Philip Hannon (Van Johnson) supposedly lives at Portman Square which is indeed close to Baker Street. However, the characters in the film go nowhere near Portman Square or Baker Street. His apartment entrance is at Portland Place but the back terrace overlooks the Thames (see the views below.) These views were probably taken from the Savoy Hotel.
View northeast – Waterloo Bridge, London
Central view – Cleopatra Needle (in the foreground), Shot Tower (now demolished) and Royal Festival Hall, London
View southwest – Hungerford Bridge, London
Jean Lennox (Vera Miles) and Bob Matthews (Cecil Parker) watching Hannon as he tries to cross the street all by himself – Portland Place at Weymouth Street, London W1. The view is from the southwest corner of the intersection, and it’s again inconsistent with the location of Hannon’s apartment entrance which is farther up north Portland Place.
The pub where Hannon overhears a conversation about a planned kidnapping – Mason Arms, 18 Titchborne Street, London W2. The pub and the street itself were razed during the area redevelopment. It was located approximately where the Water Gardens complex stands now.
Hannon and Bob’s boat ride – Waterloo Bridge, London
Westminster Bridge, London.
The police station – Paddington Police Station, Harrow Road, London W2. The station was demolished during the construction of the Marylebone flyover. The original blue lamp was transferred to the new Paddington Green Police Station.
Lady Syrett’s (Isobel Elsom) house – 50 Wilton Terrace, London SW1.
‘Unity Domestic Bureau’ – Queen Victoria Street at New Bridge Street, London EC4. The building has since been demolished to give way to Blackfriars Station.
Hannon’s apartment entrance – 74 Portland Place, London W1.
Bob starts following Alice MacDonald (Patricia Laffan) – Portland Place looking toward Regent’s Park, London W1.
Bob follows MacDonald to a department store – Barkers of Kensington, 63-97 Kensington High Street, London W8. The store closed down in 2006, and the building now contains a branch of Whole Foods Market.
Jean buys a newspaper – Trafalgar Square, London WC2
Janet Murch (Natalie Norwick) is murdered in a phone booth – the embankment by the Tower of London.
Hannon follows the fake "Mr. Murch" – 44 Princes Gate, London SW7
"Mr. Murch" lures Hannon into a condemned building – 35 Princes Gate, London SW7. The address is approximate. The old buildings were demolished in 1956, and Montrose Court stands there now.
MacDonald wheels DaMestres’ daughter across Kensington Road at Queen’s Gate, London SW7
MacDonald wheels DaMestres’ daughter through Queen’s Gate, Kensington Gardens, London SW7
Albert Memorial, Kensington Gardens, London W2
DaMestres’ house – 25 Kensington Road, London SW7
See also...
Stage Fright |
The Man Who Knew Too Much |
This is one of my favourite films, not least because it brings to mind the London of the 1950s when I was a child living in Ealing. To me, these images of that wonderful time and place bring a sense of comfort but also sadness given the London of today, which I fled some years ago having believed I could never leave it. London of the 1950s is my Utopia.
ReplyDeleteI watch this movie every time I see it's on! For the locations, the clothes, the cars... Did you ever track down the location of the condemned building? Looks like could be bomb damaged. A friend told me there were still some sites left, boarded up, right up until the beginning of the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't. There are no clues. And if it's in the same area as the bar, then there's no chance.
DeleteI noticed that the Mk7 Jaguar was LHD and wondered why? Now I know, as much was filmed in USA
DeleteYes, and there were some sites still awaiting demolition in the late 60's!
ReplyDelete