Friday, August 8, 2014

The Long Good Friday (1980)

dir. John Mackenzie

The IRA safehouse – Berry's Hill at the junction with Church Hill, Cudham, Kent, UK

The parking lot where Colin's driver gets killed – 287 High Road, London N22. It was a pub originally called The Fishmongers Arms. It was called Fagan's at the time of the filming, and then O'Rafferty's. It has now been converted to flats, with a police station on the first floor. Many thanks to Kim Tipping for pointing that out. The pub's interior was filmed at The Salisbury, Grand Parade, Green Lanes, London N4.

The driver’s coffin arrives in London – Paddington Station, London W2.

The restaurant where the driver's widow spits in Jeff’s (Derek Thompson) face – 60 Wigmore Street, London W1.

Harold Shand’s (Bob Hoskins) arrival – Heathrow Airport, Hounslow TW6, United Kingdom

Ivory House, St. Katharine Docks, London E1.

The place where Harold's yacht is moored – to the southeast of St. Katharine Docks, London E1. The area has changed, and it’s hard to pinpoint the exact location.

Harold’s mother is being driven to the Good Friday service – St. Katharine's Way, St. Katharine Docks, London E1.

Harold’s driver gets killed in a car explosion by the church – 14 Cannon Street Road, London E1. The church interior was filmed at St. Patrick's Church, Greenbank, London E1.

Harold's yacht passing Tower Bridge, London E1

Harold’s yacht location – North Dock, West India Docks, London E1. The area has changed a lot since the film was made, and is now home to the developments of Canary Wharf.

Harold’s casino – 15 Catherine Place, London SW1.

Harold talking to Parky (Dave King) about the car bomb – the south side of Royal Albert Dock where London City Airport now stands.

Harold and ‘Razors’ (P. H. Moriarty) come to question Errol the Ponce (Paul Barber) – 33 Villa Road, London SW9

The site of "Lion & Unicorn" – Wapping High Street at Scandrett Street where Olivers Wharf stands now, London E1.

Harold talking to a crook outside a pub – The Governor General (now demolished), the southwest corner of Whitefoot Lane and Verdant Lane, Bromley, Greater London, UK. The interior was filmed at The Waterman's Armes, 1 Glenaffric Ave, London E14.

Victoria (Helen Mirren) driving with Jeff from a restaurant – Ludgate Hill with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background, London EC4

Harold and Victoria’s apartment – Noble Street at London Wall, London EC2. The area has since been redeveloped and One London Wall now stands on the spot.

A woman about to find an informer nailed to the warehouse floor – 262 Westferry Road, London E14

The warehouse where she finds him – 77 Wapping High Street, London E1. This and the previous location aren't actually close to each other.

The cemetery where Harold talks to the widow of the driver killed in Belfast – City of London Cemetery, Aldersbrook Road, London E12. Many thanks to Dave Moore for this information.

Harold and his henchmen visit the Irish – Harringay Stadium, Williamson Road, London N4. The stadium closed down in 1987, then was demolished, and a Sainsbury's supermarket was built on the site.
The abandoned stadium before the demolition.

Harold pays a visit to his American guests – Savoy Hotel, Savoy Way, London WC2

44 comments:

  1. Harold Shands Club in the Long Good Friday was apparently filmed at the now demolished Villa Elephant on the River on Grosvenor Road in Belgravia. Can't see any pics of it though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Where they go to get councillor Harris is Bethnal Green Town Hall - now restaurants.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The IRA safehouse scene was filmed at a couple of cottages located in Berrys Hill , Cudham , which runs from the village of Cudham to Jail Lane/Single Street, Biggin Hill in The London Borough of Bromley.I think the scene where the IRA dump the bodies was also filmed nearby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. There's a similar house indeed but it has one set of windows too many. Can you substantiate your information somehow?

      Delete
    2. Hello,sorry for the slight delay in updating you . I am a retired Police Officer having served in the Metropolitan Police.In 1986 I transferred from an inner London Police Station to an outer one , Biggin Hill. I was on patrol with a colleague and we drove past the cottages , my colleague commented that the cottages were used to film the opening scenes from 'The Long Good Friday'and actally remembered the filming. Regarding the differing number of windows , perhaps over 40 years some building work has been carried out and an extra window fitted.
      Steve Lunny

      Delete
  4. Harold and Victoria’s apartment is no 1 London wall

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That may be the entrance but the rooftop scenes are River Gardens next to Craven Cottage in Fulham. Same chimneys.

      Delete
    2. the BFI panel interview suggested it was actually filmed in Richmond. Anyone else know more on where it was shot?

      Delete
  5. The cemetary is the City of London cemetary in Manor Park. Next to Wanstead Flats confirmed by member of staff working there at time of filming.

    ReplyDelete
  6. the woman who finds the guy crucified in the warehouse is gillian taylforth..kathy in eastenders

    ReplyDelete
  7. Where abouts in the cemetery was the seine shot.

    ReplyDelete
  8. the parking lot where colins driver gets killed is filmed in wood green, outside a pub called the fishmongers arms, club called fagans. just see the sign. i lived opposite the pub back then. hope this helps >

    ReplyDelete
  9. colins driver killed ,location pub in wood green n22 calledthefishmongers arms,club called fagans, just see sign

    ReplyDelete
  10. anyone know what restaurant Victoria, Councillor Harris and the Americans go to?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobody know? It was called Justine's in the movie, with glass ceilings.

      Delete
    2. Yes it was 'Regine's' at 99 Kensington High Street.

      Delete
  11. I guess it would be hard to track down the yacht... but it would be nice. It most likely still exists. Boats of that size usually last many decades.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Does anyone know if the abattoir was real?, or a studio mock up !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a real abattoir. The Kedassia abattoir in Hackney Wick, 3 Smeed Rd, Fish Island, London E3 2NR is the most likely. Not there now new flats built recently there.

      Delete
    2. abattoir scene was filmed at ziff meats tollgate rd canning town was working there at the time not kedassia

      Delete
    3. abattoir was ziff meats in canning town

      Delete
  13. I mistakenly thought the Lion and Unicorn was a real derelict pub dressed up for the explosion scene and survived the redevelopment to reopen as a boozer. I have since found out it was a set for the film! Is this correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it was reportedly built on an empty lot on Wapping High Street.

      Delete
    2. I live in a flat right next to the set of the pub. I assumed my flat in Orient Wharf, is a converted warehouse. But from the film, it looks like there is only sky either side of the pub. So I assume they were newly built for the Docklands development?

      Delete
  14. Fascinating info about a fine movie. Bob Hoskins was a marvel.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I’m sure the place where Harold's yacht is moored near Tower Bridge is the site of the P&O London Ferry Terminal. The P&O service stopped shortly before the film.
    The site is now HMS President.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Harold's yacht is moored at British and Foreign Wharf (now Royal Navy premises) My Father in Law worked in the bonded warehouse and watched the filming of TLGF.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's a shame that the film was so appallingly hammy...No tension, no drama, cardboard characters..absolutely dire acting..clunky script and a weak, weak storyline...i watched it for the memories of London from when i grew up but had to trawl through this shocking film to earn my trip down memory alne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are clueless with regard to film im afraid not only is it judged a master work in the gangster genre, its a complete classic with an incredible cast and strong storyline great dialogue and BRIMMING with tension. i think you forgot your glasses

      Delete
    2. You must have excellent taste in movies...lol!

      Delete
  18. Was there actually a Justine's restaurant? Its where Victoria, Harris and Charlie go for dinner after the bomb at the pub.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe this was filmed at a now demolished restaurant by the river opposite Dolphin Square in pimlico on Grosvenor Road SW1

      Delete
    2. no, you are thinking of the interior casino shots. The restaurant called Justine's still hasn't been identified.

      Delete
  19. Was Justine's filmed in the old Coconut Grove that used to be in St Christopher's Place?

    ReplyDelete
  20. The scene with Colin diving at the pool where he meets Pierce Brosnan, who then stabs him, is filmed at the diving pool of Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre near Mill Hill in North London.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What happened to Victoria was she killed last scene was she was in a car

    ReplyDelete
  22. My Dad worked for the contractors building the Lion and Unicorn in Wapping - he spent weeks finishing the external paintwork/woodwork + fake stone facade - he had no idea it was going to be blown up until he took my Mum to the cinema in 1980 and saw all his handiwork go up in smoke

    ReplyDelete
  23. Villa Road is in Brixton, SW9, not W9. Please update the blog.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Does anyone know what became of Harold's boat ?

    ReplyDelete