
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
The script suggests a prison, but perhaps just an industrial estate.
- Capture 19
- 11 Jun 2016
An old cinema identified by Peter as "The Cinema" or the Gaumont at 55 Pitfield Street in Hoxton N1. Closed as a cinema in 1956, the façade was meant to be saved but was demolished in 2016. Graham Kelly updates us that the Curzon cinema has since been rebuilt with faithful replica of the original façade and is now showing films again after reopened in 2021.
The scene "After developers realised it couldn’t be brought back to its former glory" captured by Peter.
- Capture 20
- 'Now' required
Could this be Bloomsbury in London? Well yes it could, Brunswick Shopping Centre, Bloomsbury London WC1 says Neil Rigby. (RL)
- Capture 21
- 29 Jul 2016
Well, could it? Yes, says Neil, actually it is the Brunswick Shopping Centre in Bloomsbury. (RL)
But Peter provides this image . . . . featuring the only plant that he could find!
- Capture 22
- 23 Jun 2023
Sally Anne and trombone. Neil spots the Territorial Army building in the background, Handel Street by the Brunswick Centre, London WC1 (RL)

Looking north from the elevated walkway of the Brunswick centre. SJ
- Capture 23
- 03 Aug 2016
Somewhere poshish. Sort of, Broadgate, 12 Exchange Square, London EC2 says Neil Rigby. (RL)
And Peter provides the proof.
- Capture 24
- 27 Jun 2016
Seaside, Hastings. A few other films were made here, as our search facility shows.
Now. Viewed from Hastings Pier. SD
- Capture 25
- 27 Jun 2016
Could this also be Hastings?
The same section of Hastings Pier now. Reconstructed after the fire in 2010. SD
- Capture 26
- 27 Jun 2016
Hastings? from the pier.
Hastings from the pier now. SD
- Capture 27
- 29 Jul 2016
Back in Bloomsbury? Yes says Neil looking down Handel Street with Marchmont Street in the background.Some recent development and an altered staircase. (RL)
The steps and walkways have been rebuilt but the arched doorway on Marchmont Street is still there in this picture from Peter.
- Capture 28
- 29 Jul 2016
......or is it somewhere else all together? No, same as ltbb029 (RL)
And Peter confirms it from behind railings.
- Capture 29
- 29 Jul 2016
Panning right. So it has to be Handel Street with the TA building in the background, thanks Neil. (RL)
Peter comments that this isn't quite the correct angle. "Needs another visit in the Autumn when the foliage dies down".
- Capture 30
- 07 Feb 2022
Nice house.

Neil Rigby found this "nice house" in Home Park Road, Wimbledon, SW19 in October 2016. This replaces his Google shot and was taken by Peter Bywaters. (SJ)
- Capture 31
- 07 Feb 2022
Nice street.

Peter B. took this across Home Park Road. (SJ)
- Capture 32
- 07 Feb 2022
Nice car.

Unusually car-free. A third shot from Peter who observes that many of the properties on this road have been razed and rebuilt, including the house next door to the left. (SJ)
- Capture 33
- 'Now' required
At last, a definitive location. Craigievar Castle, Kintocher, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, according to imdb.
- Capture 34
- 'Now' required
Font door of said castle.
- Capture 35
- 'Now' required
Garden wall, same place.
- Capture 36
- 12 Jul 2016
And even I got this one!
So did Peter! (RL)
- Capture 37
- 'Now' required
A school, or a housing estate posing as a school... Steve Randall has found Battersea County School, 101 Culvert Road, SW11.

