Wedding Rehearsal

The titles end before a long panning shot begins in front of the Houses of Parliament standing on the east side of Parliament Square SW1.

The scaffolding has moved and increased. SJ

Moving right, the camera finds Westminster Hall.

Hmm, best taken in the afternoon on a clear day. SJ

Continuing across the Houses of Parliament brings St. Margaret Street into frame.

I'm not sure when the statue (Derby?) was moved. SJ

Next, St. Margaret's church on Broad Sanctuary occupies the screen.

Now. SJ

The shot settles on the twin towers at the west front of Westminster Abbey.

And another statue (Canning?) moved. SJ

Cut to Fleet Street, centre of the British newspaper industry and Lord Fleet's Daily Journal. The window belongs to 130 Fleet Street at the corner of Shoe Lane in EC4 and the shot appears 23 years later in 'Track the Man Down'.

The same spot without the name plate. (PW)

Various views of Fleet Street appear in a number of productions including 'A Run for Your Money', 'The Primitives', 'Sea Wife', 'Inquest', 'Brothers in Law', 'Stop Press Girl', 'Who Done It?', 'Derby Day', 'Children of Men' and 'Strange Bedfellows'.

Minus the railway viaduct in the left centre, SJ

The presses at the Daily Journal are stopped to replace headlines featuring war and volcanic eruptions around the world with news of the Binley - Foster wedding at which the Marquis of Buckminster is Best Man. The Daily Express building on Fleet Street, which can also be seen in 'Time Without Pity' as well as 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire' and 'Moment of Indiscretion'.

A little bit of work going on at the moment. SJ

The Marquis of Buckminster takes part in the The Changing of the Guard. Actual footage of the tradition is used as it takes place on Marlborough Road in SW1. The location features in 'Who Goes There?' and 'Stop Press Girl'.

An empty road looking towards St James's Park. SJ

The ceremony continues. Friary Court at St. James's Palace in St. James's.

Peaceful. SJ

Looking along Marlborough Road towards the gates to St. James's Park across The Mall.

Quiet. SJ

St. James's Palace with Marlborough Road to the left and Friary Court on the right.

Not so populous. SJ

As they march up and down, the Marquis's companions spot Lord Stokeshire in the crowd. Friary Court at St. James's Palace on Marlborough Road SW1.

Now. SJ

Announcing the marriages of his twin daughters, the Earl of Stokeshire sends a telegram to Major Harry Roxbury in Africa.

At Speakers Corner, the weddings of the idle rich are condemned. The background suggests the northern end of Park Lane with Hyde Park in the background and Richard Lovejoy confirms that the shot is taken from Marble Arch in W1.

While not the correct angle, this may be the best bet for a high level shot of Speakers' Corner from the now dismantled Marble Arch hill. SJ

Preparations for the marriages take place at the Earl of Stokeshire's country seat. The gates at North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire.

Inside the mansion, the Countess of Stokeshire has concerns about being able to accommodate all the guests. North Mymms Park can also be seen in 'Girls Will be Boys' and 'The Wicked Lady'.

Uncle Harry arrives as rehearsals get under way. North Mymms Park, south of Hatfield in Hertfordshire.

The camera follows the car to the front of the house. North Mymms Park off Tollgate Road in North Mymms.

A train draws into the local station. Cole Green railway station on Station Road to the north of Letty Green in Hertfordshire.

Reggie, the Marquis of Buckminster, (Roland Young) walks along the platform as the train comes to a stand. Cole Green station also features in 'The Lady with a Lamp', 'Come on George!' and 'Isn't Life Wonderful!'.

As they alight, the Marquis meets his grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Buckminster, and her companion Miss Hutchinson. Cole Green station stood on the line that ran between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford and closed on 18th June 1951 after serving the surrounding villages for 107 years.

Pushing a wheelbarrow, a Stable-hand crosses the stable courtyard while Lady Mary Rose and Lady Rose Mary smoke with their Fiancés in one of the buildings. The stables at North Mymms Park.

When the plans for "Bimbo" and "Tootles" to marry Lord Stokeshire's daughters go awry, Reggie deflates the tyres of Lord Fleet's car to prevent him reporting the news. North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire.

Lord Fleet (Edmund Breon) runs from the house after Reggie cuts the phone lines. The stables at North Mymms.

The newspaper owner tries to get into another car but discovers the doors locked before eventually finding a bicycle. More of the stables at North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire.

After Reggie smooths things over between the two couples a quadruple wedding takes place and all ends well. Viewed from Parliament Square, this is the tower of St. Margaret's Church, SW1. (SR)

And this shows some impressive tree growth. The angle is looking east from the south-west corner of Parliament Square. SJ