There Was a Crooked Man

Before his statue is unveiled, Davy Cooper (Norman Wisdom) sits listening to the Padre (Redmond Phillips) who he first encountered whilst in prison. The opening scenes appear to have been shot on a studio set.

The story is shown in flashback. Here, after being conned by a gang of crooks, the explosives expert outlines plans for the latest 'bank job'. Dave W has been determined to find 'the other half' of the following capture and, using all available evidence, has established what was 'Plantation House', redeveloped to become 'Plantation Place' and subsequently renamed to '30 Fenchurch Street', the first line of the building's postal address, in the wake of controversy over the financial district's historic links to slavery. (RL)

Albert Carter and his gang watch as the next slide is seen, showing a hospital next door to the bank. A 60/40 award in favour of Dave W following our debate as to this matte shot of what was St. George's Hospital to the right, (now the Lanesborough Hotel) on the corner of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner.......the 'bank' to the left is 'Plantation House', 31-35 Fenchurch Street, London EC3, now '30 Fenchurch Street'. See also the previous capture. (RL)

During the robbery, Davy is the only one caught and he ends up serving five years. The entrance to Wandsworth Prison on Heathfield Road, London SW18. The prison is also seen in ‘The Cracksman’, ‘Time Without Pity’, 'The Birthday Present', 'The Price of Silence', 'The Ringer', ‘The Criminal’, ‘Daybreak’, ‘Calculated Risk’, ‘Dead Man's Chest’, ‘Ooh, You Are Awful’, ‘The Dock Brief’, ‘Up in the World’ and ‘The Mail Van Murder’.

Taken during a very recent visit. (RL)

In the prison garden, the Padre speaks with Davy as he tends to flowers.

Adolf Carter (Alfred Marks), Flash Dan and Freda (Jean Clarke) are waiting for Davy when he's released from prison. The forecourt outside the entrance of Wandsworth Prison.

It still looks quite grim. (RL)

Davy arrives in Sleath on Sea. Looking southward from Darwen Station at the end of Railway Road.

Peter Brown (PB) took this view, along with all of the others in Darwen, where the canopies at the station have been replaced by modern structures. The houses on Atlas Road in the background no longer stand.

Walking from the station, Davy heads through the gates of McKillup's mill where he has secured work. The bottom of Belgrave Road in Darwen located by Peter Brown (PB).

The entrance to Belgrave Mills, a factory that produced wallpaper, stood on the right and this was the setting for McKillup's Mill. (PB)

In the guise of General Perkins, a representative from the Pentagon, Davy is driven through Sleath on Sea. Church Street in Darwen at the junction with Railway Road.

The site on the left was redeveloped in the 60s or 70s but the rest of the street survives with the cobbles replaced by tarmac. (PB)

The motorcade draws up outside the fictional McKillup Arms Hotel. In reality this was a warehouse on Railway Road which stood next to Railway Road Methodist Church. Peter Brown adds that, prior to becoming a warehouse, this building was the Theatre Royal. Its downfall was complete when it was replaced by a rather nondescript building just after the film was made.

To complete the downfall of the street, the church is now a Wetherspoons. (PB)

With help from Carter and his gang, the "General" prepares to teach the corrupt McKillup a lesson. Railway Road with Church Street in the background.

The view today down Railway Road from outside the warehouse. (PB)

The unsuspecting McKillup (Andrew Cruickshank) arrives at the hotel. In the background runs Market Street beyond the covered market on Market Square.

The ever present Darwen Tower looks over the scene in which the only properties visible today are the small white building in the background on The Circus and the remaining 20% of the building on Market Street. (PB)

Young boys run alongside the car as Davy is driven to the Station Master's house. Facing north-east on Belgrave Road in Darwen with the town centre in the distance and Buff Street running to the left.

The chimney of Belgrave Mills has disappeared and the American car has been replaced by a German one. (PB)

Davy approaches the front door which is opened by Ellen.The property stands at the corner of Belgrave Road and Buff Street.

Number 48, Belgrave Road. I wonder if the present occupiers know that Norman Wisdom and Susannah York once visited? (PB)

Outside the hotel, Davy stands with McKillup. The now demolished warehouse that stood next to Railway Road Methodist Church in Darwen, Lancashire.

The entrance to the warehouse has been replaced by the offices of a taxi firm . . . and a bin. (PB)

Following the destruction of McKillup's properties, Davy escapes. Looking towards Pier Street, to the right, and the junction with Union Street from the Esplanade in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire.

When the buildings on Pier Street were demolished the road became part of St. Thomas' Street. (PW)

The camera follows the car as it swings to enter the pier. This is the entrance to Ryde Pier on the Esplanade.

Facing the position of the former gateway. (PW)

The car speeds along the pier. To the right can be seen a vehicle belonging to Ryde Pier's tramway which closed in 1969.

Taken from a similar viewpoint. (PW)

The car comes to a halt and Davy gets out. This appears to be outside the Ryde Pier Pavilion at the seaward end of the pier.

Looking from the site of the Pavilion towards the entrance to Ryde Pier Head station. (PW)

A final view of Sleath on Sea as seen from the pier. A matted shot looking landward from Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight.

Without the added hills and chimneys. (PW)