That Riviera Touch

Traffic Wardens Eric Simpson (Eric Morecambe) and Ernest Clark (Ernie Wise) check parking meters. Carlton House Terrace, London SW1 which features in 'Absolute Beginners' and 'Only When I Larf' amongst others.

Trying to avoid the work site in the same location.

The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace and is driven past Horse Guards Parade. Horse Guards Road in SW1.

The same corner now with rain and failing light dimming the image.

The two wardens check the north side of Carlton House Terrace.

No parking meters now, or many cars!!

The Rolls turns from Horse Guards Road onto The Mall. London SW1.

Same place, different decade. The building on the left is The Citadel, built in 1940 as an operations centre for the Navy.

The car approaches Admiralty Arch. The Mall in SW1. Admiralty Arch appears in many other films including ‘Duffy’, ‘84 Charing Cross Road’, ‘The Betrayal’, ‘Quatermass 2’, ‘Nowhere to Go’ and ‘Children of Men’.

The same location now.

Eric and Ernie enter Waterloo Place. It says so on the sign.

Looks the same but no street sign now.

The journey continues. Pall Mall at the corner of Waterloo Place.

Looking towards Trafalgar Square in the rain.

The car draws up outside The Athenaeum Club.

Nice lighting effect. Waterloo Place in SW1.

Eric and Ernie walk along Waterloo Place, SW1 towards the Rolls Royce.

The rain and early evening light blurs the view in this now shot.

The Rolls Royce is parked on a yellow line.

Waterloo Place, London SW1 looking towards Pall Mall.

Eric walks over to issue a ticket. Waterloo Place with the base of the Duke of York Memorial in the right background . . .

. . . and the statue of Edward VII is to the left.

Eric is puzzled by the lack of a registration plate. Waterloo Place, London.

The same location now.

Ernest tries to stop Eric from issuing a parking ticket. Waterloo Place, which appears in 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', 'Hammer the Toff', 'Murder Without Crime', 'Man on the Run', 'The Sandwich Man', 'Defence of the Realm', 'The Primitives' and 'Nothing But the Best'.

Looking towards Pall Mall and, across the junction, the bottom of Regent Street.

When the car drives away, Eric realises who it belongs to. Waterloo Place at the junction with Pall Mall in London SW1.

To the left of centre stands John Bell's Crimean Guards memorial and statue of Florence Nightingale.

The two decide that now is a good time to quit their jobs and take a holiday in the south of France. Waterloo Place once more.

The last shot in London as the story moves across The Channel to France.

An establishing shot of Le Touquet Airport in France. Identified by A. Mackay on Britmovie Forum as Lydd Airport, Kent.

Eric and Ernie disembark and head to immigration after flying in on the car ferry. Lydd Airport in Kent, which was also seen in 'Hysteria', 'The Birthday Present' and 'A Weekend with Lulu'.

A member of Le Pirate's gang, dressed as an airport worker, waits to find a likely car for smuggling stolen diamonds. Lydd Airport, Romney Marsh, Kent.

Inside the terminal, Marcel approaches Eric and Ernie after their car is chosen by the by the gang.

Smugglers Marcel and Claudette drive away from the airport. Looks suspiciously like part of a British studio but for now unidentified.

The body of Renard is disposed of after he is murdered in Villa Tulip, the property that Marcel has persuaded Eric and Ernie to rent.

Establishing shot of Eric and Ernie's destination for their first day on holiday. Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.

Claudette Dubois (Suzanne Lloyd) tempts Eric and Ernie on the beach.

Juan Les Pins beach. Google/Neil Rigby (G/NR) and some of the following.

Eric Simpson spots Claudette and picks his way across the crowded beach towards her. Juan les Pins, Alpes-Maritimes which was also seen in 'A Touch of the Sun'.

The still shines on this corner of the beach. PW

At Ernest's suggestion, Eric shows off to impress Claudette. Neil Rigby found an interview with Suzanne Lloyd which confirms the beach as Juan Les Pins.

Dereliction and demolition. PW

Ernie moves in on Claudette as Eric continues his sporting antics. The beach at Juan les Pins . . .

. . . where volleyball is still played. PW

Renard's body is recovered and brought into the harbour.

Quai D' Entrecasteaux, Nice. G/NR

Mauron (Peter Jeffrey) and Inspector Duval (Armand Mestral) recognise Renard as a member of Le Pirate's gang. Looking across the port to Quai D' Entrecasteaux in Nice found by Neil Rigby.

The single storey building survives in this view through the yachts. PW

The two Policeman are taken to question Le Pirate.

Marcel (George Eugeniou) helps Le Pirate (Paul Stassino) into his dressing gown as Mauron and the Inspector arrive.

Villefranche Sur Mer. G/NR

Eric is persuaded to visit a casino so that Ernie can spend time with Claudette. Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire, which can also be seen in 'The Early Bird', 'Nothing But The Night', 'Slayground', 'The Ghoul', 'Wombling Free', 'City Under the Sea', 'From Russia With Love', several 'Carry On' films and more.

Lee L provides this comparison.

Inspector Duval drives to the Police Station. Place Du Palais De Justice in Nice identified by Neil Rigby.

Taken from a similar position 58 years later. PW

Inside, the Inspector discusses the finding of another body with Mauron. Neil Rigby identifies this as Place Du Palais De Justice with Rue de la Préfecture crossing the background.

Looking north while avoiding the encroaching tables and chairs of the café behind me. PW

After Eric wins a large sum of money at the casino, the pair move into a plush hotel. Hotel De Paris on Place Du Casino in Monaco identified by Neil Rigby.

Alterations are apparent with the entrance since moved. PW

A new car is brought to the hotel entrance and Claudette, Eric and Ernie go for a test drive. Neil Rigby recognised the entrance to the Hotel De Paris, 98000 Monaco.

The new entrance is a few meters away and the pillars reflect the past. PW

The three head out of town. Located by Neil Rigby, this is Avenue de Monte-Carlo outside Hotel de Paris with Monte Carlo Casino filling the frame.

Taken from the safety of the footpath. PW

After Ernie is left behind on the journey, Claudette takes Eric to a secluded beach where her accomplice robs him whilst they bathe.

I have looked up and down the riviera. In her interview Suzanne Lloyd mentions the beach was hidden. I think the beach is L'Estagnol 83230 Bormes Les Mimosas, France. G/NR

Additional still from NR to prove the beach.

Same spit. G?/NR

Black bordered additional still.

From further away. G/NR

And here's how NR did it. Note the hill formation at the centre above the bay.

This is from Streetview on the D42A, the nearest road to the beach. Looking in the direction parallel to the beach, the mountain shape matches. G/NR.

Just as Claudette and Eric return to the hotel, Ernie packs and leaves to drive home. Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

Claudette persuades Ernie to stay when she realises that he is going to take the car.

The two set out to report the theft of Eric's winnings to the police. The entrance of Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo.

After escaping from being kidnapped by Le Pirate's gang, Eric and Ernie arrive at the Police Station. Place Du Palais De Justice, Nice found by Neil Rigby.

Facing the corner of Rue Alexandre Mari and Rue Louis Gassin. PW

When Eric and Ernie suspect that Claudette is involved with the theft, as well as other incidents that have occurred, she prepares to swim to Le Pirate's boat.

Marcel helps Claudette on board the boat.

Villefranche Sur Mer harbour. G/NR

Claudette visits Villa Tulip to retrieve the diamonds. A studio set included for sake of completeness.

The film's chase sees Eric and Ernie speeding after Le Pirate along mountain roads.

This is the best shot I can get to show the bend. All the distant features and road shape check out. D153 Lai Barrai onto route Du Mont Agel, above Monaco. G/NR

Inspector Duval and Mauron head to Villa Tulip but join in the pursuit when they see Le Pirate's car.

Streetview doesn't cover this exactly. But I present a shot as close as. Taken from Av Des Diables Bleus, route D2564 overlooking Eze village. G/NR... Well done, Neil, this may save someone taking that hairy hairpin bend for the real now!

Le Pirate gains on Eric and Ernie. The hairpin bend on the D45 Route De La Turbie by Av Des Diables Bleus D 2564 located by Neil Rigby. The location can be seen in 'Taste of Fear'.

At least that bend's tarmacked! (NR) Image copyright Google.

After Le Pirate leaves his car and runs down steps to the shore, the duo follow!

L'Argent Faux bay near Boulevard John F Kennedy, Antibes. G/NR

Le Pirate pulls his escape boat in as Eric and Ernie get out of their car.

L'Argent Faux bay near Boulevard John F Kennedy, Antibes.

A helicopter arrives to join in as the chase takes to water.

This is the best shot from Bing. Boulevard John F Kennedy 06160 Antibes. B/NR

In an attempt to stop Le Pirate, Eric ends up water skiing behind the boat...Bay Golfe Juan, Juan Les pins Antibes. NR

Whilst attempting to rescue Eric, Ernie's parachute opens.

Bay Golfe Juan, Juan Les Pins Antibes. This is just north-west of L'Argent Faux bay, seen above. G/NR

After the diamonds are recovered and the gang is arrested, Claudette gets married . . . . .

. . . . but to which one?

The ending. By Hotel Suisse, 15 Quai Rauba Capeau, Promenade Des Anglais 06300 Nice. G/NR