Touch of Love, A

At the end of a hard day studying for her philosophy doctorate, Rosamund Stacey (Sandy Dennis) leaves the British Museum. The Museum stands on Great Russell Street, London WC1.

Peter found it impossible to recreate the shot . . . how terrible that this is what greets visitors to London! So, and I hope nobody minds, to replace all the street detritus of unattended road works, garish orange barriers, I submit a more cheering shot. SJ

The student makes her way towards home after rereading the result of her pregnancy test. New Cavendish Street W1 with the Post Office Tower, now the BT Tower, in the distance. The street is also seen in 'The Scarlet Thread'.

I assure you that the BT Tower is behind the tree. (PW)

Rosamund enters an off-licence where she buys a large bottle of gin. The Finch's public house gives this away as facing south on Marylebone High Street W1. The junction with New Cavendish Street, out of view to the left, is seen in 'Melody Club'.

Whilst in the area 'on other duties' Paul Lincoln captures this shot for us. Boarding, scaffolding, there is always something to hinder our comparative shots. (RL)

This is the building where Rosamund shares a flat with her friend Lydia. Bickenhall Mansions on Bickenhall Street with Baker Street visible to the extreme right.

Parking appears to remain an issue! (PW)

The camera tilts up to the apartment where Rosamund runs a hot bath and opens the gin. Bickenhall Mansions on Bickenhall Street, Marylebone W1.

Who knows what's going on behind these windows now? (PW)

The next day, Lydia Reynolds (Elanor Bron) meets Rosamund at the Museum. The British Museum on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury WC1.

The same location, taken by Peter.

Rosamund tells her friend about her pregnancy. The British Museum also appears in ‘To The Devil a Daughter’, ‘Isadora’, ‘The Limehouse Golem', 'Night of the Demon’, ‘The Day of the Jackal’, ‘A Touch of Love’, 'The Holly and the Ivy', ‘The Mummy Returns (2001)’, 'The Mine and the Minotaur', 'Percy' and ‘It Happened Here’.

Peter captures a similar view but didn't have time to visit the museum.

The girls cross the road and head to a pub for lunch. Looking through the railings of the British Museum onto Great Russell Street and the corner of Museum Street beyond.

And again from Peter.

That evening, Rosamund is taken out to dinner by Roger Henderson who proposes.

Rosamund looks out of her flat the morning after declining Roger's offer of marriage. Looking out from Bickenhall Mansions.

What lovely coal holes! (PW)

A game of cricket at school is recalled. Littleton House at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Surrey.

Whilst writing to tell her parents about the pregnancy, Rosamund remembers a journey home from school. Marylebone station on Melcombe Place, London NW1.

All change please! (PW)

The schoolgirl looks around but her Mother and Father are nowhere to be seen. The concourse at Marylebone station.

Passengers have replaced the cars in this modern view. (PW)

Rosamund leaves the station to make her was home alone. The station also appears in 'We Joined the Navy', 'One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing', 'Carry On Girls', 'The IPCRESS File' and many others.

The station's character has largely been maintained. (PW)

The disappointed youngster nears home after a tube ride and walk.

The camera pans to follow Rosamund to the front door of the suburban villa.

In the back garden, Mr. and Mrs. Stacey are found talking with their professional friend Miss Gurney.

Another memory as Rosamund sees off her parents Humphrey (Kenneth Benda) and Mrs. Stacey (Peggy Thorpe-Bates) as they head to Nairobi.

Rising TV personality George Matthews (Ian McKellen) sits reading in The Regent's Park. London NW1.

Now I admit I'm heavily guessing here and working on the basis of the next shot. This is the Avenue Gardens area of Regent's Park in the south-east section. It was revamped between 1993 and 1996, and there are ongoing works which have led to the removal of benches which still line the Broad Walk both to the right and left of this spot. SJ

Rosamund crosses over to George before the two walk away together. The Post Office Tower stands in the distance and the Boy and Dolphin statue by Alexander Munro to the right. The fountain had been moved to The Regent's Park in 1962 but returned to Hyde Park in 1995.

Using the Post Office/BT Tower, visible behind the front of the white van, as a pointer, I think the Munro statue must have been here but, given the non-match of trees, I can't guarantee that I have the correct place and am open to correction. SJ

George walks Rosamund home after a drink. Facing Baker Street on Bickenhall Street.

From a similar position. (PW)

Joe Hurt (Michael Coles) questions Rosamund about the pregnancy. The rooftop of 121 Great Portland Street W1 with the Post Office Tower in the centre distance.

The same location, with acknowledgement to Techtopia for providing access. (PW)

Rosamund leaves Joe on the roof after telling him that the baby isn't Roger's. Above the junction of Great Portland Street and New Cavendish Street which appears in 'Blue Ice' and 'Nobody Runs Forever'.

Again, with thanks to Techtopia for arranging admittance to the roof. (PW)

On her way home Rosamund smiles as she passes a shop window containing a card display of George Matthews. Looking east on Dorset Street from the corner of Broadstone Place with Manchester Street in the left distance.

The distant greenery appears to have spread. (PW)

Rosamund walks down a back street. Goodge Place W1.

The buildings are in better repair nowadays. (PW)

The camera follows the mother-to-be. Goodge Place in Fitzrovia, a location also seen in 'Last Night in Soho'.

Same door, different railings. (PW)

One of the doors is glanced at. Goodge Place in W1 with Tottenham Street and Arthur Stanley House in the right background.

The same railings remain on this side of the road. (PW)

Rosamund comes to a stand before entering the surgery of Dr. A. Morrison. Looking up at the top of the Post Office Tower from Goodge Place.

A different depth of focus makes the BT Tower appear to have shrunk. (PW)

Having seen the Doctor and after paying a visit to the ante-natal clinic, Rosamund catches a bus home.

Up for the day, Clair runs after Rosamund when she sees her friend pass a shop window. St. Christopher’s Place in W1.

The same Marylebone street. (PW)

The two exchange pleasantries. Looking along St. Christopher’s Place towards Barrett Street.

Rebuilding has taken place to the right. (PW)

The conversation becomes stilted as the pregnancy is noticed. St. Christopher’s Place with Wigmore Street visible to the right.

Another modern view of the street. (PW)

Following the baby's birth, Rosamund walks the new-born along the street as Roger approaches in his car. Looking east from the junction of Paddington Street and Chiltern Street in London W1.

The same junction. (PW)

Leaving his fiancée Gillian in the TR4, Roger Henderson (John Standing) admires the baby girl. Facing north at the corner of Chiltern Street with buildings on Marylebone Road in the right distance.

Alterations to the shop window are apparent but not much else has changed. (PW)

The two friends catch up. The junction of Paddington Street and Chiltern Street.

There's new construction to the left whilst older buildings remain on the right. (PW)

The proud mother continues her walk. Looking west along Paddington Street in W1 with the Post Office Tower in the distance and the, now closed and demolished, 1968 incarnation of the Apollo public house to the left.

Taken from roughly the same spot. (PW)

The months pass and Octavia (Sarah Whalley) grows.

Rosamund worries about Octavia after she's diagnosed with a heart defect and has to undergo surgery.

The café within Regent's Park Inner Circle. I had to stand just outside the windows as the interior was busy. The PO Tower is dead centre. SJ

Lydia follows Rosamund as she carries Octavia from the film's St. Andrew's Hospital. The former College of Physical Education on Paddington Street W1.

The building is now home to the Hellenic Centre. (PW)

With Octavia's operation a success, the happy mother heads for home. Paddington Street with Paddington Street Gardens to the left. The location was seen in ‘Breaking Glass’ and the gardens in ‘Felicia’s Journey’.

More mature greenery abounds across in Paddington Street Gardens. (PW)

A repeat of capture 3.

Taken back in February 2021 but I forgot to load it but here it is without the hoarding seen in the first comparison. SJ