Scarlet Thread, The

A London location is established with a night shot of Piccadilly Circus looking up Shaftesbury Avenue.

A daytime shot.

Moving to Leicester Square to establish further where the action starts. Empire Theatre looking towards Cranbourn Street and the Warner Theatre.

Now pedestrianised.

Freddie (Laurence Harvey) attempts to pick the pocket of Marcon (Sydney Tafler) outside the Warner Theatre, Cranbourn Street, London.

With a police car parked out of view pickpocketing was unlikely today.

Marcon, clearly seeing an opportunit,y offers to take Freddie home and feed him. A cab takes them to “Abercorn Mews”. Unknown location.

As the taxi approaches its destination two people are seen leaving some premises. Macon and Freddie enter the neighbouring premises where they are set upon, and Freddie makes every effort to defend his new found friend.

A high shot of Piccadilly Circus to establish the start of a new day, with Freddie smartened up to match the high life that he seeks to join.

Life remains low at ground level. SJ

He walks up Charing Cross Road eyeing all the “expensive” ladies that he hopes to attract when he is rich. From the junction with Bear Street to the left.

The many changes of the London scene.

He looks at the attractions he will be able to afford. The Hippodrome on the corner of Cranbourne Street and Charing Cross Road.

The Hippodrome is now a casino.

Freddie enters SPORTSDROME for a meeting with Marcon. Charing Cross Road.

The new Foyles premises on the right.

Sam (Harry Fowler)………..New Cavendish Street, London W1. The street appears in 'A Touch of Love', 'Blue Ice' and 'Nobody Runs Forever'

The sign supports the fact that I was in the right place.

Sam watches a car being parked with a view to stealing it for “a job”. Harley Street, London W1.

If someone had parked in the same place, its been "nicked".

Securely locked, but by whom and where? Unusual brick wall for a West End location. This is a different lady with different clothes and a hat!

Sam arrives at SPORTSDROME with the car and Freddie and Marcon go to get in. Charing Cross Road, looking North. Denmark Street off to the right and Manette Street to the left.

Foyles have moved down the road as in scarth009

They proceed through London. Tottenham Court Road, London W1. The Dominion Theatre just to the right side.

A short break in the traffic lights.

An establishing shot for their arrival in Cambridge. The Gothic revival fountain (foreground) replaced Hobson's Conduit which was moved. Many Cambridge views also appear in Bachelor of Hearts.

From ground level. Most of the fountain was demolished in 1953.

They make their way through Cambridge. St. John’s Street and St. John’s College. A similar view features in 'Hide and Seek' and 'They Knew Mr. Knight'.

Still impossible to get the correct angle even though it is largely pedestrianised.

Old Divinity School, St John’s College

Lawn Quadrangle, Kings College with the statue of Henry Vl.

“The Backs”, Clare Bridge, Clare College.

Less greenery for once.

After a tour of the City the next scene captures another cast member, Shaw (Arthur Hill) walking towards the college with a view to visiting the Deans daughter. Kings Parade.

No gowned Profs today.

Meanwhile Marcon, Freddie and Sam are making their way through town. Oh yes, they have remembered to change the number plate. Castle Street facing south with The Castle Inn on the far right. The old Court House on the left side of the street was demolished in 1952. (SR)

The car pulls up outside North Court, St John's College and Freddie and Marcon get out. Bridge Street.

That tree has matured.

They cross Bridge Street and walk along, St Clement’s to the left of Marcon. Except they would have been further forward than this.

At least the scaffolding did not intrude on the shot.

Marcon and Freddie view the jewellery they are about to smash and grab.

It is a clearer shot from outside the shop as it is now.

As they make their escape towards the waiting car that has pulled up opposite them, someone gets in the way and Freddie shoots.

A small piece of redeveloped infill.

With that, Sam drives off and Marcon and Freddie make a run for it , chased by some good citizens of Cambridge. A high long shot of North Court where Sam dropped off Marcon and Freddie prior to the robbery.

Best possible shot from ground level.

Additional shot of their escape for historic record purposes. Bridge Street….just before…

Few things stay the same.

...they dodge down a side street. Ram Yard to the left and Round Church Street to the right.

It is just Round Church Street now, all the central development has been swept away.

Along a back street. Is that one of Ridgeon’s premises on the right? But which one? I stand to be corrected but I believe this to be Park Street.

They continue to be pursued by students who look as if it is all a jolly jape rather than chasing murdering robbers. Unknown location.

Turning out of Park Street into Jesus Lane.

More development swept away to aid traffic flow.

They duck into Friends Meeting House, closely followed by their pursuers…….who run past…….

The Friends Meeting House remains but in its new form since 1968.

…….down Jesus Lane towards Bridge Street where they split up

Slightly off line to avoid the sun......and the traffic.

Marcon and Freddie remove their masks and start to walk away leisurely. A reverse POV of 032 looking North East along Jesus Lane.

The gates and posts of "Little Trinity", Grade 1 listed can now be seen more clearly.

Act normal, there’s a copper. Guildhall Street, looking towards Petty Cury and Market Hill.

I suppose we have to give way to change.

Phew, that was close!

Now we know why they turned that road into a dead end.

“Burton”, now there is a name we remember. Guildhall Street looking towards Market Hill and Petty Cury going off to the right. Where they are spotted and the chase starts again.

Will we look back on Optical Express with fond memories in 65+ years?

Into Market Place at the rear of Great St Mary. To the left can be seen Hobson’s Conduit Gothic water fountain that was demolished in 1953

It's a pity a higher vantage point could not be obtained.

Past the shops with scaffolding, now that is usually erected for the “now” shot not the screen capture! St Mary’s Passage with Old School, Kings Parade, in the background.

An uninterrupted view for me.

There, they accidentally bump into Eleanor (Renee Kelly) who’s path they will later come across once again. St. Mary’s Passage.

I even managed to get the reflection.

Dazed, she looks to see them continue their escape with pursuers hot on their heals. Kings Parade with Old School in the background.

Pity about the tent but it could be worse.

Once again we are looking along Kings Parade.

And once again I am back there.

Marcon and Freddie enter Kings College. Since visiting Cambridge and a little research it is the entrance in Kings Lane.

They run across the The Great Court, Trinity College to a bridge . . . The location features in 'Three Cases of Murder'. A "now" even from ground level is not possible without prior permission.

. . . think twice about crossing and open a handy gate to a garden, that of the College Master. Clare Bridge.

I am sure that I have captured the wrong direction but I just couldn't get the perspective to work from inside.

Once in the garden they are confronted by the Masters daughter Josephine (Kathleen Byron) who having found out that Marcon was an old student of the college invites them in for tea where much of the subsequent action takes place.

Meanwhile Josephine’s boyfriend, Shaw, prepares a punt. The Backs {with St John’s College tower off to the left a few frames earlier}. It was not immediately obvious during my visit.

While Sam dumps the getaway car with the body, in favour of another vehicle left by a family on a picnic. Unknown location.

Having “proven” that he had indeed been a student at the College, The Dean (Hylton Allen) takes them on a tour. Great Court, Trinity College.

Best possible shot that I could obtain for my £3 without prior permission.

The party says goodbye to The Dean. Webb's Court in King's College, also seen in 'Hide and Seek'. (SR)

Towards the end of that day Josephine and Freddie go for a walk by the river before the film concludes with no further location shots. Bridge of Sighs, St John’s College.

Same punt ... nearly, but wrong time of day. SJ