Playbirds, The

The wealthy Harry Dougan heads to Newmarket. The junction of the A1304, formerly the A11, and Hamilton Road on the outskirts of Newmarket in Suffolk.

Now with a statue of The Queen, unveiled on 3rd November 2016, to celebrate her special relationship with Newmarket. SD

The red Rolls Royce turns onto the main road. Looking north-eastward towards High Street and the Cooper Memorial Fountain with Birdcage Walk in the left background.

Viewed from Barbara Stradbroke Avenue. SD

At the stables, the top shelf magazine owner agrees to buy a new horse for £40,000 and names him Mr. Playbird.

Shots of late 1970s Soho are seen during the titles. The Exciting Cinema Club once resided at 18 Greek Street W1.

And here's a shot from the mid 2010s. (PW)

Centerfold model Doreen Hamilton (Pat Astley) makes her way home from a photoshoot. Founded by Peter Cook and Nicholas Luard, The Establishment club also occupied the building between 1961 and 1964.

Currently a restaurant. (PW)

Elsewhere in Soho, Hern (Dudley Sutton) walks around carrying his sandwich board. Brewer Street W1.

The still trading Lina Stores are at the corner of Green’s Court to the left. (PW)

Moving on, the film cuts to a sign reading SAUNA.

No signs this high on the building now. (PW)

The shot tilts down to reveal D’Arblay Street W1 with St. Giles House on Poland Street forming the background.

Modern signs advertise that the street is now more upmarket. (PW)

Doreen walks along D’Arblay Street. A similar view was seen in ‘Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door’.

This is facing west from Berwick Street. (PW)

Sergeant Lucy Sheridan (Mary Millington) patrols a street full of seedy clubs, shops and cinemas. Other views of the same corner can be seen in 'Mona Lisa', 'Wonderland' and 'Soho Incident'.

Wardour Street W1 with the entrance of Gerrard Street to the left. (PW)

This section of Wardour Street lies to the south of Shaftesbury Avenue and the location was seen in 'Mona Lisa'.

A few cultural changes are evident. (PW)

Back on the other side of Shaftesbury Avenue, we see the upper floors at the corner of Berwick Street and D’Arblay Street. Other views of Berwick Street can be seen in 'The Small World of Sammy Lee', 'Strictly for the Birds', ‘Evidence in Concrete’, ‘Turn the Key Softly’ and 'Make Mine a Million'.

This corner looks in better condition now. (PW)

Tilting down brings the cover-girl back into view. The crossroads formed by Berwick Street and D’Arblay Street.

The same corner on a rainy Tuesday in February.(PW)

Looking from Berwick Street into D’Arblay Street.

The loss of some cinemas is not mourned . . . . . well, not by everyone. (PW)

Hern continues to carry his proclamation around Soho. Frith Street with the corner of Old Compton Street to the top right.

No mags or films of that type available here now. (PW)

Back in Brewer Street we find Herm again. In the distance is Wardour Street.

It looked less cluttered all those years ago. (PW)

Doreen nears the building where she has an apartment.

Following one of the other Tenants, a Stranger tricks his way into the building and strangles Doreen.

When the murder is reported Sergeant Sheridan is called to the scene. Looking across to the north-east corner of Golden Square in W1.

The dreaded scaffolding and hoardings are hiding renovation work to preserve the existing infrastructure. (PW)

The Sergeant is picked up by Chief Superintendent Holbourne and taken to Doreen’s apartment.

All except two of the background buildings have been replaced. (PW)

In his office, Harry Dougan (Alan Lake) makes a call before Holbourne and Morgan arrive to question him about the murder. The Houses of Parliament and the River Thames are seen from the top of Peninsula Heights on Albert Embankment in Vauxhall SE1. The building was once called Alembic House and various views indide and out are seen in many films including 'Joanna', 'The File of the Golden Goose', 'The Italian Job', ‘Allez France!’ and ‘Genevieve’.

Returning to Newmarket, Dougan watches as Mr. Playbird prepares for another race. Looking across the Rowley Mile Parade Ring with the former Weighing Room, now the Hong Kong Suite, and the Paddock Stand in the background.

More of the racecourse at Newmarket. On the extreme left is the Rowley Mile Stand, forerunner of the current Millennium Grandstand, while on the right is the Paddock or Head On Stand.

Expecting another murder, Inspector Harry Morgan (Gavin Campbell) and Chief Superintendent Jack Holbourne (Glynn Edwards) arrive at Lena Cunningham’s home. Alexandra Court on Maida Vale in London W9.

Same building, different cars. (PW)

The policemen enter the building to offer police protection to the young model. The entrance to Alexandra Court.

Unfortunately, a parked van prevented a better comparison. (PW)

The shot moves up the building. Alexandra Court in Maida Vale W9.

A resident told me that the facade had recently been cleaned and renovated. (PW)

Back at the races, Dougan and his Trainer have drinks in the Belvoir Champagne and Spirit Bar.

Harry Dougan is driven back to London.

Looking down to the fountain between Bayswater Road and Cumberland Gate in W1.

The camera pans to find Speakers Corner at the junction of Park Lane and Cumberland Gate. A closer view of the area can be seen in 'The Optimists of Nine Elms'.

Sergeant Sheridan and Sergeant Wilson (Ron Flanagan) check out fanatics that could be the serial killer. Outside the former subway entrance at the corner of Park Lane and Cumberland Gate.

Speakers Corner with buildings on Park Lane in the background. The area was also seen in ‘Omen III: The Final Conflict’, ‘This Happy Breed’ and ‘Nothing Barred’.

A similar view by Peter.

The two walk through the crowd. Another view of Park Lane from Speakers Corner at the north-east entrance to Hyde Park.

Peter provides this picture with a closer view of the background buildings.

Following Lena’s murder Holbourne and Morgan arrive at the police station. Gonville Street in Fulham, London SW6.

All seems intact here. (PW)

The pair get out of the car walk towards the press. Gonville Street at the junction with Putney Bridge Approach.

From a similar viewpoint. (PW)

Hoping for a statement, journalists question the Chief Superintendent. In the background stands All Saint’s church, Pryors Bank in Bishops Park, Fulham.

The plants are doing well! (PW)

Holbourne shouts “No comment” as he enters the building. The entrance is that of a Premier Inn at the corner of Gonville Street and Putney Bridge Approach SW6.

Alterations here but the background building is the same. (PW)

In Soho, Hern paces the streets, muttering his message. Wardour Street, south of Shaftesbury Avenue in W1.

The same pedestrianised location. (PW)

Now working undercover, Sergeant Sheridan heads to her new job. Identified by Sanizip, this is Kentish Town High Road NW5, opposite Gaisford Street

Tris was quick of the mark to replace Sanizip's Google view of the location.

The Sergeant enters a building where she hopes to make connections to meet Dougan. Kentish Town Road found by Sanizip.

The camera tilts up to reveal the nature of Lucy's covert role. Sanizip locates the sauna as standing on Kentish Town Road opposite Gaisford Street and yes, Nicole was the name of the business.

After work, Lucy visits her work colleague and asks to be introduced to Dougan.

Watched by Sergeant Wilson, Lucy and Harry arrive back at his house after a ride.

Police arrive at the home of Mrs. Dolby to ask the whereabouts of her husband who has become the prime suspect.

When a Stranger is seen lurking in the garden at Dougan's house during a party, Inspector Morgan goes outside to investigate.

After back-up is called for, Morgan, Wilson and Holbourne chase the man.

The three Officers split up.

Inspector Morgan runs through the derelict plant.

More police arrive before the stranger falls into a pool of water and drowns.

When she appears on the front page of Playbirds magazine, Lucy is taken to lunch by a Journalist (John M. East). The Concordia Restaurant once traded at 29-31 Craven Road in W2.

Now occupied by a house clearance business . . . which was doing very well when I arrived! (PW)

After another murder, Herm is taken in for questioning by Sergeant Wilson. Brewer Street, between Lexington Street and Green’s Court.

No longer Swedish, a Mexican currently occupies the building. (PW)

An unmarked van heads towards Dougan's printing works. Facing east of Culford Mews in Dalston N1 with Threadgold House in the left of centre distance.

This looks similar except for new development to the right. (PW)

The vice squad arrive at the works where Playbirds magazine is being distributed from. Looking across Culford Road towards Culford Mews. The area has been redeveloped with new housing occupying the previously industrial sites.

The warehouse has gone, as has the depot across the road carrying Unigate signage which has been replaced by Warburton Close. (PW)

More unmarked police vans arrive on the scene. Culford Road facing the junction with of Tottenham Road in the Borough of Hackney. Tris adds that the building at centre with the white painted ground floor is the former Britannia public house which had closed long before the film was made.

The best angle possible as flats now occupy what was the yard. (PW)