Seven Thunders

Enemy occupied Marseille in 1943. In the right distance stands the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde on Rue Fort du Sanctuaire in the 6th arrondissement.

Arriving from the Mediterranean Sea, a fishing boat approaches the harbour. This is the Old Port of Marseille in Bouches-du-Rhône. The streets to the south of the port feature in ‘Love Actually’ and ‘House of Secrets’.

The noise of a lifting bridge causes a patrolling Soldier to turn his head. The bridge once carried Quai de Rive Neuve across the opening to Bassin de Carénage.

On the small craft, escaping prisoners of war Dave (Stephen Boyd) and Jim (Tony Wright) act as crew members while the skipper Salvatore (Marcel Pagliero) prepares to dock. In the left distance stands the tower of King René at Fort St. Jean.

An innocuous van approaches carrying stand-ins for the fugitives. The quayside of Bassin de Carénage in Marseille.

Identity papers are checked by a Soldier on the quay. The quayside around Bassin de Carénage has been redeveloped to provide entrance roads to Marseille’s Tunnel du Vieux-Port which opened in 1967.

The fleeing prisoners move to the stern of the boat. Bassin de Carénage in Marseille. In the background appears to be the railway tunnel beneath Place St. Victor through which the line to Gare du Prado runs. Since 1993, the tunnel has formed part of the Prado-Carénage road tunnel.

After Dave and Jim make a run for the back of the van while Salvatore creates a diversion, the replacement crew comes forward to show their papers. In the top centre background can be seen the bridge carrying Rampe Saint-Maurice.

Salvatore leads Dave and Jim through the streets of the Old Port, an area of the city that the occupying force see as a nest of thieves, deserters and fugitives.

Noticing the sign outside a horse butcher’s Jim asks “Do they eat horses here?”

The reply is “You may have to.” Montée des Accoules in Marseille's Panier. Another section of the street appears in ‘The French Connection’.

The stepped streets climb into the Old Port. This appears to be facing west towards the junction with Rue du Poirier on Montée des Accoules.

Walking on, the three pass two men arguing over scraps outside a greengrocers before reaching the seedy apartment block where Dave and Jim will be safe until Salvatore returns for them.

After taking money from Heinrich Schlip to help him escape to Spain, Émile Blanchard (Eugene Deckers) returns home with food for his family. La Vieille Charité, a former almshouse dating from 1671, with the entrance opening onto Rue de la Charité in the left background.

The shot follows Blanchard into the shadows of the cloister within la Vieille Charité.

Under the pretense of introducing him to someone who can smuggle him out of the country, Blanchard leads Heinrich Schlip (Martin Miller) to Rue Garibaldi and the home of Dr. Martout, a murderer who grows rich from his victims’ payments.

Celebrating Corporal Triebel’s birthday, a group of drunken Soldiers sing as they stagger through the streets.

Lise (Anna Gaylor) stops in her tracks when she sees the Soldiers hammering on the door of the local brothel.

After Dave helps Lise escape the clutches of one of the Soldiers, the two run from the scene.

With his Comrades (inc Richard Marner), the deflated Umschlag (Denis Shaw) searches for his assailant.

Dave and Lise hide in the shadows before returning to his lodgings.

On another day, Lise takes Dave onto the roof of the seedy apartment block where they live and asks him to buy her some expensive shoes. Looking from the Old Town towards Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde in the south of the city.

When the Shopkeeper walks towards her, Lise turns from admiring a pair of shoes on a table outside the window.

David appears in the street after selling a ring given to him by his girlfriend in England.

An enemy Patrol enters the square.

Seeing the Soldiers, Dave turns to walk in the opposite direction.

Dave spots Lise but decides not to approach her.

While Lise returns to the shoe shop Dave leaves the square.

Lise looks around before taking the shoes from the shop display.

Aware of the danger posed by the Soldiers, Dave makes his way along a narrow street. This is Rue de L’Abadie in the 2nd arrondissement with Montée du Saint-Esprit in the left background.

Clutching the stolen shoes, Lise runs through the maze of streets. Rue de L’Abadie with the corner of Montée du Saint-Esprit on the right.

Angry residents chase after the young thief. Facing west on Rue de L’Abadie with Rue du Poirier in the background.

Dave comes out of hiding after Lise, the Marseillaise and a group of Soldiers pass. The corner of Traverse des Cartuiers and Rue des Cartiers in Marseille.

Seeing that the coast is clear, Dave descends the steps of Montée du Saint-Esprit before hearing the click-clack of high heels behind him. The steep street runs down to Place Daviel in the 2nd arrondissement.

Wearing the stolen shoes, Lise follows Dave as he tries to get away from her. Looking from Montée du Saint-Esprit up to the junction with Rue du Poirier, Traverse des Cartuiers and Rue des Cartiers.

Despite the awkwardness of her footwear, Lise keeps up with Dave. Place des Moulins with Traverse des Cartiers to the left and the Hôtel-Dieu de Marseille hospital beyond.

Dave walks on but suggests a sit down when he turns to see Lise struggling to walk. Place des Moulins in the 2nd arrondissement.

The barrier rises for Colonel Trautman’s car as he arrives with a message from the Führer. This is the Hôtel-Dieu de Marseille hospital, currently the InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu.

Children outside Émile and Therese Blanchard’s home call for their daughter Renée to come out to play. The courtyard of La Vieille Charité.

A lorry brings enemy troops into the Old Port to begin inspecting everyone’s identity papers.

Major Grautner (Carl Duering) arrives outside Chez Dédé and commandeers the bar to make plans for the evacuation and demolition of the quarter.

Mrs. Abu (Kathleen Harrison) returns home to find the apartment block full of Soldiers.

Two Prostitutes look down from a window at Madam Parfait’s ‘Le Perroquet’.

A group of happy Soldiers emerge from the brothel after checking identification papers.

Carrying a doll for Renée, Émile approaches home. La Vieille Charité in Marseille.

Walking past his silent neighbours, Émile enters his home to discover that his daughter has been shot and killed.

Loudspeakers on Army trucks reiterate the content of notices as the residents in the Old Port read about the evacuation of the quarter.

Ten o'clock, one hour before demolition of the Old Port is scheduled to begin.

The residents of the Old Port begin to evacuate their homes. La Vieille Charité on Rue de la Charité which closed in 1962 before being restored between 1970 and 1986.

Impatient because Salvatore had not yet returned to pick them up, Jim heads to find Dr. Martout who he has heard can help. Rue Beauregard with the spire of Eglise Notrte-Dame-des-Accoules to the top centre.

Enemy soldies begin to set charges throughout the Old Quarter. The since demolished archway leading to la Vieille Charité on Rue de la Charité.

After Salvatore arrives at the apartment block, Dave goes in search of Jim. La Vieille Charité with the chapel pillars in the background.

Cows and cars clutter the street as Madame Parfait (Katherine Kath) and her Girls leave ‘Le Perroquet’.

Dave pushes his way through the departing population. Facing south on Rue Beauregard.

The Old Port's bells ring out in alarm. This is Montée des Accoules again.

Lise and Salvatore wait for Dave and Jim at the harbour. Bassin de Carénage with since demolished warehouses in the background.

Dave checks street signs looking for the story’s Rue Garibaldi. Rue du Panier at the corner of Rue des Moulins with the southern end of Rue Puits Sait-Antoine to the right of centre.

The camera follows Dave into Rue des Moulins.

Dave approaches the side entrance of the house on Rue Garibaldi as Dr. Martout (James Robertson Justice) appears at the door. This is possibly a set as James Robertson Justice only appears in internal shots.

Making his escape with his accumulated wealth after leaving Dave and Jim inside after a fight, Dr. Martout opens the garage door and gets into his Citroën.

The Doctor speeds through the streets in an effort to escape the forthcoming destruction.

Jim helps his injured companion through the narrow streets.

The Doctor’s Citroën speeds along the deserted streets of the Old Quarter. Rue de la Charité with the walls of La Vieille Charité to the right.

Continuity works well as the car turns the corner into Rue de l'Observance, again with the walls of La Vieille Charité on the right.

Dr. Martout loses control of the car when a tyre bursts, sending the vehicle into a shop front.

As the Doctor dies in his burning car, Troops march along the quayside at the harbour. Bassin de Carénage with the railway shed in the background.

Jim and Dave stop as nearby explosions signal the start of the Old Quarter’s destruction by the enemy. This is the corner of Rue du Poirier and Rue de L’Hotel-Dieu.

Turning to descend a short flight of steps, the two hurry on towards the harbour. In 1943, following the Rafle de Marseille, the Germans destroyed almost all the lanes bordering the north shore of the Old Port. Reconstruction of the district took place from 1954.

Lise leaves Salvatore to move his boat to safety and goes in search of Dave and Jim. At the start of several back projections, this is possibly a previous incarnation of either Rue Henri Tasso, Rue de la Mairie or Rue de la Prison as the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde can be seen in the distance.

More explosions drown Lise’s calls to the two men. The corner of Rue du Poirier and Rue de L’Hotel-Dieu.

With the Old Quarter falling around her, the young woman runs through the streets. The top of Traverse des Cartiers on Rue des Moulins in Place des Moulins.

Salvatore’s boat arrives at a small harbour two kilometers away from the Old Quarter. Port de Malmousque in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille with the rear of properties on Impasse Assani to the top right.

Salvatore returns from looking around the nearby streets. Anse de Malmousque in Port de Malmousque to the south west of Marseille’s Old Port with Rue va à la Calanque in the background.

Having found Jim and Dave, Lisa helps them towards the harbour. Facing the steps of Rue Sainte-Françoise from the corner of Rue Four du Chapitre.

Shown the way by Lise, Dave and Jim reach the small jetty where Salvatore’s fishing boat is waiting. Port de Malmousque in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône.