Moonlighting

Four Polish workers ride in a taxi towards the location where they will be renovating an apartment and living while the work is being done. De Vere Cottages, Canning Place, Kensington, London W8.

Hugh Hood found signs of current building works in this comparison shot.

The taxi arrives at its destination. De Vere Gardens W8.

A similar scene these days, captured by Hugh Hood.

Nowak (Jeremy Irons) meets the next-door neighbour (Denis Holmes) who has the key to the property to be renovated. 46 De Vere Gardens.

The west side of the street. SJ

Nowak opens the door of the house where they will be working. 44 De Vere Gardens in W8.

And the renovation must have included painting the door, changing the doorbell and lamp and affixing a nice big 44. SJ

The quartet visit the local supermarket to pick up provisions. The supermarket was sited opposite Southcombe Street, and the view from the shopfront looks southwest on Hammersmith Road W8.

The view across Hammersmith Road is remarkably unscathed amid major development which wiped out the supermarket site. (SR)

The supermarket supervisor summons the police to deal with a shoplifter. The view now looks out northeast along Hammersmith Road.

99-101 Hammersmith Road, the shop opposite the supermarket in the film, is a property to let at the time of this comparison. (SR)

Another shopping trip, this time to spend their £20 entertainment allowance.

They end up buying a TV for £40 at a shop numbered 111.

Seeing a bike across the street from the apartment gives Nowak an idea. 45 De Vere Gardens, Kensington.

Another current shot from Hugh Hood shows an updated front door. I don't think it's the same bike.

Equipping himself with a bike, Nowak sets off to gather materials. 71 Heath Road, Twickenham W8.

Radio and TV has given way to Nails and Spa in this shot from John Harwood. (SJ)

Nowak pulls up at a builders merchant. 73 Heath Road, Twickenham in Greater London.

Now The Tool Superstore. John H. panned right. (SJ)

Nowak returns on his bike with the building materials. Victoria Grove W8, facing southeast towards Gloucester Road with The Gloucester Arms on the left. (SR)

Good timing with an obliging cyclist. Victoria Grove was also seen in The Big Sleep. SJ

After an interrupted call to his wife, Nowak contemplates what he wanted to say to her. Canning Passage, London W8.

The K6 has gone and the backyard gate has moved to its left. SJ

Nowak returns to the shops. 72 Heath Road, Twickenham.

Different enticements nowadays, captured by John. (SJ)

On leaving, Nowak finds his bike has been stolen. 72 Heath Road, Twickenham.

John found that opposite the Tool Superstore is a Sue Ryder at 76-80 Heath Road. (SJ)

Learning of the coup and desperate for news from home Nowak borrows a newspaper from a letterbox in the street. He decides not to inform his fellow workers of the news to avoid distracting them. 38 De Vere Gardens W8.

A couple of trees have gone. SJ

Nowak attempts to sort out a problem with the renovation, but the shop is closed for the weekend and he has to run home. 72 Heath Road in Twickenham.

41 years later, Antony Blair found that the railings have given way to a line of trees.

At Christmas Nowak pulls a stunt to steal from the supermarket and heads back down Southcombe Street W8.

Southcombe Street now looks out at modern offices which have replaced the block containing the film's supermarket. (SR)

Nowak's men storm off angrily from a hire shop after he has used their bonus money as deposit on a sander. The junction of Askew Road and Uxbridge Road W12.

Nowak crosses the road with the sander. The white pub in the background is the Askew Arms, 269 Uxbridge Road W12.

The white pub has only recently been blued. Looking south-east to the junction with Askew Road from The Vale Uxbridge Road. SJ

In their anger, the men shut Nowak out for the night. He huddles on a park bench with his rented sander. The southern end of the Broad Walk in Kensington Gardens, with Palace Gate and 58-59 Hyde Park Gate in the right background, at the time housing Pickwicks Gifts. A similar view appears in 'Amelia and the Angel'. (SR)

I was lucky to see the bench vacated as I approached. SJ

Next morning the men have come to their senses and finish the work. Nowak is able to return the sander to the hire shop and pay the men their bonuses. The hire shop window looks out onto numbers 285-287 Uxbridge Road.

Taken from outside the now West London Bikes and Scooters, 12-14 The Vale. (The start of The Vale is on the north side and end of Uxbridge Road on the south.) SJ

The men admire the watches that they bought with their bonuses. The sign on the door identifies this as Kings Mall, King Road, Hammersmith, London W6 with Boots the chemist opposite. Kings Mall is currently known as Livat Hammersmith.

Boots is still there but the Kings Mall crest on the glass door has gone . Outside was seen in "The Sweeney," "Recoil" and "Poor Cow." SJ

With their job complete, the workers return to the mall and commence a 6-hour walk to Heathrow for the journey home. Nowak contemplates having to tell them about the bad news from Poland. Kings Mall, Hammersmith.

Not quite so busy, not even a "background artist." SJ