Doll, The

Peter Matty (John Fraser) makes his way to his office with his mind elsewhere. Museum Street, London WC1 looking towards the British Museum

Camera position very much governed by pedestrianised pavement café tables and chairs.

Little Russell Street looking towards Nos 30-28

The days of parking meters are long gone.

Being ‘miles away’, he is slow to acknowledge the doorman’s greeting. Entrance to No 30 looking across Museum Street towards Coptic Street

Pity about the pavement advertising boards.

Peter finds his brother Claude (Geoffrey Whitehead) waiting for him, who expresses the concern he and their mutual friends have about his health. Peter starts to relay events that started when he was in Geneva with him. Looking across Lake Geneva to Quai Gustave-Ador and beyond.

Claude drops Peter off at Geneva Airport, where he first met Phyllis Du Salle (Anouska Hempel).

Following his return to London he had arranged to take an old Fleet Street friend, Max Lerner (Derek Fowlds), to lunch. Little Russell Street.

Someone was in the right place at the right time for me.

Whilst in a taxi together Peter swiftly catches sight of Phyllis driving a car and winds his window down to call out. Victoria Gate, Bayswater Road, W2

Neil Kenny was frustrated to find London quieter than he would have wished for this shot. A clearer view of the Gates Neil, thanks.

Having made arrangements to meet she suddenly decides that she couldn’t see him after all. Then an idea struck, call on her at her hotel. Europa Hotel, Grosvenor Square, now London Marriott Hotel

Positively no entry there.

As he was paying off the taxi………

Maybe it was a one way system back then.

…………….. Phyllis coincidentally appeared with Linda Braithwaite (Sarah Brackett)

Just two members of staff when I was there.

Peter interrupts their saying goodbye.

A much greener welcome these days.

Phyllis agrees to go with him for the weekend to his boat in the films ‘Hetherdown’. Unidentified location.

Peter lends Phyllis his car for her to drive off to see Sir Arnold Wyatt (Cyril Luckham). Alverstone Road, East Cowes looking north west towards Whippingham Road

He went back to the boat to do some jobs. Unidentified location.

As Phyllis didn’t telephone him as agreed, Peter decides to go to the Post Office and see Mrs Frinton (Olive Milbourne). Whippingham Post Office and General Stores, as was, 5 Alverstone Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

As she still hadn’t telephoned by the following morning he decided to call her, but only to see her drive by, and later have it returned….. Whippingham Post Office and General Stores, as was, 5 Alverstone Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

………by the police who had found it with a message to return it to him

Peter decides to visit ‘Forest Gate Manor’ and Sir Arnold Wyatt where Phyllis was supposed to be visiting. King Edward VII gates, Barton Estate, Whippingham. Isle of Wight, but difficult to be positive without a personal visit given lack of Google Earth View.

He draws up at the Manor and meets with Sir Arnold who denies all knowledge of even knowing Phyllis. Barton Manor, Barton Estate, Whippingham, Isle of Wight.

After an evening out with Max Lerner he returns home. 45 Blomfield Road, Little Venice, London W9

Peter joins his brother Claude (Geoffrey Whitehead) at the boat and loads shopping into his car boot. ‘God’s Providence House’, 12 St Thomas’s Square, Newport in the background.

He turns to Claude to apologise that the shopping took longer than he thought. 8 and 9 St Thomas’s Sq, Newport, now ‘St Thomas Jewellers’ and ‘Costal Mobility’.

Peter goes off to buy some beer before joining Claude for a coffee. ‘God’s Providence House’, 12 St Thomas’s Square, Newport in the background.

He stops suddenly, having thought that he had seen a photograph of Phyllis in a photographers window. He did, and finds out that she was the daughter of Sir Arnold who was killed in an airplane crash. St Thomas’s Sq, Newport looking over High Street to Holyrood Street.

Having returned to the shop with Sir Arnold and Claude, there is now a different photograph in the window and the photographer denies ever having changed it. Having left the shop with Claude, Peter stops to make a phone call to Max to arrange a meeting. 5 Alverstone Road, East Cowes looking north west to Whippingham Road.

At Peter’s boat Sir Arnold drops by to ask Claude to sign an LP for the local fête, or was that just an excuse? Unidentified location.

Having appointed Max Lerner to find Phyllis, Max asks Peter to call on him at home. 35 Bristol Gardens, London W9

I had to accept the telephone box being on the left as I had no access to the garden to achieve the correct camera position.

As he approaches the property on foot he appears to somewhat question the surroundings. Bristol Gardens.

All the properties have now been raised in standard and I am sure price too.

Max tells Peter that he cannot now accept his project as he has been offered a long term job abroad. Bristol Gardens, W9.

Oh dear! Another 20mph zone.

He then notices that he has a parking ticket, and also, that the attendant is still about. Bristol Gardens, looking across Formosa Street towards Shirland Road, W9

I seem to have been blessed with another strategically placed stand-in.

At home, he opens the parking ticket to find a note that ‘Mrs Du Salle has an appointment with her dentist at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon at 71, Harley Street’. Harley Street looking across to New Cavendish Street, W1

Somehow I seem to have avoided those traffic lights.

Peter learns that her appointment was changed to 2.30, and he has missed her. No 68 Harley Street in the background.

A more complete view of No 68

The sound of a taxi horn draws his attention to Phyllis being the passenger and chases after it as it stops at the lights. Harley Street looking south across the junction with New Cavendish Street.

Never a taxi when you want one.

Phyllis makes a run for it and the taxi driver (Kenneth Kennedy) stops him following her. Dave W finds a good location for undisturbed filming, Wesley Street, W1, looking towards Wheatley Street.

Dave is correct, one is really unlikely to be disturbed here.

Peter’s attempt to run off with her handbag fails and he is taken to the police station. Wesley Street, W1, looking towards Wheatley Street, with thanks to Dave W.

I really needed 'rent-a-crowd'.

Having surprisingly been released without charge, he receives a call from Phyllis saving she made a mistake and never wants to see him again, Peter goes drinking, is warned by a stranger Julian Osborne (William Russell) that he has a busy night ahead, he eventually goes home. Westbourne Terrace Road Bridge.

The Community Garden project prevents use of the films camera position.

His home. 45 Blomfield Road, W9

Pity about that parked car.

As he puts the key in the lock a car drives erratically up the road. He recognises Max, who has trashed Peter’s home, but who denies all knowledge. Blomfield Road.

Regrettably there was nobody to ask if I could use their stairs.

On the boat with brother Claude he receives a message that a Mrs Cassidy (Sheila Keith) wants him to meet her in the tea rooms at 11 o’clock tomorrow so that she can explain about the photograph. The white building to the left is 18 St. Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight. Now ‘Steampunk’

On his way he notices emergency services outside ‘Mortimer Brown’s’. 6, 7 and 8 St Thomas’ Square, Newport

He studies the scene as he gets closer. 13 St Thomas’ Square

Bystanders tell Peter that Mortimer Brown has been murdered, but the police officer corrects him to say it was Mrs. Cassidy, and off goes the ambulance. Looking towards Holyrood Street.

Peter continues his conversation with the police officer to learn that Mrs Cassidy had been shot in the shop and agrees to go to the police station with them. St Thomas’ Square

The hovercraft arrives…Stretched SRN6 Mk1 at a location I have been unable to exactly pinpoint. East Cowes, Isle of Wight?

….and lands. Unidentified location. East Cowes?

Sir Arnold Wyatt is the first ashore. The Esplanade, East Cowes visible on the far shoreline.

Det. Insp. Lane (Paul Williamson) and Det. Sgt. Colford (Roger Gartland) visit ‘Forest Gate Manor’ to find no one at home, but Sir Arnold soon arrives and is told the news about Mrs Cassidy. Barton Manor, Barton Estate, Whippingham, Isle of Wight.

Claude visits Sir Arnold to give him a copy of his latest recording as pretext to finding out all he could about events. He admits, despite all he had said previously, he did know Norman De Salle. Whilst there, Julian Osborne visits, he is from Scotland Yard, Special Branch.

Finding that Peter is not who the authorities thought he might be, he is reunited with Phyllis. There are no locations to record their meeting or departure so this shot of the ferry on which she makes her return to London from the Isle of Wight allows for the story to be told. The life history of the ferry can be read at https://www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk/mv-camber-queen-past-and-present/

Claude tells Peter that he has unexpectedly to go Scotland for a concert, but in reality he is off to Rome. As he is booking in, Mortimer Brown arrives, on his way to Belfast. London Airport.

Upon his return from Italy he visits Max Lerner, only to find him dead. Max had, according to the police, apparently posted a letter to Peter earlier that day and its delivery was awaited. Warwick Place looking east.

As can be said, "I missed the post".

The postman gets ever nearer whilst Peter speaks to Julian Osborne on the telephone. Looking over the garage drive of 45 Blomfield Road.

Once again I was obliged to remain on ground level and public land.

Once delivered, Phyllis grabs the letter from Peter and runs down the road towards Warwick Place.

No escapees at that moment.

To her awaiting parked car, she opens the envelope to find blank pages. Warwick Place opposite ‘The Warwick Castle’ looking west.

That single yellow line appears now to be double.

She drives off to find her way blocked by a police car. Warwick Place looking towards Warwick Avenue.

The double yellows scare off parking these days.

Reversing back down the road, her way is blocked once more. Warwick Place looking towards Warwick Avenue.

The police were actually exiting from Warwick Garden Center rear entrance.

Osborne visits to meet with Peter, but first comes across Claude, they walk together to the boat and Peter. Unidentified location.

Peter agrees to ‘take a holiday’ and goes with Claude to Monte Carlo where he is due to perform. London Airport Air Traffic Control prominent in the background.