Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (aka The Very Thought of You)

Date: 1998
Director: Nick Hamm
Production Company: Banshee, Channel Four Films

Stars: Monica Potter, Rufus Sewell, Tom Hollander, Joseph Fiennes, Ray Winstone
Location(s): Essex, London, Minnesota (USA)

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

Laurence recounts to his neighbour how his life long friendships with both Frank and Daniel have been overturned in only three days by them each independently meeting and falling in love with, Martha.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Dave Wilson and uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.

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Looking towards downtown Minneapolis with the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in the mid-ground (now demolished and replaced with the U.S. Bank Stadium). Interstate 35W is in the foreground.

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Murray's, 26 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA

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Murray's, 26 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA

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2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, USA

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Minnesota State Highway 65 (MN 65), looking at downtown Minneapolis, USA

Wide shot looking at the shops of Blenheim Crescent, London, W11.

A bright spring day. SJ

Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes talk and walk with Portobello Road, London W11 in the background.

The Ground Floor Bar stands forlorn in 2016. SJ

Continuing along Blenheim Crescent, London, W11

The north side of the crescent. SJ

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Outside of Terminal 1-Lindbergh, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, USA

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Martha (Monica Potter) meets Daniel (Tom Hollander) outside of Terminal 1-Lindbergh, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, USA

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Chelsea Harbour with Chelsea Old Church in the foreground. (SJ)

A dawn view of Stanley Gardens, London W11.

An afternoon view of the same. SJ

London buildings in the morning ... St Peter's Stanley Crescent W11 (SJ)

From ground level. Also seen in 'Notting Hill', 'Spice World', 'Ooh ... You are Awful', 'Madame Sousatzka' and 'The Mother'. SJ

A London street crescent with a bus stop sign found at Finsbury Circus, EC2 (SJ)

Peter captures "progress'....the bus stop has gone and is now a bus stand and Finsbury Circus a bus terminus. (RL)

Rufus Sewell practises his lines outside The Baynards, 1 Chepstow Place, London, W2

An improved angle after my last effort taken from over-trusted memory. SJ

Raining outside The Baynards, 1 Chepstow Place, London, W2

Now. SJ

Wide shot of the National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1

For once, less tree interference. SJ

Waterloo Bridge, London, in the foreground with St Paul's Cathedral on the left in the background.

A few changes to the skyline in this image by Peter.

Outside the stage door of the National Theatre, London

The entrance has been closed off. The north side of the NT. SJ

Rufus Sewell contemplates his future with London's Waterloo Bridge in the background.

Peter was there first but we agreed that this was a closer shot to the original. SJ

The bandstand in Battersea Park, London

An angle, but not necessarily the best. SJ

La Gondola Al Parco, Battersea Park. London

At this angle, they're running from the lake: now wonder they're soaked. Now called the Peartree Cafe. SJ

Martha (Monica Potter) decides to leave along a path in St James's Park SW1 (SJ)

The Blue bridge in the background. Looking west. SJ

Martha walking away with fountain behind and possibly a horse statue in the background. Unidentified location ... "Buck House", SW1 (SJ)

I was wrong about this. Looking the other way, east towards Horse Guards Parade. And the equestrian statue is Viscount Wolseley. SJ

Martha takes a break in Battersea Park, London (hut now demolished).

And well and truly gone, despite being one of three timber shelters "of historic significance to the park" as quoted in a 2014 council appraisal. SJ

Frank won't let Martha get away in Battersea Park, London (hut now demolished).

That may just be the same tree on the left. SJ

Battersea Park, London (with Chelsea Bridge in the background).

Replacing Peter's photos from March 2016 with his blessing. SJ

Battersea Park, London (looking towards Albert Bridge).

Same tree on the right. SJ

Battersea Park, London (looking across to Chelsea Embankment).

Little has changed in this view. SJ

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Busy at Stansted Airport, Essex.

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People also get in Joseph Fiennes way at Stansted Airport, Essex.

Evening traffic crosses a London flyover. This location was correctly identified by website visitor Phil Bailey as being the A1261 Aspen Way just east of Poplar DLR station. Phil notes that the outer wall has the right matching construction, street lights look correct and the DLR tracks to the left also fit. The view of One Canada Square would have been unobstructed in early 1998, with Citigroup and HSBC towers yet to be built (those two towers began construction in 1998 and Jan 1999 respectively).

The view from the platform at Blackwall DLR station. One Canada Square is still there, but completely hidden by the HSBC tower, and an enormous advertising screen on a concrete gantry now stands beside the flyover. (PB)

Looking across from London Bridge at Tower Bridge, London.

Peter pointed his camera in the same direction.

In Coventry Street looking at Piccadilly Circus, London.

Good old Piccadilly, "But I should have been further back" admits Peter.

Wide shot of car arriving at the hotel. Could it possibly be another building dressed for the film? Well website visitor Steve Randall has cracked it - this location is The Helicon which is at 1 South Place, London EC2M 2UP. The Helicon was named after the sacred mountain of the muses in Greek mythology and in reference to a bookshop called ‘Temple of the Muses’ that previously occupied the site.

On the corner of City Road. SJ

Close-up of 'Blacks Hotel' but not sure if that ever was a real hotel. This location has been solved by Steve Randall, who pointed out that it was The Helicon on London’s 1 South Place, EC2M 2UP. Completed in 1996, this building was one of London’s first sustainable developments to combine retail and offices into a building that is energy efficient and economical.

A close-up of the revolving doors. SJ

Close up of an apartment on New Broadway, Ealing W5 (SJ)

Unchanged today with Ealing Council next door. SJ

After we puzzled over this location for years, site visitor Steve Randall spotted that Laurence speeds up through Stanley Park Crescent and onto Kensington Park Gardens…

Taken without lens distortion. SJ

And then the red car continues down Kensington Park Gardens, London W11, towards the junction with Ladbroke Grove. Steve Randall did a fine job in finally solving this and the previous location.

I had a choice of shots, separated by a couple of weeks, for this: one with leaves, the other without. I opted for the eye-catching autumnal look. SJ

The red car hurries along Melbury Road, London W14, Tower House in the background. Also seen in The Crowded Day.

Tower House now. SJ

The car zooms across Albert Bridge, London.

More clouds when Peter visited the bridge.

In a flashback, Frank and Martha are seen in Battersea Park, London.

Peter also had a flashback to Battersea Park.

Laurence follows behind Frank and Martha in Battersea Park, London (with Chelsea Bridge in the background).

Terrace Walk along the Thames in Battersea Park. Picture from Peter. The location was also seen in 'Soapbox Derby'.

Martha + Frank stop off at a building on Greycoat Street, SW1. (SJ)

Replacing my previous shot which wasn't the best angle. SJ

Joseph Fiennes and Monica Potter walk across Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.

From the bridge looking north-west at Digby Mansions. SJ

Martha follows an annoyed Laurence on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.

Looking south-west towards Barnes towards St Paul's playing grounds. SJ

Martha listens patiently on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.

Could do with a lick of paint. SJ

Martha and Laurence talk things out on Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.

This is the bench they sit on. SJ

Laurence and Martha watch the sunset from Hammersmith Bridge, London W6.

Slightly earlier in the day. SJ

Victoria Embankment in London WC2 with the Opal Riverfront Bar to the lower left and, in the background, Savoy Place.

Peter observes that there are not many cyclists on the, yet to be officially opened, Cycle Super Highway to right of the shot.

The red car trundles along New Broadway, Ealing W5

From ground level. SJ

The red car turns into an apartment complex on New Broadway, Ealing W5 (the same as in martha037)

Best I could do from ground level. There may be a better vantage point from the Premier Inn next door. SJ

I doubt that these phoneboxes are really on this unidentified London street.

Actually they are: corner of Belgrave Road and Warwick Way, SW1, more used for dodgy adverts rather than 'phoning for the most part! And note that the road crossing has been set back since. SJ

Looking up the River Thames in London at Waterloo Bridge.

A brighter shot of the same vista by Peter.

A market (probably dressed for the film) in London at Clerkenwell Green, EC1 (SJ)

From a ground view rather than from a window in the Old Sessions House behind me. SJ

Martha ponders her next move with an arch of Old Sessions House in the background, just across from Clerkenwell Green, EC1

Been under scaffolding for ages and my patience has run out to wait for it to go. SJ