Sebastian

Date: 1968
Director: David Greene
Production Company: Maccius

Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Nigel Davenport, John Gielgud, Lilli Palmer, Susannah York
Location(s): Cheshire, London, Oxfordshire

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

A former Oxford professor working on code decryption falls for a new recruit while decoded information is leaked from the Intelligence Agency.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson with uncredited comparison images provided by Russell Groves

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Bells chime as the film opens with Oxford Professor Mr. Sebastian running across the quad of All Souls College.

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The shot follows the Professor onto Catte Street outside the college.

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Mr. Sebastian (Dirk Bogarde) runs through the north side of Radcliffe Square . . . but the shot cuts away before most viewers realise that he's actually returning to where he came from.

The Professor rushes to attend a ceremony at which his friend Prime Minister is to receive an honorary degree. Facing east on New College Lane in Oxford.

A similar view with double yellow lines added.

Driving her Jeep, Rebecca Howard (Susannah York) turns into the narrow road where Mr. Sebastian is running. More of New College Lane. In reality, the corner turns into the section of road seen in the previous capture.

The yellow lines have done the trick.

The Professor apologises following a tirade of verbal abuse from Becky after the two collide.

New College Lane with the walls of Hertford College to the left.

Sebastian watches as Becky drives away to pull over a little further along the road. Looking east on Queen's Lane with the chimneys of Queen's College in the distance.

The same location forty years later.

Turning the Jeep around, Becky catches up with Sebastian. Facing west on Queen's Lane.

A longer view of the same narrow roadway.

Sebastian makes his way through the gathering spectators. Looking from Catte Street towards Hertford Bridge, often called 'The Bridge of Sighs', spanning New College Lane. The iconic bridge also appears in 'Who Killed Lamb’ and 'Incense for the Damned'.

Less people around for this comparison.

Letting himself through the gateway, Sebastian heads towards the Sheldonian Theatre. To the right stand the Old Clarendon Buildings.

Same gates, same courtyard.

Becky watches through the railings as Sebastian joins the other begowned guests. Looking back towards Catte Street from outside the Sheldonian Theatre.

A brighter view of the same location.

Sebastian is stopped from entering the building and asked to accompany a waiting Police Officer. The Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street in Oxford.

The usual works that greet Reel Streets comparison shot takers.

Sebastian finds Becky waiting for him as he escorted through the gateway. Facing northward on Catte Street.

The same gateway.

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After setting an impromptu test, Sebastian offers a job to Becky before getting into the waiting police car. Catte Street with the corner of New College Lane in the background.

Becky returns to her Jeep. Looking onto Catte Street from New College Lane.

The same junction with the Sheldonian Theatre and the Old Clarendon Buildings in the background.

A parking ticket is issued as the title sequence begins. The corner of New College Lane and Catte Street in Oxford which can also be seen in 'The Sinister Man'.

From a similar viewpoint.

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Later in the year, Becky decides to take up the job offer. Looks as though the action has moved to London.

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Parking her Jeep, the young woman phones the number given to her by Sebastian and an interview is arranged.

Becky takes a break from training for her new position in the Civil Service. The A4 Great West Road in Brentford with the M4 Motorway's Junction 2 slip roads filling the background.

Antony Blair captures the location now.

The Photographer tells Becky to put her foot down as he wants the background to blur. Looking east towards the junction of Great West Road and Lionel Road from Junction 2 of the M4 Motorway.

The same section of roadway taken by Antony Blair.

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The session continues as the Photographer asks about Becky's job. Passing through Carville Hall Park on the Great West Road surrounded by the slip roads at Junction 2 of the M4 Motorway.

The Photographer leans from the vehicle to take more shots before falling onto the roadway. Great West Road with, to the left, York Parade visible between the stanchions of the M4 Motorway passing above and the corner of Brook Lane North on the right.

Antony Blair matches the view.

Becky looks out onto London Wall before starting her deciphering job. The EC2 location features in 'The Sandwich Man', 'The Italian Job', 'Go to Blazes', 'Ladies Who Do' and 'Blow Up'.

This view, looking east towards the Wood Street junction with building across London Wall, is also seen in The London Nobody Knows. SJ

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Pamela Frost (Ann Beach) also arrives for her first day in the department. London Wall with St. Alphage Highwalk crossing the scene.

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Pretending that they don't know each other, Miss Beckwith, Miss Howard and Miss Frost head for their top secret jobs. St. Alphage Highwalk adjacent to London Wall which also appears in 'Three Hats for Lisa' and 'Life at the Top'.

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With a tiring first day over, Becky makes her way home realising that she's falling for the boss, Sebastian. London Wall in EC2.

Rotten Row in Hyde Park, London W2. Circa 1968

Followed discreetly by a Man exercising his dog, Sebastian walks through the Saturday afternoon sunlight. Rotten Row in Hyde Park, London W2.

Rotten Row in Hyde Park, London W2.

A Wednesday afternoon in the grey. (RL)

Sloane Street SW1 with Cadogan Place on the left Circa 1968

Having bought flowers, Sebastian makes his way to the hotel where his long term girlfriend is staying. Sloane Street SW1 with Cadogan Place on the left advises RL.

Sloane Street SW1 with Cadogan Place on the left

Why does the line of the trees change? (RL)

The Head of Department crosses the road to enter the building where fading pop star Carol Fancy has a suite. RL recognised the service entrance area of what is now the Jumeirah Carton Tower on Cadogan Place.

Service entrance to the Jumeirah Carton Tower on Sloane Street.

Unfortunately a need for security cameras these days. (RL)

The camera tilts up the block where Sebastian finds his Carol waking up after a drunken night. The since re-branded Carlton Tower Hotel on Cadogan Place identified by RL. The hotel appears in 'Vampira' as well as, appropriately, 'Man at the Carlton Tower'.

Now the Jumeirah Carlton Tower. (RL)

Having walked out on Carol, Sebastian is followed again as he walks through the park.

This may just be the crossing across South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park, given its proximity to the following capture but I can't really match any of the trees. SJ

Almost running into him in her Jeep, Becky feigns surprise as Sebastian asks if she is on her way to the country. In the background stands the now demolished Bowater House on Knightsbridge with The Rush of Green, Jacob Epstein's final sculpture, to the left of centre. The artwork appears in 'The Primitives' and 'Toomorrow' while the building can be seen in 'For Members Only', 'Victim', 'Otley' and 1962's 'What Every Woman Wants'.

While the sculpture has moved to the north side of the new building, here is the site of Bowater House, known as One Hyde Park. SJ

Bury Street SW1 facing the corner of Ryder Street with King Street in the distance. Circa 1968

When Sebastian breaks off the conversation and takes a cab, Becky follows and catches up. Bury Street SW1 facing the corner of Ryder Street with King Street in the distance.

Bury Street SW1 facing the corner of Ryder Street with King Street in the distance.

There have been some changes to the right. (RL)

The Economist Plaza off St. James's Street Circa 1968

Becky gets back into the Jeep when Sebastian walks away towards his appointment to play chess. The Economist Plaza off St. James's Street which makes an appearance in 'Life at the Top'.

The Economist Plaza off St. James's Street

To the right is a sculpture made from car bonnets, yes, you read correctly. (RL)

Brooks's Club. St. James's Street with Park Place Circa 1968

Sebastian heads towards Brooks's Club. St. James's Street with Park Place to the left.

Brooks's Club. St. James's Street with Park Place

The Establishments remain the same whilst all around changes. (RL)

Looking over St. James's Street with the Economist Plaza in the left background. Circa 1968

A reverse point of view looking over St. James's Street with the Economist Plaza in the left background.

Not so easy to stroll across the road at the moment. (RL)

Outside Brooks's Club on St. James's Street with the corner of Ryder Street in the background. Circa 1968

Again, Becky follows Sebastian and enters the club. Outside Brooks's Club on St. James's Street with the corner of Ryder Street in the background.

Outside Brooks's Club on St. James's Street with the corner of Ryder Street in the background.

As a passer-by said "You will be lucky to take that without traffic". (RL)

The Economist Plaza in St. James SW1.

With the chess game interrupted, Sebastian storms off only to be pursued by Becky who suggests a cup of tea. The Economist Plaza in St. James SW1.

The Economist Plaza in St. James SW1.

I would have welcomed a little foreground activity. (RL)

Looking along Conway Street in W1 towards the junction with Maple Street and the Post Office Tower. Circa 1968

Clutching his small dog, the Shadow (James Belchamber) looks up at the Post Office Tower where Becky and Sebastian talk over a cuppa in the revolving restaurant. Looking along Conway Street in W1 towards the junction with Maple Street. The location also features in 'Percy'.

Looking along Conway Street in W1 towards the junction with Maple Street and the Post Office Tower.

Dreaded scaffolding to the left. (RL)

Becky takes Sebastian shopping at the Countdown Boutique. Outside the boutique which used to trade at 137 King's Road SW3 with Cygnet House opposite.

The area outside Cygnet House is also seen in "Recoil." SJ

The Professor looks through the window before following his code breaker into the boutique. King's Road in Chelsea.

Looking north-east up King's Road near the corner of Flood Street. SJ

Following an evening at a discotheque where the two dance together, a taxi brings Sebastian and Becky to his flat. 5 Rosslyn Road, Twickenham. Also seen in 'The Jigsaw Man'. (SR)

Local John Harwood was in the area. (SJ)

Becky gets out of the cab intended to take her home and the two enter the building where they spend the night together. 5 Rosslyn Road, Twickenham. (SR)

John H. goes for a close-up. (SJ)

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Finishing work one evening, Becky catches up with Sebastian as he leaves the office. More of London Wall and the steps from St. Alphage Highwalk in EC2.

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Mr. Sebastian returns to Oxford after resigning his position and breaking off his relationship with Becky. All Souls College, Oxford.

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A year later, the Oxford Professor is watched as he crosses Broad Street. To the left stands the Sheldonian Theatre and to the right, the gateway to the Museum of the History of Science in the Old Ashmolean Building.

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The camera moves to follow Sebastian across the road. In the distance stands the Indian Institute at the corner of Holywell Street and Catte Street. More views of Broad Street can be seen in 'Who Killed Lamb'.

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The Head of Security continues to observe Sebastian before following him into Blackstone’s bookshop. Broad Street in Oxford, Oxfordshire.

Persuaded to return to his old position, Sebastian travels to Jodrell Bank where an American agent explains a new code. The Lovell Radio Telescope at the University of Manchester's facility near Lower Withington to the west of Macclesfield in Cheshire.

This is the angle from the car park of the "Mark 1" telescope, designated a Grade I listed building in 1988. SJ

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Exhausted, Sebastian leaves the office while working on the code that he and his team can't seem to break. London Wall in EC2.

Watching Sebastian climb into a taxi, Carol follows her former lover in a black Humber Super Snipe.

Looking westwards on the ever-changing London Wall with surviving buildings centre and right. SJ

This update reveals the ever-changing London Wall, with the surviving buildings now gone SJ

Sebastian's cab arrives outside Howmic Court on Arlington Road, Twickenham. The location is also featured in 'Where the Bullets Fly' and 'The Fiend'.

Antony Blair also arrived in Twickenham.

Looking for Becky, Sebastian enters the building as Carol's car pulls up nearby. Arlington Road in St. Margarets, Twickenham.

The same flats captured by Antony Blair.

As he leaves the building without finding Becky, Carol gains his attention and the two head back to her apartment where foreign agent Toby is waiting. Facing Arlington Road from Ravensbourne Road. Another section of Ravensbourne Road appears in 'The Amorous Milkman'.

Antony Blair faces Arlington Road too.

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Having been drugged, Sebastian is lured onto the roof of the building by Toby before being rescued by General John Phillips . . . . and the Man with the dog.

Sebastian makes his way to the address given to him by his personal assistant Miss Elliott. Church Street in Isleworth with Isleworth Ait across the Thames to the left. The wharf features in 'Four in the Morning' and a similar view appears in 'White Cargo'.

The same stretch of rived captured by Antony Blair.

Church Road, Isleworth with The London Apprentice public house standing in the background and Lion Wharf visible to the extreme left. The pub also appears in 'Echo of Diana', 'Interlude', 'Walk a Tightrope', 'Das Verrätertor' and 'Her Private Hell'.

Antony found that The Apprentice is still serving.

The shot follows Sebastian as he approaches the house where Becky lives.

Taken from the same position by Antony Blair.

Church Street in Old Isleworth, Greater London. The former semi-detached property was converted in 1971 to become Butterfield House.

With some cosmetic changes along the way. (RL)

When the sound of their baby's rattle gives a deciphering clue, five girls from the office arrive in an Austin Mini van to help Sebastian and Becky break the new code. Church Street in Isleworth with All Saints Church in the background.

Antony found that the Mini van had turned into a Micra.