Run for Your Money, A

This is a story of how Welsh Wales came to town. It all began in Hafoduwchbenceubwllymarchogcoch.

David 'Dai Number 9' Jones (Donald Houston) and Thomas 'Twm' Jones (Meredith Edwards) run to see the pit manager after being summoned to the surface.

Whimple (Alec Guinness) waits to greet Dai and Twm at Paddington station after they win the London Echo's prize for digging coal.

The columnist and his photographer Stebbins (Mackenzie Ward) head to platform 9. Windsor & Eton Central station off Thames Street in Windsor. The station was also seen in 'Left, Right and Centre', 'That's Your Funeral' and 'Doctor in Trouble'.

The greatly redesigned station has just one platform now . . . and this isn't it. (PW)

Being two of the first off the crowded train, David and Thomas walk from the station without being met.

Teresa Stokes sends this shot remarking that the road itself is now a "dedicated smoking area", not now being allowed to smoke on railway premises. (RL)

The streets of London look deserted and bleak to the two brothers. Despite appearing to be a model or a studio set, Aiden McManus recognised this as Praed Street as seen from the Underground station entrance at the corner of London Street. Aiden, with knowledge gained from running his FlipsideLondon Tours, adds that back projections of Edgware Road also appear in the film.

Taken from what used to be the underground entrance seen in 'Runners' looking east. SJ

Dai chases after con artist Jo (Moira Lister) when she leaves her compact on the table in a cafe where the two miners were having breakfast.

High Street, Acton, London W3. No 68 doesn't seem to have a lucky trading record. (RL)

Twm searches for Dai after following him from the cafe. RL notes that these shops are not in Acton's High Street.

The shop remains as proven by Roland-François Lack with the aid of Google, 36 Haven Green London W5. Clearly the Director was playing with our locations! This replaces the 2016 google shot. SJ

Dai is nowhere to be seen.

High Street, Acton, London W3, looking towards Locarno Road. (RL)

Huw Price (Hugh Griffith) stands in the gutter singing as Twm scans the street.

High Street, Acton, London W3 looking towards Grove Road. Not quite the right angle due to that over large bus shelter. (RL)

After recognising Huw as a fellow chorister from years ago, Twm retrieves the musician's harp from a pawn shop and the two start searching for Dai. Peter locates this as Bride Lane looking north towards Fleet Street EC4 with the former Crown & Sugarloaf pub to the right.

And Peter also provides the proof.

Whimple finally catches up with Dai outside the offices of The Echo. Facing east on Fleet Street EC4. Similar views were seen in 'Sea Wife', 'Wedding Rehearsal', 'Who Done It?', 'Strange Bedfellows', 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire', 'Children of Men' and 'Brothers in Law'.

The same clock can be seen top centre in this image from Peter.

As Whimple drives away with Dai and Jo, Twm and Huw approach the newspaper's offices. Fleet Street with the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in the distance.

Peter captured the view over 65 years later.

The two Welshmen enter the offices of The Echo. Fleet Street EC4.

No longer the 'Echo', if it ever was. Image provided by Peter.

Whilst taking Dai on a fleeting sightseeing tour, Whimple pulls up outside the Tower of London. The Tower of London in EC3 as seen from Tower Hill.

Peter was also outside the Tower.

Dai and Jo enter the tourist attraction. Through the archway can be seen Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge is still there in this shot from Peter.

Whimple is stopped by a Beefeater (Edward Rigby) and told to buy a ticket. The Tower was also used in 'The Jokers' and 'The Boy Who Turned Yellow'. Middle Tower looking towards Byward Tower, currently inaccessible (Sept. 2025) due to restoration works. With sincere thanks to Yeoman Warder Gary Burridge, for his interest and involvement in identifying this location and for escorting me as close as possible to confirm the detail. (RL)

The journalist runs through the Tower of London's grounds as Dai and Jo admire the Crown Jewels. Wellington Barracks stand on the right.

And this comparison is from Peter.

Whimple makes his way through parading soldiers.

Nobody standing to attention during my visit. (RL)

Jo leads Dai away as Whimple catches up with them.

Barriers, gazebos and huts all rather dictate the scene in more ways than one now. (RL)

The pair reach the riverside. Facing east on Tower Wharf in EC3. The area was seen in 'The Naked Edge', 'Diamonds for Breakfast', 'Alfie' and 'The Buttercup Chain'.

It was also seen through the lens of Peter's camera.

Two o'clock strikes as Dai remembers that Whimple has tickets to a rugby match that are part of the prize.

A return to the area for other photographs allowed Peter to capture the same view.

Jo sweet talks Dai into taking her along. Looking west on Tower Wharf with London Bridge just visible in the left distance.

Peter found that things have changed at the Tower of London. Cannons and railings have moved and the trees are now mature.

Twm and Huw attempt to catch a bus to Twickenham but the conductor throws them off.

High Holborn looking towards Chancery Lane and the bus stop remains in place. (RL)

When Dai and Jo pass Twm and Huw on a tube station escalator, Dai's bowler ends up on the floor of a corridor. Holborn Underground station on Kingsway WC2.

Peter goes underground once again for Reel Streets and sends an improved shot over his previous visit. (RL)

Twm chases the hat as Huw follows with his harp. These are the disused stairs leading down to Platform 5 at Holborn station.

Huw and Twm have difficulty boarding a waiting train. The northbound Piccadilly Line platform at Holborn station which were also seen in 'Turn the Key Softly'.

Peter ventured onto the platform to take this comparison.

Crowds leave the stadium after the rugby match between Wales and England at Twickenham. A stock shot of Twickenham Stadium on Whitton Road in Twickenham, Middlesex. The location was seen in 'Allez France!'.

The west stand now. See "Allez France" capture 10 for information on the (then) Rowland Hill Memorial Gate seen in the centre of the original capture. SJ

Whilst Jo takes Dai to see her accomplice Barney with the intent of selling him a fake diamond ring, Twm and Huw try to hail a lift back from the game. Richard Lowe places this as the Great West Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 looking towards Gillette Corner. What is now the Osterley Park Hotel is angled to the right of the screen shot.

As per the capture text 70 years on. (RL)

As he drives back to London, Traffic lights change bringing Whimple to a halt. Richard Lowe locates this as the Great West Road with Wood Lane crossing at the lights. In the left distance can be seen the tower of the Gillette Building.

Considerably more greenery now, even the traffic light. (RL)

Twm and Huw climb into Whimple's car with the harp. Great West Road, Isleworth Middx.

A quieter occasion. (RL)

Now searching for Dai, Whimple looks for the building where Jo lives.

Jo runs from her flat as Whimple finds Dai inside.

The confidence trickster escapes onto a main street. No use looking in an old A to Z, Suffolk Gardens isn't real.

Whimple and Dai chase after Jo. Just a slight pan from the previous frame reveals that this is looking north on Bond Street in Ealing, just north of The Green. The street has been redeveloped.

Jo dodges her way through pedestrians and into a theatre. Bond Street, Ealing.

Dai finds Jo as she heads into the auditorium. The entrance to the Walpole Picture Theatre on Bond Street in Ealing discovered with the help of Christopher Matheson.

Whimple loses the Dai and Jo but Barney (Leslie Perrins) catches up. Outside the Walpole Picture Theatre on Bond Street in Ealing W5 located by Christopher Matheson.

Antony Blair explains that this is the façade of the former cinema which was saved when the building was demolished in 1981 and is now to be found on the end wall of number 2 Mattock Lane, Ealing

Dai follows Jo from the theatre after the two watch Twm and Huw perform. The 'Easiphit' shop stood on the corner of High Street and Sandringham Mews and the location also features in 'Burnt Evidence'.

Now a Subway. SJ

After Jo and Barney's con is found out, the two run past Huw as he plays in the street.

Dai runs towards Paddington after retrieving the prize money stolen by Jo.

Whimple follows Twm and Huw as they head to the station. Looking along a connecting alleyway towards Bakers Lane from High Street in Ealing W5 with The Three Pigeons public house to the left, identified by Christopher Matheson and members of the Britmovie Forum. The church spire just visible in the distance is that of St. Saviours church on The Grove, also seen in 'The Last Page'.

The Three Pigeons sign is still there, but the pub is now Chimichanga, a Tex-Mex establishment. SJ

Jo and Barney continue their chase after Dai ashe reaches Paddington station. Teresa Stokes found during her visit in July 2015 that this location and 044 were inaccessible, forming part of the Crossrail project. We wait to see what will eventually be revealed. (RL)

Revealed are the current stairs leading up to Eastbourne Terrace. SJ

Dai runs into the station with minutes to spare before the train home departs. Paddington station cab road running alongside Eastbourne Terrace in W2. The location was seen in 'Brandy for the Parson' and 'Miranda'.

The former cab road looking north-west to, in the left distance, the stairs seen in the previous shot. SJ

Twm, Huw and Whimple follow Dai into the booking hall.

The Booking Office now just a memory as revealed by Teresa Stokes. (RL)

Rugby supporters fill the train as Dai, Twm and Huw climb aboard just before departure. After investigation by Teresa Stokes and research by RL, the consensus is that this is Windsor & Eton Central station in Berkshire.

The following morning, the connecting train arrives in Hafoduwchbenceubwllymarchogcoch. The former Nant-y-moel railway station in Mid Glamorgan.

The two brothers alight with Huw and his harp. Facing to the north-west from the platform at Nant-y-moel station.

As the train leaves, a passenger calls over to Dai who has left his hat in the compartment. Looking up towards buildings on Commercial Street from the station at Nant-y-moel in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales.

The three leave the station. Nant-y-moel station in the Ogmore Vale, Wales.