Passport to Shame (aka Room 43)

Johnny McVey (Eddie Constantine) having borrowed money from Nick Biaggi (Herbert Lom) drives off in haste in his new taxi. Identified by James Baptist as Elgin Avenue, London W9 with the “Cabbies Rest” visible extreme right. It is still a taxi rank but the “Rest” has long gone.

Elgin Avenue looking towards Maida Vale, Lord Elgin pub on the corner. Aidan McManus.

His fellow drivers stand at the “Cabbies Rest” hut and smile as they see Johnny approaching. Elgin Avenue, London W9 also seen in ‘Adventures of a Taxi Driver’.

As mentioned above, there's still a taxi stand here but no shelter. This is looking north rather than east on Elgin Avenue as the cabbies would be looking west in the original at Johnny's approach but a side view of this cab seemed more picturesque than its rear. SJ

Weaving his way across the road, as could clearly be done in those days when one was happy.

Elgin Avenue again looking the other way, amazing how many trees have been planted in London since the 50's. Aidan McManus.

They go to admire Johnny’s new acquisition but Nick waits in his chauffeur (Charles Price) driven Aston Martin watching events.

The house on the corner of Maida Vale and Abercorn Place is still there. SJ

Nick signals to Mac (Denis Shaw) to move into the road and ‘signal’ by lighting a cigarette. Elgin Avenue towards Maida Vale and Abercorn Place. "It was Elgin Avenue, a cab rank. As a 9 year old living next door I watched filming and got Herbert Lom's autograph." This came in 5 years after Aidian's now photo from Richard Tibber.

Towards Maida Vale and Abercorn place, these cab shelters were normally put around posh areas so the cabbies wouldn't slope off to get some affordable food and the nobs would always have cabs within servant despatching distance my theory is the household telephone being more widely available killed them off, still a cab rank you can see a cabbie whiling away the time reading the 'Daily' Bring Back Hanging' in my picture. Aidan McManus.

With that, a lorry approaches at speed towards Johnny’s new taxi.

A big gap where the cabmen's shelter was. 13 out of the original 61 built do survive and are listed so they should be safe. SJ

Having done the damage the lorry drives off.

Looking away from Maida Vale again. Aidan McManus.

Nick says that he saw what happened but did not take the registration number, but he could help him.

The chemist is still there, they only just modernised the place this year, next door now a deli, strange how so many places do the same sort of thing under different owners in different areas. Aidan McManus.

“I had it three days”. 314 – 316 Elgin Avenue in the background.

Premises have changed again. SJ

Nick goes to one of his houses. Courtfield Gardens, London SW5

Now. Aidan.

He pulls up and enters No 36.

Now. Aidan.

Marie Louise ‘Malou’ Beaucaire (Odile Versois) is accused of theft at the café where she works and is ‘saved ‘ by Aggie (Brenda de Banzie), the Madame of the ‘house of ill repute’ that adjoins No 36 and has a connecting door. Malou looks up at her new home. The rear of houses in Collingham Road, London SW5 can be seen in the background.

Looking south-ish. SJ

The girls in No 36 look down to see the new ‘recruit’.

Even the black frame is still there. SJ

Vicki (Diana Dors) looks down to see Malou, who has settled in, chasing her kitten on the balcony below.

Now. Aidan.

Malou being French, now has no work permit and can only remain in the country if she marries, so arrangements are made for her to marry Johnny, at a price! Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames. The house was adjacent to Nettlefold Studios, but was demolished along with the studios in 1961. 42 Bridge Street can be seen in the background. (SD)

Nick Boorman found flats now occupying the former studio site.

As they arrive at the Registry Office a wedding has just taken place and the photographs are in progress.

Who would have guessed it? Michael Caine and Anne Reid. Identified by Michael Darvell and Di Davies who advises, the latter, aka Valerie Barlow from early ‘Coronation Street’ and also seen in ‘Dinner Ladies’, ‘Last Tango in Halifax’ and many other productions.

Johnny and Malou are met by Aggie, two henchmen and Mac to act as witnesses and make sure everything goes ahead as it should.

Malou sees Vicki leaving No 36 with a client before heading off to her pitch……

A daytime shot. SJ

- ……..and decides to follow her. Courtfield Gardens looking across the junction with Collingham Road.

A newer looking building has since arrived at the far corner to the right. SJ

She watches as Vicki joins the other girls and realises her fate.

Now. Aidan.

Vicki steps to one side to talk to one them.

Now. Aidan.

Johnny is eager to see Malou again and is sent to ‘Grant Street EC’ where he is told she is. Queen Victoria Street, London EC2 looking across to Upper Thames Street, 211 Upper Thames Street top left and the tower of St Mary Somerset just off capture.

He turns right off Queen Victoria Street into what was a much narrower Peter’s Hill identified by Christopher Matheson as beside The College of Arms, London EC4 looking south

Christopher Matheson having identified the location as beside 'The College of Arms', took me there and kindly authorised that I could take the "now".

He parks his taxi. I stand to be corrected but I believe is Knightrider Street looking towards the east face of the bombed St Nicholas Cole Abbey, Queen Victoria Street.

Having entered the door of what could well be 33 Knightrider Street and into the rubble of what was, he is set upon by Nick’s heavies and tries to escape. Properties in Carter Lane fill the background.

But is pulled back with the added support of Nick's chauffeur.

Johnny and the other cabbies tour London looking for Malou on the streets.

Vicki does her best to encourage her on the basis that it is the ‘only way’. Meanwhile Nick’s heavies keep watch. Whiteley's Department Store, Queensway in London W2, other views of which can be seen in 'What Every Woman Wants', 'Park Plaza 605', 'Connecting Rooms' and 'Two Left Feet'.

Now. Aidan.

Mike (Robert Brown) spots her and the call goes out to Johnny. Whiteley’s again.

As Mac is about to drag her away Johnny arrives just in time to take her to safety.

A chase through the streets ensues. Looking towards 192-204 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2

Looking north-east on the corner with Neal Street. SJ

Having taken Malou back to his home, the following morning he leaves for work. Courtfield Mews, London SW5

Now. Aidan.

He enters his cab.

Pretty unrecognisable in its own right but using Aidan's shot (see previous), it's here. SJ

And drives off.

The arch stumps remain after WW2 damage. SJ

But he is being watched. Courtfield Gardens looking towards the side of the corner property in Courtfield Mews.

A bit of a dilemma here; the windows of 65 Courtfield Gardens have the appropriate width but are under balconies. I may have to return if it's discovered the in-between windows, out of shot to the left, were shortened. SJ

Johnny returns later in the day as Malou had not answered his calls and finds Nick and his supporters. Courtfield Mews, London SW5

Dog-free. SJ

When the taxi office cannot reach him Mike pays him a visit. Courtfield Gardens approaching the entrance to Courtfield Mews.

Now. Aidan.

As he turns he sees Johnny’s taxi outside…… Courtfield Mews.

A close-up of the bomb damaged east arch base. SJ

….and runs to the door. Courtfield Mewes looking across to the property opposite in Courtfield Gardens.

Just beaten to the shot by the blue van. SJ

Vicki tells Johnny that she is being held at Courtfield Gardens and arrangements are made for the cabbies to raid the house en-mass. Taxi’s are then hard to come by. Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

Nowhere for a taxi to even stop in Nick Boorman's comparison.

You hail one……. Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

Certainly Walton-on-Thames says Andrew Bye.

...and they do a ‘Uy’ and drive off.

Andrew Bye provides this picture of a much busier Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames.

Taxi’s head into London. London Bridge with New Fresh Wharf, Lower Thames Street in the background.

Entering Parliament Square. The R.I.C.S building in the background.

I managed to stand in the middle of the road for this one. SJ

Having done a circuit they now have Westminster Abbey in the background.

And St Margaret's on the left. SJ

Before finally exiting towards Westminster Bridge.

Additions on the left. SJ

The first taxi arrives in Courtfield Gardens turning right from Collingham Road.

Now. Aidan.

Further taxi’s arrive from the opposite direction.

Spotted, in an instant by that super sleuth, Aidan McManus.

The girl’s look down from No 35 at the assembling cabs.

Now. Aidan.

Some start to withdraw seeing a possible opportunity to escape.

Now. Aidan.

Johnny, having been smuggled in by Vicki as a client, left instructions for the raid to start at 4 o’clock. 36 Courtfield Gardens.

Now. Aidan.

The girls continue to watch events and withdraw. 35 Courtfield Gardens.

Now. Aidan.

Vicki sets fire to the top floor and Nick falls to his death watched over my Aggie and the money.

Now. Aidan.