Passing Stranger, The

Driving his flatbed lorry, Fred pulls up at the Blue Barn Café where US soldier Chick Madden climbs out from beneath the tarpaulin covering the load. The location, here supposedly near Banbury, is identified by Steve Randall as the former Five Alls public house on Wycombe Road at Studley Green to the south east of Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire which can also be seen in 'The Long Haul'.

Given a bed for the night after passing out, Chick wakes up to Jill bringing him breakfast the following morning. Located by Steve Randall, this is the Five Alls on Wycombe Road, Studley Green. Wendy Brown adds that the Five Alls was a public house with stabling between 1875 and 1930. After closure the premises became a tea house until 1955 when the owner sold to Cleveland Petroleum and the site was rebuilt as a garage and filling station. Wendy moved in on the 7th May 1956 along with her parents and been there ever since.

Steve Randall's view shows an extension to the building as well as that part of the original site since taken over by a car servicing business.

Fancying his chances with Jill at the Blue Barn, Fred (Duncan Lamont) calls her from the depot as Inspector Harris (Mark Dignam) and his Detective Sergeant (Russell Waters) from Birmingham CID walk towards him.

Recalling his recent past, Chick Madden (Lee Patterson) tells Jill that he used to spend his furlough around the docks watching freighters loading for home. Ray Glenister now provides a more specific location identification telling us that Chic is standing at the Shadwell Basin entrance, the big smokestack being the Stepney Power Station off Narrow Street. To the right, Normandy Wharf on the point at Rotherhithe. (RL)

The homesick GI explains that making friends wasn't easy. Ray Glenister admits that it was relatively easy for him to locate this for he 'stumbled' over it whilst looking for something else. Even so, he still needed a sharp eye and good memory! Western end of Royal Albert Dock looking south east immediately on the right just after crossing the Connaught Road bridge from the south. (RL)

Whilst walking into a pub, Chick bumped into Barney (Liam Redmond). Outside the Gun Tavern on Coldharbour E14.

Still open for business. SJ

Chick tells Jill that he and the Tug Master became pals and he was taken to the dock where his boat was moored. Looking across the Lower Pool of the River Thames from Tunnel Pier to Rotherhithe with Hope Wharf on the far bank and the spire of St. Mary’s church to the extreme top left.

With thanks to the management and staff of Woods Silver Fleet for allowing access to take the comparison shots at this location. (PW)

Barney told Chick that he could get him aboard a ship bound for home. The walkway to Tunnel Pier, now known as Wapping Pier, in Wapping E1.

Looking along the brow towards Wapping High Street. (PW)

Watching ships leave the docks, Chick pondered the proposal which would cost him more money than he had. Looking along the walkway from Tunnel Pier with King Henry’s Stairs to the left of King Henry’s Wharf in the right background.

Almost everything survives in this view of the location. (PW)

Told by David Lloyd to find Chick, Spicer (Harold Lang) leaves the bookmaker's office. Richard Lovejoy identifies this as the entrance to number 1 St Mary Abbot's Court, Warwick Gardens W14.

This is just a little further north than the entrance seen in "The Gilded Cage." SJ

Getting into his car, Spicer drives away to search for Chick and bring him back. The Kensington High Street frontage of Melbury Court in W8 recognised by Richard Lovejoy.

I should really be a little further back/east but then the tree would've obscured even more of Melbury Court. SJ

As Chick looks through the window of Jill's room at the Blue Barn, music brings back memories of home.

Making enquiries about the American, Spicer visits transport cafés. No real architecture here, just a sign advertising the almost forgotten Telfers Meat Pies outside Wally’s Transport Café that stood on Elton Way, North Western Avenue to the east of Watford in Hertfordshire. The site is currently occupied by the Imperial China restaurant.

Spicer's car draws to a halt in the car park at Wally’s Transport Café.

After fixing a pump at the Blue Barn, Chick manages to get a tractor running at Mr. Heywood's farm.

Mr. Heywood walks over to Chick as he drives the American tractor around the farm yard.

When Spicer's arrives at the Blue Barn, Jill (Diane Cilento) runs from the building with money for Chick.

Chick and Jill drive away from the café in Spicer's car. Looking from the car park of the Five Alls onto Wycombe Road at Studley Green in Buckinghamshire. The background buildings have been replaced

Leaving Jill to drive back to the café, Chick picks up a newspaper on his way into the local station. Denham station off North Orbital Road, Denham Green in Buckinghamshire confirmed by Jonathan Horswell.

Jill joins Chick on the platform and the two catch a train to London. Steve Randall recognised Denham station off North Orbital Road at Denham Green. The station appears in a number of productions including 'The Chiltern Hundreds', 'Bad Blonde', 'This Happy Breed' as well as 'No Smoking' and a similar shot can be seen in 'Man in the Moon'.

The pair head to the pub where Chick first met Barney. Seen from the River Thames, this is the Gun Tavern on Coldharbour E14.

At the side of the pub, Jill waits for Barney. The alley at the side of the Gun Tavern on Coldharbour.

Jill walks towards Chick and asks what they'll do if Barney doesn't turn up. The terrace on the river side of the Gun.

When Barney arrives, Jill negotiates passage on the Santa Sierra sailing for New York in the morning. Looking east across the Thames towards the tar tanks of Ordnance Wharf in SE10.

Jill follows Chick when he storms out of the pub. Coldharbour with the Gun Tavern in the background. Just around the corner, scenes for ‘4D Special Agents’ were shot.

Tris captured a slightly closer view.

Catching up with Chick, Jill walks behind him in silence. Ray's persistence has paid off and he has located this as West India Docks, South Dock entrance. Looking west along the side of the office block on the northern side of the drawbridge lock. In modern times this is Harbour Quay, London E14 just west off the Preston's Road. (RL)

The pair wait as a bridge lifts to allow a ship through from the dock to the river. Ray continues his work on this film and has found this to Torrington Causeway, North Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14. (RL)

Chick tells Jill that he's not prepared to pay the amount of money that Barney is asking for. Looking through the metalwork of the drawbridge linking Preston’s Road to Manchester Road across the South Dock entrance of the West India Docks in E14 with buildings on Manchester Road in the left distance.

Jill gets a lift back to the café with Fred. Ray assembles all the available evidence to provide us with the location as Bridge Wharf off West Ferry Road near West India Import Dock with the two angled hoppers seen on both the OS and the Capture with the open shed, confirming this location. (RL)

While Chick accompanies Lloyd and Spicer on an arms robbery, Fred asks about Jill's relationship as the journey to Oxfordshire begins.

Fred agrees to drive Chick and Jill to Millwall after the deserter returns to the Blue Barn Café.

Having avoided detection by the police, the three reach the outskirts of London. In silhouette to the right stands the Piccadilly Line’s Park Royal station on Hanger Green, Western Avenue W5.

Antony Blair captured a busier daylight scene of the same location.

Fred's lorry reaches the docks before the Santa Sierra sails. I have to apologise to Ray Glenister for dragging more evidence out of him, as he said in the first place, "Limehouse Reach Looking N toward Nelson Dock." (RL)

Waiting for his passengers, Barney walks towards his tug. Tunnel Pier in Wapping E1.

The building remains in place with alterations apparent. With thanks to the guys at Woods Silver Fleet for allowing access. (PW)

Barney watches the Mary Lou as she begins to lead the Santa Sierra towards the river. Ray Glenister tells us that the tug is leaving the South Entrance to West India Docks, Poplar, London E14, and that the white building on the left is 'The Gun' pub. (RL)

On board his tug, Barney's Boy brings a cup of tea. Tunnel Pier stretches into the Lower Pool of the River Thames from King Henry’s Wharf.

With thanks to the management and staff at Woods Silver Fleet for assisting in taking these shots. (PW)

A murky shot sees Fred turn his articulated truck through the narrow dockland's streets in a lightened pair of frames. Ray Glenister has located this as the truck turning left out of Coldharbour into Prestons Road, London E14. (RL)

From Coldharbour into the slightly realigned Preston's Road today. SJ

The camera follows the lorry as it heads towards the river. A further identification from Ray is that this is Coldharbour looking south towards 'The Gun' pub. (RL)

The view south down Coldharbour. SJ

Chick tells Fred to pull into a yard. Ray sees the truck entering the entrance to Hutching's Wharf from Hutching's Street, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14 (RL)

On the riverside, a fight breaks out between Fred and Chick. Ray's research has helped him establish, Hutching's Wharf, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14. Looking over to Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe. (RL)

The wharf is filled in now. SJ

Barney's patience is tried further as his Boy waits to cast off. Tunnel Pier on the River Thames adjacent to King Henry’s Wharf.

Recovering after being knocked down, Chick gets up and draws his gun. Another lightened but pixelated sequence takes place on the river side. By virtue of continuity Ray tells us that this is also, Hutchings Wharf, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14. Looking NW to the smokestacks at Cuckold's Point, Rotherhithe. (RL)

A long line of riverside apartments has replaced the smoke stacks. SJ

As a police car arrives at the gates to the yard, Chick walk away from Fred. Yes, this is going to get repetitive, Hutchings Wharf, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14. Looking east toward Hutchings Street and entrance to Hutchings Wharf. (RL)

Now a small park. SJ

Chick and Jill walk towards the approaching Police Officers. And finally, yes, it's Hutchings Wharf, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London E14. Looking over to Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe as found by Ray. (RL)

A different skyline now. SJ

Barney's tug is seen heading along the river as the film ends. Another apology to Ray, this time, for dragging even more evidence out of him, as he said in the first place, "Limehouse Reach looking SW between Greenland Dock and beyond, Deptford Wharf." (RL)

I'd like to think that tower on the left matches. SJ