Something Money Can’t Buy

After the birth of his daughter, Captain Harry Wilding says goodbye to his wife Anne and returns to active service. The street sign read Akazienweg which is in Koln, North Rhine-Westphalia in West Germany.

The camera moves along bomb damaged streets.

Remaining in West Germany after the war, Captain Wilding, his friends Buster and Willy and his daughter Katie listen as Anne Wilding plays piano before dinner. Elbchaussee 454, Hamburg. (SR)

Harry Wilding is demobbed and returns to London with his family. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament in SW1.

Shrouded since 2017, the Elizabeth Tower is set to be revealed in its glory in 2022. In the meantime the blue sky adds to the attraction. SJ

The shot moves down the tower to find St. Margaret Street on the east side of Parliament Square.

A little busier than of late. SJ

A taxi carrying Harry, Anne and Katie is followed as it drives along St, Margaret Street SW1.

Rather too much unlovely clutter. SJ

The cab reaches a less well off area of town. A tri-party, intercontinental consultation between Dave W, Ray and myself, each finding ourselves in Randolph Avenue, London W9 have hopefully correctly concluded, from the evidence in the capture, and given the requisite renovations and improvements, that we are looking at Nos 74/72. (RL)

Definitely smarter now. SJ

A little way on, the taxi slows down before coming to a stand. Dave W has established that the taxi comes to a stand outside 8 Clifton Gardens, London W9. (RL)

The north side of the avenue with some heavy parking. SJ

Harry Wilding (Anthony Steel) lifts Katie on to the pavement in front of their new home. But the action here, Dave says is taken from under the portico of 17 Clifton Gardens looking directly across to No 18. (RL)

This is the view from no17 on the other side of the avenue. SJ

Carrying an umbrella and wearing his bowler hat and raincoat, Harry leaves home to return to his old job at the Town Hall. Given the damaged stucco here, seen also in the previous capture it is not unreasonable for Dave, and ourselves, to surmise that this is also 17 Clifton Gardens. (RL)

17 today without the shoe scrapers. SJ

Harry reaches the Town Hall. Outside Chiswick Town Hall on Sutton Court Road in Turnham Green W4 identified by Belinda Corani.

The west side of the building. SJ

Once inside, the Borough Treasurer introduces Harry to Miss Steele who is asked to instruct him on some of the new equipment. Chiswick Town Hall at the corner of Heathfield Terrace and Sutton Court Road recognised by Belinda Corani.

This entrance is now a fire exit. SJ

Given work outside the office, Harry leaves a gentleman's convenience after collecting the pennies from the toilet door locks. I offered Dave W "a penny for his thoughts" and he was relieved to be able to tell me that the capture "jogged" another memory from his childhood, this time with his father, when a welcome 'comfort break' could be achieved on their way home by exiting the underground at Hyde Park Corner. There on the South Carriage Road side could be found the said convenience, recalling to this day, "the mismatched tiles and the over-zealous metal gate.". (RL)

These are the closed gents loos between Knightsbridge and South Carriage Road, which I believe opened in 1999 and replaced the curved stairways in roughly the same area. This is actually looking north whereas a shot looking east would only have shown indeterminate greenery. SJ

Harry completes his task before returning home where Anne asks how much of their savings they have left. The entrance to the Gent's convenience between Knightsbridge and South Carriage Road in SW1. (RL)

The sound of leather on willow greets the ears as Harry enjoys a break away from helping to look after his two young children. David Allen identifies this as Redbourn Common in Redbourn, Hertfordshire.

Taken from West Common looking towards North Common by David who adds that the avenue of elms unfortunately succumbed to Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and were replaced with lime trees that have now matured nicely to maintain the avenue's appearance.

Harry makes a century, before a more than few well deserved drinks in the bar and returning home to a row with Anne. Redbourn Common with the Cricketer's public house beyond the sight screen, recognised by David Allen.

David captured the screen as well as the distant pub.

At work the following day, Harry dreams of his future.

A row of similarly attired Men kiss their Wives, close their garden gates and walk to the station where they catch the tube to work.

The line of Men arrive at the Town Hall and their mundane jobs. Located by Belinda Corani, this is the larger side entrance to Chiswick Town Hall on Sutton Court Road W4. The Town Hall also appears in 'Half Moon Street', 'Yanks' and 'Hennessy' and 'It's that Man Again'.

This entrannce is firmly closed. SJ

Harry resigns from his position and, with Anne's blessing, thumbs a lift across country.

A van stops and the driver offers Harry a ride.

After picking Harry up, Lord Haverstock drives him home. Ray Glenister identifies the action taking place at Thames Park, Thame, Oxfordshire and here, specifically, the Southern Entrance. (RL)

Lord Haverstock steers his 1926 Rolls Royce through the gateway to his house. The Southern Entrance of Thames Park once again says Ray. (RL)

At the house, an auction is taking place. Thame Park, main house identified by Ray. (RL)

The Auctioneer turns to where the next lot should be parked, but the Rolls is missing. Thame Park main house once again as identified by Ray. (RL)

Lord Haverstock (A. E. Matthews) listens as Harry explains that he's looking for a job. To complete the run of three, Thame Park, main house once more as established by Ray. (RL)

Starting off by buying his Lordship's six ring cooker at the auction, Harry sets up in business as a mobile canteen with Lord Haverstock. High Street, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire looking towards St Mary the Virgin. High Street, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire. The village is also seen in 'Mad About Men', 'Inquest', and Emil and the Detectives'. (RL)

Antony Blair found a few more vehicles and some alterations to the properties.

As Harry tries to work out what's gone wrong with his van, Anne and her friend Joan become successful at running an odd job agency. High Street in Long Crendon looking towards the Eight Bells public house on the left. (RL)

A similar scene taken by Antony Blair with scene, minus the building to the right of centre in the screen capture.

Buster (David Hutcheson) and Willy (Michael Trubshawe) join 'Roving Restaurants' and start off by making repairs to the van. Ray finds us returning to the walls of the Southern Entrance to Thame Park, Thame, Oxfordshire. (RL)

Lord Haverstock leaves his old estate as Men from the Coal Board file through the gates. Quite rightly, Ray is a little less specific here but still Thame Park, Thame, but somewhere "near the main house". (RL)

Willy is given encouragement by the Peer as he passes. And again says Ray, the Southern Entrance walls of Thame Par, Thame, Oxon. (RL)

'Roving Restaurants' take to the road.

Willy drives the mobile canteen towards a fairground in the hope of increasing their patronage. David Allen identifies Hemel Hempstead Road passing through Redbourn Common with the Cricketer's on to the left.

David adds that the Statty Fair was in the village when he visited, which was also part of the film in 1952, and that his Mother, then aged 18, met Anthony Steele and got his autograph.

Discovering that Harry hasn't got a trading licence, Fairground Boss (Michael Brennan) watches as boxers Slamming Sam (Chris Adcock) and Battling Bert Brewster begin to shake the van. The Common at Redbourn in Hertfordshire located by David Allen.

The same background properties captured by David.

Placing business cards on the advertisements as he goes, Lord Haverstock ascends from the tube after the successful relaunch of 'Roving Restaurants'. The 'Londonderry Sentinel' 22 March 1952 reported that "Anthony Steel........had to rush home, hurriedly snatch a meal and report for duty......at St. John's Wood Underground Station". (RL)

A Ticket Collector waits patiently as his Lordship searches for his ticket after inadvertently handing over one of the business cards. Possibly St. John's Wood Underground Station as explained in the previous capture. (RL)

Reinventing the business, Harry, Willy and Buster offer respite for harassed housewives as orders for film location catering begin to pour in. Dave W assembled the ingredients available to him in the capture and after marinading overnight he came up with Eaton Terrace, London SW1 heading towards West Eaton Place. Accordingly, he suggests the camera is three or four houses back from the balcony/canopy of number 85. (RL)

I was slightly encouraged by the step tiling which is not exactly the same but close. This is taken from 95 Eaton Terrace looking north. SJ