West 11

Date: 1963
Director: Michael Winner
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Angel Productions

Stars: Alfred Lynch, Kathleen Breck, Eric Portman, Diana Dors, Kathleen Harrison
Location(s): Dorset, London, Middlesex

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

In the sleazy Notting Hill of the early 1960s, a young unemployed misfit encounters an ex-army officer who persuades him that it would be in his interest to bump off the the older man’s wealthy aunt for her money.

Additional Information:

Replacement screen captures and story line by Phil Wilkinson

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Car horns sound in the street below as a panning shot begins on Notting Hill Gate W11 where Kensington Church Street can be seen heading off behind Newcombe House to the right. Seen from other angles, the location appears in 'Girl with Green Eyes', 'Alfie', 'Castaway', 'Duffer', 'Goodbye Gemini' and 'Lunch Hour' and several other productions.

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Moving left brings the terraces of Pembridge Road at the bottom, Pembridge Gardens to the centre and Linden Gardens beyond into frame.

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The camera slows when passing the curve of Linden Gardens and reaching Pembridge Square.

Zooming in, the shot crossfades to the window of Ilsa Barnes's bed-sitting room where Joe Beckett is getting dressed while questions her about a man she was with. 10 Pembroke Crescent, London W11 (RL)

From ground level, thankfully the tree was still in winter mode. (RL)

Joe Beckett (Alfred Lynch) leaves the building, taking in the milk before jumping down the steps to the street. 10 Pembroke Crescent, London W11 (RL)

Best possible shot without being too obvious. (RL)

Making his way home, Joe runs his finger along a wall as he walks. Pembridge Crescent, London W11 identified by Simon James (SJ).

Now, at the Chepstow Villas end. SJ.

Joe reaches a street market where he buys fruit. Portobello Road W11, various lengths of which make an appearance in a number of productions including ‘Otley’, 'Burning an Illusion', ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Pressure’, ‘The Wind of Change’, ‘The 14’, ‘Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective’, ‘The Mine and the Minotaur’, ‘The Moon Over the Alley’, ‘Tonite Let's All Make Love in London’, ‘Mantrap’, ‘The File of the Golden Goose’, ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Villain’, ‘Who Done It?’, ‘Jemima and Johnny’ and ‘The Traitors’.

Monday's are clearly not the busiest day of the week. (RL)

Portobello Road at the corner of Lonsdale Road.

Limited to a ground level shot. (RL)

Carrying his provisions, Joe makes his way past more stalls. Looking towards the junction of Portobello Road and Colville Terrace.

A definite Monday look. (RL)

Portobello Road in Notting Hill, the world's largest antiques market.

Be grateful, the white van moved eventually. (RL)

Turning a corner, Joe leaves the busy street. The corner of Portobello Road and Colville Terrace W11.

Still a Midland bank, well, an HSBC now, as they all are. SJ.

Another corner brings Joe into a land of bed-sitting rooms. Powis Square in W11, five years before 'Performance' was filmed in the same street.

Alfred Lynch has taken a slight detour to pass this corner. SJ.

A longer shot of Powis Square, looking northward towards Talbot Road.

Those pillared portico's have been removed. (RL)

Walking in the roadway, the young man reaches the terrace where he lives. Colville Terrace at the corner of Powis Square.

The location now by SJ.

Joe enters Kildare House and climbs the stairs to his flat where he sits on the bed and lights a cigarette. 26 Colville Terrace located by SJ.

Opposite the playground on Powis Square. SJ.

Running forty minutes late, Joe nears the gentleman's outfitters where he works. Strand in WC2 with St. Mary-le-Strand prominent to the left of centre.

Now, with Somerset House to the left. SJ.

Mr. Royce (Allan McClelland) appears outside the tailors, checking his watch when he sees Joe approaching. Facing the opposite direction to the previous capture on Strand.

The gentleman's outfitters is now a Pizza Express. SJ.

Following Joe from the shop after he gives notice, Captain Richard Dyce (Eric Portman) spots him ordering in the Wimpy Bar next door.

Wimpy long gone. SJ

Dyce enters the hamburger restaurant and starts to enquire about Joe's situation before taking him on to a pub where they continue chatting. Looking across Strand to numbers 337 and 336 with the Marconi Wing at number 335 on the right.

The Marconi wing is as was but obscured by pedestrianisation works. SJ

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That evening, Captain Dyce leaves a house party with Georgia (Diana Dors) soon after Joe heads home.

Next morning, Jacko looks up at the window of Joe's room. The frontage of 26 Colville Terrace W11.

No 27 has been brightened up. (RL)

Attempting to appear incognito, Jacko (Peter Reynolds) turns away when Joe comes out of the building after eating cold baked beans from a tin. Colville Terrace in Notting Hill.

Gaining the correct composition still defeats me but parked cars and potential arrest had to be given regard. (RL)

Joe says "morning" to Mr. Gash as the old man comes out of his basement flat to pick up his milk. Colville Terrace with the backs of properties on Colville Gardens in the background.

Best possible shot avoiding trespass. (RL)

Telling her that he's had a board meeting sprung upon him, a taxi brings the Captain and Georgia to a hotel. Ashburn Place in London SW7. Ray Simmons advises that Hotel Eden's address was 27 Harrington Gardens according to his telephone directory for the period which is confirmed by Greg Mishevski who adds "This is looking south / south-west at the east entrance to the Eden Hotel, now the Bentley Hotel. In the 1915 Post Office London Directory, 27 Harrington Gardens is listed as the Harrington Gardens Hotel."

The east entrance to the Bentley Hotel at the junction of Harrington Gardens and Ashburn Place with the house to the left being 29 Ashburn Place. SJ

Dyce gets out of the cab apologising that he doesn't seem to have any change before going inside the hotel to meet his Aunt Maud. Greg Mishevski tells us that this is looking across the junction of Harrington Gardens and Ashburn Place towards the since demolished number 18, the site of today's Millennium Gloucester Hotel. Greg adds that "In the 1915 Post Office London Directory, number 18 Harrington Gardens is listed under "William Prebble, private hotel" and that the Millennium Gloucester Hotel was built on the site between 1973 and 1974."

The current view. SJ

As the day comes to an end, Joe and Ilsa Barnes (Kathleen Breck) leave the coffee bar where she asked to meet him. Outside The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road SW5.

Looking west. SJ

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Watched by Jacko, Joe walks along the street to Studio 51 as Isla follows. The real Studio 51 stood on Great Newport Street in WC2.

Mrs. Beckett (Kathleen Harrison) arrives on a visit to see her son. The entrance to 26 Colville Terrace W11.

The correct angle certainly requires trespass. (RL)

In the park, Joe's Mum tells him that he used to bring him here as a little boy as the pair exchange news. The Fountain and Clock Tower adjacent to The Broad walk in Kensington Gardens W2.

Now with a more ornate playground and a café. SJ.

Mentioning the Priest that was kind to them, Mrs. Beckett asks if Joe has seen Father Hogan yet. Kensington Gardens with the Coburg Hotel on Bayswater Road in the right background, which also makes an appearance in 'Frenzy' and 'Jemima and Johnny'.

The same location with the Coburg since rebranded as a Hilton. SJ.

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A Speaker (Brian Wilde) addresses his audience as Joe passes on his way to a café to meet with Dyce. This is a set built at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Middlesex.

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Police form a barrier between the Spectators and the controversial Speaker.

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As the crowd becomes restless, Joe leaves the café after the Captain offers him £10,000 to kill his Aunt.

Annoyingly, a Nun leads her Pupils across the road in front of the unemployed misfit. Looking north on Moorhouse Road in W2.

More serene now. SJ

Carrying out his mother's wishes, Joe makes his way to see Father Hogan. Facing St. Mary of the Angels church on Moorhouse Road, which also appears in 'Afraid of the Dark' and, as Tris points out, 'Adventures of a Taxi Driver'.

The wall has gone. SJ

The sound of a car's grinding gears grows louder. Moorhouse Road in Notting Hill.

Some of the railings have gone. SJ

Joe climbs the steps of the church before turning to see a car approach. St. Mary of the Angels, Moorhouse Road W2 which, Tris points out, also appears in 'The Adventures of a Taxi Driver' and, Simon adds, 'Afraid of the Dark'.

Teresa Stokes provides this improved view as Simon was seriously hampered by a parked car back in 2011. (RL)

A Morris Ten with L plates kangaroos to a stand. Moorhouse Road with Artesian Road in the background.

The hedge on the corner has broken free from control. SJ

Getting out of the car after a driving lesson, Father Hogan (Patrick Wymark) joins Joe and the two enter the church. Looking out onto Moorhouse Road W2.

Simon provides the comparison.

The morning after Joe and Ilsa row, two young Hoodlums (David Hemmings and Larry Dann) wait outside Mr. Gash's flat. Colville Terrace in Notting Hill with the rear of properties on Colville Gardens and Powis Square providing the backdrop.

Yes, that's the back of houses on Powis Square. SJ.

Mr. Gash (Finlay Currie) approaches the youths who begin to taunt him. Facing eastward along Colville Terrace W11.

I was neither taunted or hindered. (RL)

Leaving his lodgings after his Landlady discovers Ilsa in his room. Joe walks onto the street where he sees Mr Gash being set upon. In front of 26 Colville Terrace.

Yes of course I was hindered by a parked car. (RL)

Getting rid of the louts after hitting one of them, Joe is asked inside by Mr Gash. Facing west on Colville Terrace.

Now. SJ.

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Following dinner and a night spent with Georgia, Joe wanders around a demolition site.

The empty day progresses as Joe examines the treasure on offer outside an antique shop. Dave W found himself with Joe in Newport Court, London WC2 with Newport Dwellings to the left looking towards St Martin's Lane in the distance. (RL)

Newport Dwellings have gone but the rest of the view remains. (PW)

With nothing better to do, Joe moves on to the West End. Leicester Square identified by by Kevin Scannell . . . .

. . . who also provides this matching comparison with the the Warner West End Tower in the left background. (SJ)

Discovering that his mother has died, Joe wanders the streets watched from the shadows by Jacko. After some 'virtual running around' Dave W found this to be "Carpets Linos" at 148 Portobello Road and then realised that the answer was there all the time....in Captures 9 and 10. (RL)

Had I been on angle it would have been a close-up of clothes. (RL)

In an attempt to catch everyone out, Joe stands in front of a display featuring Plymouth station where rebuilding had been completed in March 1962.

The location seen in the poster with the changes that rationalisation has brought over time. With thanks to the Great Wester Railway Duty Manager for allowing access to the disused platform. (PW)

Now completely alone, Joe finds a seat in the empty terminus and falls asleep. Paddington station in London W2.

The window and column sizes appear to match. SJ

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Smoking a cigarette, Dyce approaches. Looking up towards one of the arched train shed roofs at Paddington station.

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The Captain wakes the homeless drifter up. Paddington station, which features in a number of films including ‘Last Night in Soho’, ‘The White Bus’, ‘Murder She Said’, ‘The Bank Job’, ‘The Last Journey’, ‘The Long Good Friday’, ‘A Run for Your Money’, 'Return to Yesterday', ‘A Severed Head’, 'Joanna' and ‘Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery’.

Told that they are going to the country, Joe follows Dyce to his car. Paddington station on Praed Street W2.

Tricky to squeeze a motor in here nowadays. The left side appears to match. SJ

Accelerating away, the Jaguar XK leaves the station. Paddington station with buildings on London Street visible through the archway. Similar views feature in 'Joanna' and 'The Last Journey'.

Paddington as Russell Groves confirms.

Dyce sounds the Jaguar's horn to move pedestrians from his path. Gareth Bellamy locates this as looking north on Eastbourne Terrace in Paddington W2. A similar view appears in 'Private Road'.

The west side of Eastbourne Terrace is being renovated, though the shell is being retained, while the east side has just re-opened after the completion of the Elizabeth line. SJ

Along snowy roads, the journey continues. Fitzjohn's Avenue in London NW3 recognised by Gordon Hawtin.

A different season, in fact taken but mis-loaded last September, both this and the next shot. SJ

The camera pans with the car and finds deeper snow lining the roadway. Facing north on Fitzjohn's Avenue identified by Gordon Hawtin.

As above, another shot taken in autumn 21. SJ

Cut to another road where snow covers the footpath and gardens. Located by Gordon Hawtin, this is Heath Street in Hampstead NW3 with The Mount Square to the left.

A sign to confirm The Mount Square. SJ

Another pan follows the Jaguar uphill. Looking north on Heath Street in Hampstead found by Gordon Hawtin.

Bollards have replaced the snow. SJ

The two arrive at a country house where Dyce tells Joe to put himself into his hands completely. Kenwood House in NW3. Michael Winner returned here for 'I'll Never Forget' and the house also appears in 'Hampstead', 'Notting Hill', 'The Upside of Anger' and 'Clegg'.

And this time in spring. SJ.

Inside the house, a School Party Guide (Damaris Hayman) conducts a tour as Dyce goes over his plan for Joe to murder his Aunt Mildred. The library at Kenwood House, not a real street but both exterior and interior feature in the film.

Mark O'Neil is responsible for finding this one. The copyright belongs to a third party, but we can't remember who! Apologies if it's yours, please let us know.

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With his instructions and a gun, Joe walks past Studio 51 where he hears his name called. This has the appearance of a set as it differs from the earlier view of the club's entrance.

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Ilsa speaks with her on off boyfriend, asking if he's pleased to see her.

Telling Joe that she has a job in a club, Ilsa gets into Larry's Austin Healey Sprite. Outside The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road in Earl's Court SW5.

Taken from the pavement, rather than the road. Looking north-east along Old Brompton Road. SJ

Catching a train to Dorset, Joe follows Dyce's directions to a bus stop where Two Men (Ivor Salter and Joby Blanshard) wait for a workman's service. Looking south on East Street with Corfe Castle on the distant hill.

From a similar position. SJ.

Joe runs to the bus stop, almost missing the bus. East Street in Corfe Castle, Dorset. John Mills visited in 'The Ghost Camera' 30 years before and the famous five were based here in 'Five on a Treasure Island' from 1957.

Looking north on East Street. SJ.

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As the Workmen chat at the back of the bus, Joe sits down before buying a ticket to Hinton from the Conductor. The Square can be seen through the window of the bus as it passes along East Street.

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The bus heads out of the village. The bridge over a tributary of Corfe River on East Street in Corfe Castle, Dorset with Bridge Cottage to the left of centre.

Joe alights form the bus and makes his way through a gate to the cliffs beyond. Manor Road in Studland to the north of Swanage says Clive Rideout, next to South Beach Studland car park.

Clive Rideout revisited the same spot.

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Walking along the beach, Joe bides his time until the Housekeeper has left Aunt Mildred's house.

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Joe passes between beach huts on the beach below the house. The beach below Harry Warren House at Studland Bay, Dorset found by Steve Randall.

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The camera tilts up the shallow cliff to find Mildred Dyce's home. Steve Randall discovered Harry Warren House at Studland in Dorset.

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Hearing a door close and seeing the Housekeeper leave, Joe walks from the trees surrounding the building. The 19th century Harry Warren House at Studland located by Steve Randall.

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Dropping a clue, Joe leaves the house after surprising Mildred and causing her to fall down the stairs. Steve Randall identifies this as Harry Warren House overlooking Studland Bay off Manor Road, Studland in Studland, Dorset.

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Mingling with football fans, Joe boards a train at Bournemouth Central station. The poster welcoming passengers may be a film-makers distraction, but the type of carriage suggests that this is Bournemouth station on Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth.

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Back in London, Silent (Harold Lang) shows Joe a the stop press column of a newspaper. Waterloo station in SE1.

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Guessing that Joe has something to do with Mrs. Dyce's death, Silent puts his arm around his shoulders and leads him from the station. The concourse of Waterloo station. The terminus is also seen in a number of other films including 'Waterloo Road, 'Rough Shoot’, ‘No Place for Jennifer’, ‘The Wrecker’, 'Piccadilly Incident', ‘Seven Days to Noon’, 'The Rebel', 'Bank Holiday', ‘The Pot Carriers’, ‘One Exciting Night’, ‘The Good Die Young’, ‘Return of a Stranger’ and ‘The Party’s Over’.

Returning to Colville Terrace, Joe sees a police car arrive on the street.

Looking west. SJ

As the Wolseley comes to a halt outside Mr. Gash's flat, Ilsa runs up to Joe and embraces him. Colville Terrace with buildings on Powis Square behind the fence.

I think we're looking at this corner with a rebuilt terrace in the background. SJ

Ilsa watches Joe walk towards the Policemen as they return to their car. The corner of Colville Terrace and Powis Square.

Now. SJ.

The film ends with the camera finding the 'vacancy' sign at the entrance of 26 Colville Terrace in 'West 11'.

Colville Terrace again. This replaces my shot first posted in January 2009 with a (slightly more) accurate one. SJ

A short post-script about The Troubadour, an internal location featured in the film that began shooting on 3rd January 1963. Keith Ames tells us “That coffee bar where Joe waits for his girlfriend is The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road in Earl’s Court SW5. It hasn’t changed much for decades looking very similar until the 1990s. However, new management bought next door and the premises became much larger."

The Troubadour has since reverted to its original size and the bar has been relocated, but the premises are easily recognisable as the accumulated curios are still on view. With thanks to the management and staff of The Troubadour. (PW)

Keith Ames continues "I played in the basement a number of times in 1994 and 1995, hence my knowing the place well. Of significance, Bob Dylan performed there in December 1962, which must have been about the same time as Michael Winner was preparing to make the film.” Keith's brother later played with the famous Ken Colyton jazz band, whose sound also features in the film, and appears with “sideliners” in a Studio ’51 mock-up.

The tiled fireplace remains but the Rinso advertisement has been moved to the opposite wall. With thanks to the management and staff of The Troubadour. (PW)