Switch, The

Date: 1963
Director: Peter Maxwell
Production Company: Philip Ridgeway Productions

Stars: Anthony Steel, Zena Marshall, Conrad Phillips, Dermot Walsh
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, London, Seine-Maritime

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

A freelance glamour model is saved by a Customs Official when she unwittingly becomes involved with a gang of smugglers.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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Employees leave a factory at the end of the working day. A matted shot featuring Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire, taken from 1945's ‘I Know Where I’m Going’.

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In the factory’s car park, Harry Lewis (Arthur Lovegrove) approaches a car for a pre-arranged meeting. The car park at Pinewood Studios on Pinewood Road in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. To the left stands Stage D with the Cutting Rooms in the right background.

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Carrying a case full of contraband watches, Harry walks around to the driver’s side of the car in which an undercover Customs Officer is waiting. What is now Car Park 1 at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

Following Harry’s arrest due to information given to the police by Pirelli, a Constable patrols River Walk alongside the Thames. In SE1, County Hall stands on the left whilst, to the right, the Houses of Parliament stand beyond Westminster Bridge in SW1.

About here: the London Eye has changed the view forever. SJ

The Policeman looks into the murky water to see a body floating face down. Across the river, the Board of Trade and Air Ministry building stands in the background.

Here's a detail taken from the same place as the previous shot. SJ

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As the Police identify the dead man as Pirelli, in Normandy, Caroline Markham’s three week holiday is coming to an end. Place du Puits Salé in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime with Grande Rue to the left beyond the well dating from 1930.

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In the bar at her hotel, Caroline is talking with the charming Monsieur Lecraze who offers to take her to lunch. Looking along Rue Saint-Jacques from Place du Puits Salé in Dieppe with the church of Saint Jacques in the distance and Café des Tribunaux on the left. This footage is reused from 'Night Crossing'.

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Jean Lecraze (Arnold Diamond) and Caroline Markham (Zena Marshall) approach his car on which a Stranger is leaning. Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath. The background features in ‘Wombling Free’ and 'The Beast in the Cellar' while other parts of the studio complex can be seen in a number of productions including ‘Nothing But the Night’, ‘Carry On at Your Convenience’, 'Island of Terror', ‘Live It Up’ and 'Quest for Love'.

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Having collected her umbrella from her car, Caroline is taken to see the “real France” by Jean who returns her to the hotel in time to catch the 6 pm ferry to England.

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Getting out of the Frenchman’s car, Caroline notices that her Sunbeam Alpine isn’t where she left and Jean suggests it may have been moved by the hotel’s car parking attendant.

Having crossed the Channel, the freelance model drives through the evening traffic towards her Kensington flat. Paul Pepall advises that this is Henlys Roundabout in Hounslow, Middlesex adding that the public house in the background was called the Travellers Friend but has since closed to become a McDonald's outlet.

Allan Huse provides this view of the roundabout 60 years later.

The shot follows the Sunbeam until the camera finds a sign pointing to London. Parklands Parade on Henlys Roundabout at the junction of Bath Road, Burns Road, Great West Road and Great South West Road in Hounslow, identified by Paul Pepall who travelled through the location many times in his younger days so recognised it immediately.

Being driven around Henlys Roundabout, Antony Blair took this view of the upper floors of the parade.

Night has fallen when Caroline reaches Lavender Mews and is puzzled by an almost identical sports car parked outside her home before entering to discover that a cousin of her housemate Jill has borrowed the flat. Courtfield Mews, London SW7 as identified by Geoff, see following Capture. (RL)

To the right, the window and drain arrangement compare very favourably. SJ

After Caroline continues on to her Mothers for the night as planned, John Curry (Conrad Phillips) remains in the flat where he is disturbed by the sound of his red Sunbeam being taken from the garage by Polovski (Tom Bowman). Courtfield Mews, London SW7 as found by Geoff for points out that things have changed over the years as the garage appears to have been subsumed into number 5 and has been converted to domestic use. Thankfully there’s enough in terms of windows and drainpipes to confirm it. (RL)

Rather a charming scene. SJ

John watches his car disappear from the mews before telephoning the police. Geoff has also found these mews for us, in fact, Courtfield Mews, London SW7 adding that the house to the left here is number 2 and served as Harry Rule’s London abode in 'The Protectors'. (RL)

It was "The Protectors" which led to my first visit to this tiny mews. SJ

Responding to John’s call, a police car passes the stolen Sunbeam on its way to the mews. Dave W stays in the area to tell us that this is outside the double portico of 54/55 Courtfield Gardens SW5 looking north towards Cromwell Road. (RL)

A daytime shot reveals a two-toned double portico. SJ

Returning the next day, Caroline takes her Sunbeam to be serviced. Looking from the corner of West Cromwell Road and Earl’s Court Road onto Cromwell Road SW5.

New building to the right. SJ

The camera follows the red sports car. Facing the east side of Earl’s Court Road south of Cromwell Road.

Rather a lot of clutter. SJ

Caroline drives into the garage where her car is regularly serviced. The garage once stood at the corner of Earl’s Court Road and Redfield Lane in SW5.

Unrecognisable. SJ

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Leaving her Sunbeam with Jack Knighton (Gordon Boyd), Caroline is lent an identical model to use.

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That night, Polovski returns to the mews and steals the garage’s car.

In their London office, Customs Official Bill Craddock and his Chief discuss Pirelli’s murder and connection with the watch smuggling gang. Facing County Hall on Westminster Bridge Road SE1. This façade can also be seen in 'Richard III' and 'Night and the City',

Looks a lot cleaner now. SJ

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At the Campden Hill police garage, Bill Craddock (Anthony Steel) is shown the recovered Sunbeams by Chief Inspector Tomlinson (Dermot Walsh) who explains that both have had their petrol tanks removed.

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Taking Caroline along to Knighton’s garage, Craddock and Tomlinson have the petrol tank removed from her car. Podders on Bluesky recognised the distinctive chimney, the old Power House and Carpenters Shop at Pinewood Studios at Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire.

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Watched over by Merrall (Desmond Cullum-Jones), Caroline gives her permission for the fuel tank to be cut open before a consignment of valuable watches is revealed inside. Pinewood Studios' old Power House and Carpenters Shop at the junction of Stills Road and Main Road located by Podders on Bluesky. The area can also be seen in 'Carry On At Your Convenience and 'All Coppers Are . . .'.

When Caroline is kidnapped from her flat by gang members Pino Mandreos and Polovski, John Curry calls the police. On Talgarth Road beneath Hammersmith Flyover in W6 with Fulham Palace Road in the left background.

The flyover today with Fulham Palace Road to the left of the green building and Eventim Apollo to the right. SJ

The camera follows the police car taking Inspector Tomlinson and Bill Craddock to Lavender Mews. The junction of Talgarth Road and Queen Caroline Street in Hammersmith.

Panning right with, beyond the flyover, the Apollo on the left and College Court on the right. SJ

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In a blue Mercedes, Polovski drives his colleague and Caroline to the Ridgemount Hotel.

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Polovski parks up outside the hotel. Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

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Manderos (Raymond Smith) leads Caroline into the deserted building to meet the “Governor”. The entrance to Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios.

Big Ben chimes the quarter hour as Bill Craddock and John Curry arrive at the Customs Offices. Facing Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament from Westminster Bridge Road.

With the addition of a "floating bus stop," one of 164 in the capital. SJ

The two men enter the building where they learn that Manderos' girlfriend Janice Lampton has been picked up at Dover. Looking through the southern archway of County Hall on Westminster Bridge Road in SE1.

Much the same. SJ

Customs Officer Read drives Craddock, John and Janice around places that she thinks Manderos can be found. Gloucester Road seen from Cromwell Road in SW7 facing Gloucester Road station at the corner of Courtfield Road.

The scene today. (SR)

The camera follows Read's Ford Zephyr as it turns. The corner of Gloucester Road and Cromwell Road in South Kensington.

The corner has been rebuilt. SJ

John suggests that Caroline could have been taken into the country. Looking west along Cromwell Road.

Panning right, we find a lot of traffic. SJ

When Janice recalls a building near Chalfont St. Peter, Read heads to Buckinghamshire. The illusion of distance travelled disappears as, once again, this is looking west along Cromwell Road from the junction with Gloucester Road in South Kensington.

And panning further right, we reassuringly find a match and an indication that the location is correct. SJ

The shot pans with the Zephyr. Facing east from the junction of Cromwell Road and Gloucester Road in SW7.

Now looking east. SJ

While Caroline transmits a message on a miniature two way radio that John had given to her earlier, Read drives on into the countryside. Antony Blair identifies this as looking east from outside the Police Station on Oxford Road in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

The view now by Antony.

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Craddock asks Janice if she recognises anything just as Caroline's transmission reaches John's receiver. The car reaches Chalfont St. Peter. Amersham Road in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire with the bottom of Joiners Lane to the right.

Chief Inspector Tomlinson is alerted as Read heads for the police station. High Street in Chalfont St. Peter with the Greyhound Inn on the right.

Antony Blair's black and white comparison of 59 years later shows how the location appears stopped in time.

At the local police station, Craddock makes enquiries about large buildings in the area just as Tomlinson calls to tell him that two direction finding cars got a fix on Caroline's signal. Geoff Dodd has identified Gerrards Cross Police Station on Oxford Road in Tatling End. The building is also seen in 'Penny Gold' but sadly was demolished three years ago. (RL)

The replacement building on Oxford Road, captured by Antony Blair.

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Bill Craddock, Merrall and John arrive at the Ridgemount Hotel just ahead of the police. The entrance to Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

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Following her ordeal, John visits Caroline in hospital armed with flowers and a new fuel tank. St. Mary Abbots Hospital on Marloes Road W8. The gateposts remain on the road outside the since demolished hospital which also appears in ‘Say Hello to Yesterday’, 'Adventures of a Plumber's Mate' and ‘Villain’.