Penny Gold

Date: 1973
Director: Jack Cardiff
Production Company: Fanfare Films Ltd

Stars: James Booth, Francesca Annis, Nicky Henson, Joss Ackland, Richard Heffer, Sue Lloyd, Jospeh O'Conor, Una Stubbs, George Murcell, Marianne Stone, Penelope Keith
Location(s): Amsterdam, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

A detective investigating the murder of a young woman makes a starling discovery that leads him into the world of international stamp collectors.

Additional Information:

Screen captures and uncredited now shots uploaded by Richard Lovejoy with grateful thanks to Di Davies who proposed the film and provided additional assistance with location placement.

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A night view of the town of Windsor with the Castle center background

The location of Windsor is set with a skyline including Windsor Castle. from the Windsor Bridge.

Windsor Castle from Windsor Bridge

Now pedestrianised.

The windows of a top floor with the light showing through the curtains at night.

A pan settles on the window of the flat where the murder takes place. Thames Street, Windsor.

The top floor windows of a property in Thames Street, Windsor.

And in daylight.

Men playing rugby against the misty image of Windsor Castle in the background.

Anna (Una Stubbs) and Matthews (James Booth) watch Roger (Nicky Henson) playing in a game of rugby. The Home Park, Romney Lock Road, Windsor.

The Home Park, Romney Lock Road, Windsor with Windsor Castle in the background.

It will no doubt be green again by the time of the first game.

Thames Street, Windsor looking up towards the Castle.

The murder of Diane (Francesca Annis) is discovered. Thames Street, Windsor.

Thames Street, Windsor, Bucks.

Pedestrianised except for access.

  • 'Now' required
A ambulance leaving from under an arch towards a public house.

The body is taken away. Supposedly looking back into Thames Street the same set appears in 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden' as well as ‘Go for a Take’ and ‘Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width', 'All Coppers Are . . . ' and ‘Carry on at Your Convenience’.

  • 'Now' required
Looking past two men in the front seats of a car towards a viaduct and Windsor Castle

Matthew and Roger discuss the case as they drive to the police station. A332, Slough to Windsor Railway Viaduct and Windsor Castle in the background.

Two men leaving a car to enter a building marked as a police station .

They arrive back at the police station to interview Tina Hobbs (Sue Lloyd) the shop assistant, who discovered the body and the safe open. Oxford Road, Tatling End to the south-east of Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. identified by Di. The police station can also be seen in 'The Switch'.

Antony Blair found that time had moved on with the building replaced by new properties on Peel Close, a reference to the former Police station.

The cobbled Church Lane, Windsor with church tower in the background.

On their way to interview Charles Henry Blachford (Jospeh O’Conor) . . . . Church Lane in Windsor, Berkshire.

Church Lane, Windsor, Berks

Very much a Continental flavour now.

A crowd watching the band leaving Windsor Castle Gateway.

….they are held up as the band leaves the gates of Windsor Castle….

The gates and towers of Windsor Castle

No shortage of tourists the day I was there.

Two topped pillared gateposts with wrought iron gates open as a car passes through. Pinewood.

….and they eventually turn into the entrance of his home. The South Entrance to Pinewood Studios on Pinewood Road, Iver, Bucks. Also seen in “The Amazing Mr Blunden”.

Louise Lockwood took this shot whilst visiting the area around Pinewood Studios. It doesn't look as though the gates have been used for some time.

Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios seen through the front window of a car with two passengers.

Their first view of the house. Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios.

Robin's view of the house. RJ

A close up of a period property in Park Street, Windsor.

Having interviewed Blachford at his home attention turns to his philatelic interests within his offices. 8 Park Street.

8 Park Street, Windsor, Bucks.

In fill development to the right.

A woman entering a car in Thames Street, Windsor with two men about to follow.

Matthews and Roger go to collect the barmaid (Josie Grant) who thought that “she saw something”. Thames Street in Windsor, other lengths of which appear in 'The Stranger Left No Card', 'No Sex Please, We’re British', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Carry On Loving'.

Thames Street, Windsor, Bucks.

I saw nothing worth reporting.

Looking down on to three shop fronts in the Strand, London from on high the other side of the road.

Action switches to London and naturally, the home of Stanley Gibbons. Strand, London WC2

Strand, London WC2

Stanley Gibbons have expanded and moved to the left of the frame.

Park Street, Windsor, two people leaving a period property and other pedestrians.

Matthews visits Blachford’s business premises again to interview the dead girls twin sister Delphi (Francesca Annis) and takes her to lunch “there’s lots to talk about”. Park Street.

Park Street, Windsor, Bucks.

The parking control officer in his white van arrived just as I was to take the shot.

  • 'Now' required
A man with a beard leaving a timber framed pub

Meanwhile, Dr Merrick (George Murcell), Blachford’s doctor is leaving "The Cock Pit"........... Turks Head Court, High Street, Eton. Currently shrouded as it is being converted into apartments and eateries.

A man and a woman walking up steps, Thames side, Windsor.

.....and stops when he sees Matthews and Delphi together. Quite how he would have seen them from where he was remains a mystery! Thames Street, Windsor and Thames Side.

Thames Street, Windsor and Thames Side.

A much softer view now.

People on Eton Bridge with Windsor Castle in the background

They approach the restaurant. Windsor Bridge, which can be seen from the river in 'Fun at St. Fanny's'.

The Windsor side has seen some Thames side development.

Looking through the front window of a car with two passengers as it travels down a domestic road.

Matthews and Roger discuss the suspects particularly, Diane’s boyfriend Claude (Richard Heffer). Unknown location but Di sees this as Iver Heath or Richings Park perhaps..... Steve Cook confirms Di's 'vision' and tells us that this is in fact Ashford Road, Iver in Buckinghamshire. (RL)

Ashford Road, Iver

Steve supports his identification with an almost exact Google Earth View. (RL)

A young couple close to camera talking against a background of a small shopping parade.

When they meet up with him, Claude recalls how he and Diane became close. High Street, Uxbridge

High Street, Uxbridge

They certainly went off piste with this location.

A girl in her dressing gown exchanging change for a parking meter outside her shop.

Claude explains how, desperate for change for the parking meter, she would stop a stranger (Guy Standeven) outside her premises. Thames Street.

Thames Street, Windsor, Berkshire

Now the home of various businesses.

The entrance to what appears to be a crematorium chapel as a hearse approaches.

The day of Diane’s funeral. St Anthony’s Church, Farnham Road, Farnham Royal. With thanks to Di.

St Anthony’s Church, Farnham Road, Farnham Royal.

Fortunately a more cheerful flower display on this occasion.

Two men entering a block of 1970's flats

Matthews and Roger return home. Atherton Court, Brocas, Eton with thanks once more to Di.

Atherton Court, Brocas, Eton

The windows and facia have all been renewed.

Two men sitting talking on steps by the River Thames

Matthews discusses the case with Jones (Jos Ackland) his senior officer. Thames Side, Windsor.

Thames Side, Windsor.

Far too busy a place now to sit and chat.

Two men talking as they walk through a cemetery at St. Michael's Church, Bray

They further discuss the case as they walk. St. Michael's Bray.

Antony Blair captured a similar scene 49 years later.

A man and a woman walking beside a lake

Matthews takes Delphi for a walk to “check up on her sisters boyfriends”….and to find out if she has any! Black Park Lake near Slough and Pinewood Studios identified by Di.

Black Park Lake near Slough

Di does not suggest that the trees here are the ones in the film, because they would be much thicker now, but the location feels right. It does indeed, an excellent match. (RL)

A man walking between two classic houses in Park Street, Windsor.

Roger visits Blachfords solicitor Mr Roberts (John Savident). Park Street, Windsor.

A little easier for resident parking these days.

  • 'Now' required

Investigations reveal that Diane travelled to Amsterdam.

A section of the frontage of some Dutch premises.

Matthews visits Van Der Meij (Clinton Greyn), a stamp dealer at his offices. Likely to be a stock shot. Stock shot or not, Frank tells us that this is Jodenbreestraat 4, Amsterdam, the home of the Rembrandt Museum and where Rembrandt lived and painted for a number of years.

Frank didn't need any encouragement to go into Amsterdam to take this shot for us, and not surprising, being where Rembrandt used to live, nothing has changed.

The front portion of a Dutch sightseeing launch on a canal with a background of Dutch properties.

He learns that Van Der Meij thought that he had been dealing with Delphi and they did a stamp swap “The Geneva” for the “Penny Gold”. Phil Bailey recognised this as the view to the south side of Herengracht just east of Vijzelstraat. In the top right of the shot you can just make out a glimpse of the imposing edifice that houses the Amsterdam City Archive.

Frank van den Berg provides the shot and is compelled to say "And as usual, Amsterdam is…… Under construction".

Having visited Stanley Gibbons once again Matthews and Roger head to interview Miss Hartridge (Penelope Keith). Southampton Street at the junction with Strand.

Southampton Street at the junction with Strand.

The same junction from ground level.

  • 'Now' required
A stable yard with a lady on a horse leading another away from camera whilst a man leans up against a car.

Roger waits by the car whilst the interview takes place. Unidentified location.

Heatherden Hall, Pinewood seen through large bush shrubbery with a police car center foreground.

Following the interview they learn that Blachford has been found dead in his pond. Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

On the south side of the hall. RJ

A woman and a man talking close to camera with the background of a crematorium chapel.

Following Blachford's funeral Delphi signifies to Claude that she wants to talk to him. St Anthony’s Church on Farnham Road, Farnham Royal in Buckinghamshire. With thanks to Di.

St Anthony’s Church, Farnham Road, Farnham Royal.

A very colourful welcome.

A man standing behind the bonnet of a car looking at camera with a church tower in the background.

The scene cuts to show Matthews looking on. St Mary's in Farnham Royal identified by Ian Birch. St, Mary's church is also featured in 'The Day of the Jackal' and 'Nearest and Dearest'.

Antony Blair captured the best view possible.

A lady dressed in black looking left of camera into an open car door with a row of cottages as background.

Delphi drops Blachford's home help, Mrs Parsons (Marianne Stone), off at her home. Cottages adjacent to the Red Lion public house, Stoke Green, opposite the Cricket Ground as advised by Di.

Cottages adjacent to the Red Lion pub, Stoke Green, opposite the Cricket Ground

I hope that I have captured the correct cottages but screening greenery made it all very difficult.

A man on an ornate stone bridge looking down to a woman foreground right of camera.

Upon her return home Delphi wanders down to the lake and is surprised to see Matthews on the bridge. The bridge is in the grounds of Heatherden Hall, Pinewood. Also seen in 'Devils of Darkness', 'The Impersonator', 'The Primitives', 'Bugsy Malone', 'Mary Poppins Returns', 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' and more.

Robin's take of this much photographed bridge. RJ

Three men leaving an house.

Matthews and Roger start to re-check alibis and call on Tina Hobbs but leave with another resident. 7 Claremont Road, Windsor.

7 Claremont Road, Windsor.

I don't think that much has been done to the garden through the years.

A man by a car looking towards camera from the opposite side of a sharp bend in a domestic road.

As he is placed in their car…… Claremont Road with what was East Berks College in the background advises Di.

Claremont Road with what was East Berks College in the background

The changed background isn't now visible.

A sports car approaching camera round a curve in a road with a background of houses and shops.

………Tina comes round the corner. Trinity Place looking towards St. Leonard's Road, Windsor which is also seen in 'Carry On Cabby', 'Two Left Feet', 'A Pair of Briefs' and 'One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing'.

Trinity Place looking towards St. Leonard's Road, Windsor

Still recognisable.

A close up of a car speeding away from camera towards a church. Dorset Road from Claremont Road, Windsor.

But speeds off past St. Edward's RC Church, Dorset Road from Claremont Road, Windsor. The church also appears in 'Upstairs and Downstairs' and 'Carry On Cabby'.

You would certainly be taking the corner blind these days.

A close up of three cars in front of a single storey building Vansittart Estate, Windsor

As the chase continues they pass (in a blur) a number of locations, this one is clearer. Vansittart Estate, Windsor says Di.

Duke Street, Windsor

A revised frontage and now the home of the Windsor & Eton Brewery.

A sports car with another following approaching camera between railway arches and the back of a terrace of houses.

Tina turns into Bridgewater Way.

Some of the cottages in Bridgewater Terrace to the right have been demolished.

A sports car and a lorry facing each other in a railway archway under the Windsor Station

And comes to a halt when she meets a lorry in a railway arch under the Windsor Station. The location can be seen in seen in 'Allez France!' and 'All Coppers Are . . . '.

No longer a through road.

Two cars speeding away from camera beside railway arches.

Matthews and Roger soon catch up. Bridgewater Way.

There is no escape that way now.

Tina finds her way into Bridgewater Terrace.

Bridgewater Terrace, Windsor

Some modernisation has gone on there.

A large car mid scene in a narrow road of terraced houses.

As do Matthews and Roger. Bridgewater Terrace reverse POV.

Bridgewater Terrace, Windsor

The background is now a little more dominant!

A sports car entering right towards camera into a road from a T junction.

Swerving into Duke Street, Tina hangs on. The junction also appears in 'The Firefighters (CFF)'

Duke Street, Windsor.

Just managed to squeeze a spot between two cars.

A road with many cars and a pavement looking towards a row of railway arches as background.

Both cars speed towards the end of the road and the turn right in to what is also Duke Street.

Duke Street, Windsor

See what happens when you take away those double yellow lines!

A parked car to the left, two cars approaching camera and a row of terraced houses to the right.

The chase continues along Duke Street……but they are going in the wrong direction…. it's a one way street.

Still a one way street.

Three railway arches at the end of a road as seen from a car.

Having reached a dead end in Barry Avenue.

Barry Avenue, Windsor

Now softened with vegetation.

Tina continues to make a mockery of them.

A shady spot for tourist vehicles to park.

A lone sports car approaching camera in High Street, Eton.

And somehow or another manages to exit Eton Court into a much changed High Street, Eton. The same junction appears in 'No Sex Please, We’re British' and another length of the street is seen in 'Loophole'.

High Street, Eton

Pedestrians now have to make their own crossing judgement.

A sports car going away from camera in a single carriageway road and a lady about to step off the pavement.

Then a left into Eton Square where a woman is just about to walk in front of her.

Eton Square, Windsor

A little changed corner of Eton.

A girl leaping from the drivers seat of a car in a very narrow road.

After knocking her over Tina leaves the car to make a run for it.

Eton Square looking towards High Street, Eton

A number of cosmetic changes have been made to the building opposite.

The view from the ground of two men approaching camera in a very narrow road and a blue building in the background.

Seen from the injured woman’s perspective Roger and Matthews run to the scene.

Eton Square looking towards High Street, Eton

No accident that the road was clear!

A man with back to camera stands by a post box at the end of a narrow passageway with a timber frame building background.

Matthews gives chase towards the High Street but appears to lose her, although he eventually finds her in studio location(s) later.

"The Cock Pit"........... Turks Head Court, High Street, Eton.

"The Cock Pit"........... Turks Head Court, High Street, Eton to the left currently shrouded whilst conversion to apartments and eateries takes place.