Secret People

The film opens with a panorama of London. Looking towards the River Thames from the south west tower of St. Paul's Cathedral.

An establishing shot of Anselmo's cafe on fictional Morton Street, Paddington where the proprietor has care of his friend's daughters Maria and Eleanora Brentano.

Sale Place in London W2 with the arched entrance of Rainsford Street to the left.

Anselmo (Charles Goldner) runs across the road to chemist Daly (John Ruddock) in his shop after Nora collapses in the cafe. On the opposite side of the street from image secpe002 on Sale Place.

The same location now.

Seven years later, Anselmo, Nora (Audrey Hepburn) and Maria leave the solicitors office after the two girls are naturalised. Chancery Lane in WC2.

The same location now, in failing light.

Maria Brent (Valentina Cortese) and Anselmo walk together as Nora hurries to catch a bus.

Anselmo, Nora and Maria visit the 1937 Paris Exhibition. A sequence of Newsreel footage from the exhibition is shown.

The three enjoy the sights of Paris and the exhibition and the girls catch sight of General Galbern, their Father's murderer.

Maria is found in the crowds by Louis Balan, her former fiancé, and they take a cab to his appartment. A second unit shot taken from the Place de la Concorde, looking straight up the Rue Royale to the Place deal Madeleine. Location identified by Robin Paterson.

Steenie (Geoffrey Hibbert) waits under a bridge over the Seine. Not a studio set at Ealing advises Andy Aldridge, but Twickenham Bridge doubling for a Seine crossing. The bridge also features in 'Hysteria'.

And Andy also provides this proof.

A Valet (John Allen) descends the stairs towards Steenie to sell information about General Galbern before meeting his doom in the water.

The Surrey side of Twickenham Bridge captured by Andy Aldridge.

Back in London, Louis Balan (Serge Reggiani) waits in the street for Maria. In front of The Marquis of Granby public house on West Street, London WC2 with Cambridge Circus in the background.

The Marquis Of Granby is now The Ape and Bird public house with a smart new windows.

Maria leaves the rehearsal rooms where Nora has just attended an audition. West Street WC2.

Peter pulled himself up to look through the window to see if they were doing ballet practice before he realised he was not a child anymore.

After the two meet up, Maria tells Louis that Nora has been given a part in a ballet.

The same location now.

The couple continue walking. The corner of West Street and Litchfield Street.

A nice comparison shot of the same location today.

Maria and Louis arrive at his London lodgings. This is 185 Harrow Road W2 which was demolished to make way for The Westway. Between the buildings can be seen the Great Western main line and the roadway in front of the property appears in 'The Traitors'.

The railway still runs beyond the wall. (PW)

As the pair enter, the camera tilts up the front of the building on the film's Foley Street. Harrow Road, London.

Roughly the same place now, nestling under Westway. (PW)

On another day, Maria says farewell to Louis on the doorstep of his lodgings not knowing that he is a member of a terrorist group who are planning an attempt on General Galbern's life. Traffic and people pass along the street but this may be a studio set.

If it's not a set, this is the view now from the long gone door. (PW)

Surrounded by wellwishers, Louis escorts the Brent sisters to a waiting car that will take them to Nora's debut appearence as a ballerina. Sale Place with the corner of Star Street in the background.

The chauffeur, Bill (John Penrose), negotiates city streets on the way to the theatre. Unconfirmed location.

Charlie (Michael Ripper), another member of the terrorist group, keeps watch on the cafe.

Sale Place, London W2.

On another day, Charlie waits outside Scotland Yard as Anselmo and Maria report their suspicions. The corner of Cannon Row and Derby Gate in London SW1.

The same location now.

The camera tilts and pans up the building.

Scotland Yard on Derby Gate off Parliament Street SW1.

As Anselmo and Maria leave Scotland Yard, Charlie waits to follow.

Derby Gate now.

The pair make their way onto Parliament Street.

Building work next door to the Red Lion mars today's shot.

Anselmo and Maria cross the road to catch a bus home.

Parliament Street with the Cenotaph standing on Whitehall in the left background.

Plain clothed Police Officers arrive near the cafe. Star Street W2 with Edgware Road in the distance.

The same street now.

Two of the Officers go to a flat over Daly's shop from where they can observe the street. Sale Place W2.

Peter notes that the bow window has been replaced.

Louis looks down at Steenie from rooms over the cafe as, inside, Maria becomes aware that he is part of the terrorist group.

A car draws up and Bill gets out. Sale Place with Praed Street in the left background and the junction with Saint Michael's Street on the right.

More rebuilding captured by Peter.

Bill enters the cafe as the terrorist group gathers upstairs.

Sale Place looking towards Praed Street in W2.

Another Officer stands outside Daly's shop.

Sale Place, London W2.

The street is watched from the flat above Daly's shop. As they attempt to escape, the terrorists bomb explodes inside Anselmo's cafe and Maria is badly injured. During her stay in hospital, she is given a new identity to protect her from further harm. Now converted shops to the left of Rainsford Street on Sale Place.

Months later in Dublin, Maria, now known as Lena Collins, waits outside the Doric Theatre where Nora is performing. Quadrant Road in Richmond, Surrey.

Looking east down Quadrant Road. SJ

Nora says goodnight to fellow artiste Fedor Luki (John Field) at the stage door. The rear of Richmond Theatre on Quadrant Road.

The stage door is invitingly open. SJ

Lena watches as Nora and a man get into a waiting car before she follows them to Phoenix Park and the climax of the film. Looking towards Duke Street on Quadrant Road, Richmond.

Looking west. SJ