Track the Man Down

At Clapton Stadium, punters cheer the greyhounds on as a Security Guard stumbles across a robbery taking place in the accounts office. Clapton Stadium on Millfields Road in Clapton E5.

Rick Lambert (George Rose), Armin (Michael Balfour), Roger Nagy (Graham Ashley) and safe-cracker Ken Orwell (Kenneth Griffith) flee from the stadium. Park Royal Stadium on Abbey Road NW10.

The gang get into their car and drive from the car park as the Guard catches up before jumping onto the running board. Park Royal Stadium on Abbey Road in Park Royal.

A punch by Rick causes the Guard to fall to the road before the car speeds away.

Police are alerted to the robbery and begin to chase the thieves.

After the crooks' car crashes through the parapet of a bridge, the pursuing Officers get out of their Humber Hawk as the gang escape from the wreckage.

Following the death of the Guard, Inspector Barnett (Lloyd Lamble) and his Assistant arrive at Mrs. Greenwood's house where Rick rents a room. Hurst Grove in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

John Harwood plumped for nos. 12 & 10. (SJ)

The Detectives enter the small front garden and knock the door to discover that the landlady is less than helpful. Hurst Grove, opposite Nettlefold Studios. The street can also be found in 'Watch Out', 'Old Mother Riley Headmistress', 'The Missing Note' and 'Fiend Without a Face'.

John H. again panning a little to the right. (SJ)

Warned about the police by young Charlie Greenwood, Rick Lambert runs from Inspector Barnett after leaving the flat where his girlfriend Mary Dennis lives with her sister June. Facing Walton-on-Thames station from the corner of Ashley Park Road and Station Avenue.

The corner on the left has been rebuilt, as John has captured. (SJ)

The two Detectives chase the wanted man towards the station. Outside Walton-on-Thames station with the corner of Ashley Park Road and Station Avenue to the top right.

The outside now by John. (SJ)

Rick runs onto the platform and crosses the tracks. Also seen in ‘Tiger By the Tail’ and ‘Bond of Fear’, this is Walton-on-Thames station in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

John again ringing the changes. (SJ)

At the office of his Aunt's newspaper on Fleet Street, American reporter John Ford is given another chance to prove himself by Max the news editor. A reused shot of 130 Fleet Street on the corner of Shoe Lane in EC4 from 1932's 'Wedding Rehearsal'.

The same spot without the name plate. (PW)

Ken and Rick call on Luis Remino to ask him to arrange passage out of the country. This appears to be between buildings at Nettlefold Studios on Hurst Grove in Walton-on-Thames.

Leaving a Detective inside, Inspector Barnett closes the door to her apartment block as Mary Dennis (Ursula Howells) gets into the patrol car.

Just as the police car departs, June Dennis (Petula Clark) returns.

When neighbour Mrs. Dawson passes on a message from Mary, June takes a train to London. The 'Central' platforms at Victoria station off Victoria Street in SW1.

Carrying a bag that Rick had left in the flat, June walks through Victoria station. The concourse at Victoria station.

About here, given that platform 13 came further into the concourse in the olden days. SJ

Suspecting that she is being followed, June turns to see the Detective that was posted outside her apartment. Victoria station can be seen in many other films including ‘Robbery’, ‘Two on the Tiles’, ‘The Man from Tangier’, ‘Night Ferry’, ‘The Ware Case’, ‘The IPCRESS File’, ‘Child in the House’ and ‘Say Hello to Yesterday’.

The Detective watches as June gets into a taxi. Terminus Place outside Victoria station with Buckingham Palace Road in the distance.

Looking towards the Shakespeare pub. SJ

A tilt shot starts on the tower at the entrance to Victoria Coach Station at the corner of Buckingham Palace Road and Elizabeth Street in SW1.

Slightly off angle but there's a good reason... SJ

In the coach station's bar, celebrity Pat Sherwood and her agent Gerry Palmer wait for their departure. The passenger entrance to Victoria Coach Station at the corner of Buckingham Palace Road and Elizabeth Street.

... and the good reason is to show the new lamppost. SJ

As journalist John Ford offers the actress a light, June's cab drops her at the coach station's entrance. Facing the corner of Buckingham Palace Road and Elizabeth Street in SW1 with the wall of Victoria station in the background.

Taken with the etrance a little behind me. SJ

The Detective follows June into the building. Opened in 1932, Victoria Coach Station also appears in 'The Knack, and How To Get It' as well as 'Rattle of a Simple Man', ‘Escape Route’, ‘The Deadly Affair’, ‘Rotten to the Core’, ‘The Small World of Sammy Lee’ and 'Three Hats for Lisa'.

Inside the sleeker corner entrance now. SJ

With its compliment of passengers aboard, the bus for Southampton departs. The coach exit from Victoria Coach Station on Elizabeth Street.

Not much going on here. SJ

To her annoyance, John Ford begins to talk with June as the journey begins. Looking north-west on Elizabeth Road in London SW1.

Not too many changes here. SJ

As Big Ben chimes the hour, Mary Dennis is questioned by Inspector Barnett at Scotland Yard. Facing east on Derby Gate SW1 with County Hall across the Thames in the top centre distance.

Not quite satisfactory but the construction hoarding on the right prevents a better angle for now. SJ

At The Golden Lantern roadside cafeteria, Ken and Rick wait for the Southampton bus to arrive for its scheduled comfort break. Nick Boorman recognised that the background building is the power house at Walton Studios masquerading as the roadhouse on the way to the Hampshire port. The building survives as the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse on Hurst Grove in Walton on Thames.

It appears the location is in use as a car park for the Aston Martin dealership next door, as Nick Boorman's view suggests.

After being approached by Ken and Rick at The Golden Lantern, June explains her journey to John before boarding the bus for the onward trip . . . along with the two crooks who jump on at the last minute. Bridge Street in Walton-on-Thames. The garage to the right is the Walton-on-Thames Motor Co. Ltd. which has been demolished, but the gate posts, which can be seen from a distance in ‘A Time to Kill’, have survived.

Nick Boorman captured this shot of the gate posts.

Drunken passenger John Cross embarrasses Pat Sherwood as the camera pans with the bus. Bridge Street. Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. Offices now occupy the site of the garage.

The shot ends as Armin and Austin Melford pay a visit to Mary at her flat. Bridge Street, on the north side of the junction with Oatlands Road and New Zealand Avenue. Out of shot to the right stand the premises of HW Motors that appear in ‘Blind Spot’.

The same corner, taken by Nick Boorman.

Cut to the first of two sequences highlighting progress to the south coast. Walton Bridge crossing the Engine River. Walton Bridges also appear in ‘Danger by My Side’.

The embankment between the two Walton bridges.

This is the, then two years old, fourth Walton Bridge crossing the Thames in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. The bridge has since been replaced twice in 1999 and 2013.

The junction of Bridge Street, New Zealand Avenue and Oatlands Road.

Nick Boorman found one of the subject buildings covered up whilst getting changed!

A suspicious Motorcycle Policeman begins to follow. The corner of New Zealand Avenue and Oatlands Road, opposite the garage on Bridge Street.

No suspicious officers in Nick Boorman's comparison.

The bus is driven to a boatyard after being hijacked by Ken and Rick when the Driver is stopped by the Policeman. Rosewells Boathouse at Walton Bridge, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.

The boathouse remains in place. PW

After speaking with Remino, Austin Melford (Walter Rilla) and Armin catch up with Rick. Outside Rosewells Boathouse with the River Thames in the background.

Grabbing the bag of cash stolen from the greyhound track, Armin runs from the boathouse followed by Rick. The footbridge crossing Engine River as it flows from Back Water into the Thames at Walton.

The replacement bridge is arched. PW

A shot is fired and Armin falls into the river. The footbridge crossing Engine River.

The view down onto Engine River from the new bridge. PW

After a scuffle inside the boathouse, Austin Melford and Rick attempt to escape. Rosewells Boathouse in Walton-on-Thames.

Roswell's Boathouse resides behind the fence and trees. PW

The Police arrive on the scene as Rick fires a shot at John Ford. Looking west from outside Rosewells Boathouse. The location now forms part of Walton Marina.

Greenery abounds. PW

To congratulate John on his scoop, news editor Max (Michael Golden) runs after the bus as it resumes its journey to Southampton. Facing east on the southern bank of the Thames in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with Rosewells Boathouse to the right.

Taken from a similar position 69 years later. PW