Smashing Bird I Used to Know, The

Date: 1969
Director: Robert Hartford-Davis
Production Company: Titan International Productions, Lucinda Films

Stars: Madeleine Hinde, Maureen Lipman, Patrick Mower, Dennis Waterman
Location(s): Devon, Surrey, Sussex

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A troubled young girl who feels guilty about her father’s death is sent to a remand home after stabbing her mother’s devious boyfriend.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

Also known as ‘ School for Unclaimed Girls’ (US Title)

Can you help:

If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

Nicki Johnson (Madeleine Hinde) leaves the flat that she shares with her mother and heads for school.

  • Capture 2
  • 20 Oct 2015

Peter Lye (Dennis Waterman) pulls up to drop his sister Sheila (Joanna David) at school as Nicki is about to pass through the gates.

Thamesmead School, Manygate Lane, Shepperton, Surrey. SD

  • Capture 3
  • 19 Mar 2020

Nicki gets into her boyfriend's car and she easily persuades him to drive her away from school. Outside Thamesmead School where Russ Williamson watched filming take place during an English lesson.

Photographed in October 2015, to be kept in reserve until the location was positively identified, then forgot I had it. The houses on Grove Road were replaced not long after filming. (SD)

  • Capture 4
  • 12 Jul 2016

A flashback sees Harry Spenton (Patrick Mower) telling Anne Johnson (Renée Asherson) of his plans to own a launderette. The launderette stood on New Zealand Avenue in Walton on Thames, Surrey, a street that can be seen in 'The Naked Truth', 'The Sound Barrier', 'The Third Alibi', 'Rag Doll', 'Mother Riley Meets the Vampire', 'The Price of Silence', 'Something In The City', 'A Weekend with Lulu' and 'Bond of Fear'.

Facing the now demolished town hall. On the site is now a Nando's and the town hall is now a Homebase. SD

  • Capture 5
  • 'Now' required

As Harry cons Anne out of £500, Peter and Nicki arrive at her mother's stables.

  • Capture 6
  • 'Now' required

Nicki is dropped off before Peter heads to work.

  • Capture 7
  • 'Now' required

Barbara the stable hand drives Nicki home after a riding accident.

  • Capture 8
  • 'Now' required

The camera follows the Mini.

  • Capture 9
  • 'Now' required

Nicki is sent to a remand home after stabbing and wounding Harry when he attempts to molest her.

  • Capture 10
  • 20 Oct 2015

Harry gets into his latest female victim's car, telling her that he needs to visit his estranged wife.

The High Street, Walton On Thames. Opposite the Elmbridge Community Hub. SD

  • Capture 11
  • 20 Oct 2015

The serial cheat drives to see Anne.

The High Street, Walton on Thames. SD

  • Capture 12
  • 'Now' required

Nicki sits at an open window as Harry and her Mother arrive at the home.

  • Capture 13
  • 25 Nov 2015

After absconding from the remand home, Nicki gets a lift to the village where Peter works. One layer of this double exposure is the junction for Balls Cross on London Road at Hampers Common, north of Petworth in Sussex.

The road to Balls Cross now joins the A283 slightly further back. The other layer of the double exposure is Lombard Street, Petworth. SD

  • Capture 14
  • 18 Mar 2020

Nicki walks through the quiet village streets. Facing north on Lombard Street in Petworth.

Replacing my original 2015 shot from an improved angle. (SD)

  • Capture 15
  • 11 May 2015

The teenager approaches the shop where Peter works for interior designer Geoffrey Burnham. Lombard Street in Petworth, Sussex.

Now. SD

  • Capture 16
  • 11 May 2015

Nicki peers through the window. Looking out onto Lombard Street in Petworth.

The interior of the shop now. Photographed with permission. SD

  • Capture 17
  • 11 May 2015

Geoffrey Burnham (Derek Fowlds) sees customers (Sheila Steafel and Doug Fisher) from the shop. Looking out onto Petworth's Market Square with an Aldershot & District bus in front of Leconfield Hall in the the background.

This door is no longer used as the entrance to the shop. SD

  • Capture 18
  • 26 May 2015

Another flashback to where a young Nicki Johnson (Cynthia Lund) attends her father's funeral.

St Mary Magdalene church, Shepperton, Surrey. Also seen in 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter' and 'The Jigsaw Man'. SD

  • Capture 19
  • 'Now' required

A Bedford TK lorry travels through the countryside.

  • Capture 20
  • 11 May 2015

Nicki comes out of the shop as Peter prepares to leave her and his job. Lombard Street in the north-east corner of Market Square, Petworth.

The shop on the right is now part of the antique shop. SD

  • Capture 21
  • 11 May 2015

Peter drives away after Nicki tells him that she's hungry. Market Square in Petworth, Sussex with Golden Square straight ahead.

Now. SD

  • Capture 22
  • 'Now' required

The lorry continues it's journey. A train passes on an embankment in the background.

  • Capture 23
  • 26 May 2015

The couple begin to work things out as they approach a narrow bridge that the lorry is crossing.

Deepcut Bridge Road, Camberley, Surrey. The bridge crosses over the railway line and is currently under repair. Location photo to replace my Google Street View image. SD

  • Capture 24
  • 'Now' required

Swerving to miss the lorry, Peter crashes through the bridge parapet . . . . . Peter Brown has witnessed some cinematic jiggery-pokery here. He points out, that the bridge in the previous capture is clearly a road bridge whereas this is a viaduct built to carry a railway. Peter knowledgeably advises that viaducts of this type, brick arches on masonry piers, were built in the 1890s by the GWR to replace the original Brunel contraptions in various south Devon locations. His "best bet" for this one is the Plym Valley railway which was closed by BR in 1962 and then reopened as a heritage line. That at Bickleigh features truncated remains of the original piers which can be seen through the arches in the trailer for this movie. Peter directs us to the flickr photo in support https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7170/6843600943_55eb6ee23e_z.jpg in support. (RL)