Stardust (1974)

The film opens where 'That'll be the Day' left off as Jim Maclaine (David Essex) walks through a fairground to find Mike on the day that US President Kennedy was assassinated. The red neon reads 'Scenic Railway' and Tonyk reckons it may have been the long gone scenic railway and amusement park at Belle Vue in Manchester. IMDb does state that some internal filming took place in King's Hall, Belle Vue and Martin Butler also believes Belle Vue in West Gorton to be the location. Kay George confirms that there was a lot of filming at Belle Vue as her ex-brother-in-law was the art director for the film. Kay recalls him and her future husband visiting their family with David Essex during the the shoot at Belle Vue.

After Jim persuades Mike Menary (Adam Faith) to become his band's road manager, the pair go to find the rest of the boys sleeping in the back of a van. Bob Hoskins has provided the location, the abandoned Nine Elms railway Goods Yard in SW8. The building in the right distance also features in 'Melody'.

Bob advises that earlier and later frames show the mainline railway between Vauxhall and Queenstown Road, Battersea and the now demolished Battersea blue MAN gasholder from which he identifies Ponton Road and sends this Google image of what he says is virtually the same spot. Needless to say, now re-developed! (RL)

Mike barters with Ralph Woods (David Daker) to buy better transport for the band. Eric Parsons identifies this as the yard off Scrubs Lane alongside the railway line between Hythe Road and the Grand Union Canal. In the background stands the Rolls Royce Motor Engineering Works on Hythe Road that closed in 1982.

Ralph drives a hard bargain. Located by Eric, in the left background stands Sunya House at the corner of Scrubs Lane and Hythe Road.

Jim and the band look on as the deal is struck. Having worked opposite in the mid-1980s, Eric Parsons had no problem identifying this yard on Scrubs Lane NW10 adding that the clues in this scene are the white "commercial vehicle spares" building to the right that also makes an appearance in 'The Salvage Gang'.

In their 'new' van, the Stray Cats arrive at the Warehouse Club for their next performance. Neil Rigby establishes the location as Wapping Wall, London E1 looking west from circa Monza Street. (RL)

Band members Johnny (Paul Nicholas), J.D. Clover (Keith Moon), Alex (Dave Edmunds) and Stevie (Karl Howman) retire to their digs with a girl picked up at the gig. Present on the night that filming took place, Alison Wells tells us that this is Haworth Road in Gorton, Manchester M18.

Jim arrives late to meet with new investor Ronald Harrap (John Normington) at the film's Dayray House. Another location established by Neil, Hudson House, 8 Tavistock Street, London WC2 (RL)

Looking north-east with the back of the London Transport Museum left of centre. SJ

When their first record is cut, the Stray Cats attend a small soirée. The Edgwarebury Hotel, Edgwarebury Lane off Barnet Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire.

They are all standing on the old croquet lawn which has since been covered by a new wing of the hotel. SJ

Mike introduces reporter Sally Porter (Charlotte Cornwell) to Jim. The popular location is also seen in 'Sons of the Sea', 'Stranger to Venus', 'School for Scoundrels', 'The Liquidator', 'Mosquito Squadron', 'A Clockwork Orange', 'So Evil, So Young', 'The Spider's Web', 'Dracula' from 1974, 'The Devil Rides Out', 'My Lover My Son', 'Not Now Comrade', 'Night Must Fall', 'Confessions of a Driving Instructor', 'Hawks', 'Fierce Creatures', 'Man Accused', 'Hot Fuzz' and lots of television productions such as 'The Avengers' and 'The Professionals'. SJ

The Edgwarebury Hotel, Elstree now. SJ

After success hits, the Stray Cats are driven away in limousines in front of screaming fans. Martin Butler identifies this as outside King's Hall at Belle Vue in West Gorton, Manchester.

A motorcycle escort for the band. More of King's Hall at Belle Vue Park in Manchester advises Martin Butler.

On their 1966 tour of the States, the Stray Cats are driven between cities. With thanks again to Neil, The Miami Serpentarium. 12655 South Dixie Highway Miami that closed in 1984. (RL)

As Jim MacLaine becomes more prominent than the band, the Stray Cats vacation in the West Indies. Actually, this is Marbella Club Hotel on Avenue Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe in Marbella, Málaga, Spain . . . spotted by Steven Youd.

Porter Lee Austin (Larry Hagman) gets out of the pool. Marbella Club Hotel in Marbella located by Steven Youd.

Austin takes over promoting the band. Steven Youd identifies this as Marbella Club Hotel on Avenue Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Marbella in Spain.

Jim returns to England to attend the funeral of his Mother amidst journalists, fans and police. Mandeville Road in Northolt, Greater London.

Antony Blair captured the same location.

The coffin is brought out of the church. St Bernard's Church, Mandeville Road, Northolt.

A clearer view of the church from Antony.

Fans flock forward. Outside St Bernard's Church on Mandeville Road in Northolt.

No fans around in Antony's matching shot.

Fans mob the cars as Jim appears from the church. St Bernard's Church on Mandeville Road, Northolt.

Antony Blair provides this ground level comparison.

The cortege arrives at the cemetery. No longer unidentified thanks to Neil, Alperton cemetery, Clifford Road, Wembley. (RL)

Antony also provides a shot from this angle.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mike and Austin discuss Jim's direction. Unknown location.

Jim and his Girlfriend, Danielle (Ines Des Longchamps), drive through Los Angeles. Neil, clearly on a roll, passing the old Tiffany's cinema 8532 West sunset boulevard, Los Angeles. (RL)

After Jim and the Stray Cats part company, he, Mike and Danielle discuss his appearance in New York. Here Neil tells us they are opposite Castle beach Club, 5445 Collins Ave Miami Beach, Florida 33140. (RL)

Mike returns to London with Jim to record a rock symphony. Looking out onto Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1.

After recording Jim's latest work, he and Mike visit Spain. Castillo de La Calahorra, La Calahorra, Andalucia, Spain.

Mike asks who owns the castle. Calle los Canos, La Calahorra, Spain.

Jim watches as Mike finds out who to buy the castle from. The square at the end of Calle los Canos, La Calahorra with Castillo de La Calahorra in the background.

The pair arrive at Jim's new acquisition. Outside Castillo de La Calahorra, Andalucia.

An aerial shot of Castillo de La Calahorra overlooking the village.

Jim and Mike walk through the courtyard of Castillo de La Calahorra in Andalucia.

Mike drives a plough on the castle estate as Jim becomes more reclusive and distant. Castillo de La Calahorra, Andalucia, Spain. The castle also appears in 'Action of the Tiger' released in 1957 an, as Manuel Gurtner discovered, 1975's 'The Wind and the Lion'.

Looking down from the castle onto the village of La Calahorra where Manuel Gurtner identifies the central Plaza del Ayuntamiento with Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación dating from 1546.

A television crew drive through the village when Jim agrees to an interview. La Calahorra, Granada, Spain. Neil likes to be exact, and so do we, Calle San Sebastian La Calahorra. The first floor blue shutters in the background building can also be seen to the right of the church steeple in Capture 33. (RL)

Jim is rushed to hospital after taking a drug overdose. Located by Manuel Gurtner, this is entering La Calahorra through the northern outskirts. The Mercedes-Benz Ambulancia on Avenida del Marquesado has just passed the bridge across Rambla de San Gregorio.

Austin and the media follow. Neil provides the location, Avenida Del Marquesado, La Calahorra. (RL)

And a comparison Google Earth View showing how it has changed. (RL)

Felix Hoffman (Richard LeParmentier) and Austin arrive at the hospital behind the ambulance. And across the road from from the hospital Capture 36, in Avenida del Marquesado, La Calahorra, Grenada, Spain.

Neil's Google Earth Comparative shot. (RL)

The locals approach to see what's going on. Unidentified location.

Journalists and photographers rush towards the ambulance. Another solved by Neil, Avenida del Marquesado, La Calahorra, Grenada Spain 18512 (RL)

A comparative Google Earth View to support Neil's find. (RL)