Locations?
Anybody know the actual locations used in the film, i.e. the scene of the shooting or where Tessie O'Shea was performing? Is it possible to see the spot where Dixon fell or were they just sets...
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MovieChat Forums > The Blue Lamp (1951) Discussion > Locations?
The film location shots seem to be centred around Paddington Green, London W2.
The police station was demolished in the 60s to make way for the A40 Edgware Road Flyover. Although the actual blue lamp of the title was relocated outside the new Paddington Green Police Station, and as far as I know, still hangs there.
The Cinema was an actual Cinema on the Harrow Road, about a mile up the road from Paddington Green, It was called the coliseum and it was adjacent to Lock Bridge, over the Regents canal.
A lot of the nighttime shots of busy streets, cafes etc were shot in Edgware Road approx 300yds from the Police Station, so in general the locations are fairly tightly grouped.
I know all this because my mum was a teenager at the time (and Bogarde was a major hearthrob to her) and she was at the coliseum the night of the "shooting" so to speak, begging autographs.
I think that many of the locations have since disappeared under 60s concrete.
I just listened to Bograde speaking in a recorded radio memoirs about this ealing film.
The shot locations that you are interested in were indeed, 'real' as already mentioned. I was born just along the road from the Coliseum cinema on the Harrow Road in Paddington. I was only 2 years old when this film was released but I went to this cinema many times in my youth. I remember the usherettes wearing armbands with the wording 'part time' on, and sometimes the odd rat would scurry across the floor! (It WAS next to the canal, don't forget). The cinema has unfortunately altered beyond all recognition and is not a cinema any more.
The Tessie O'shea shots were all taken inside the Metropolitan Music Hall on the Edgeware road. Along the Harrow Road, turn left into Edgeware Road at Paddington Green and it was along on the left hand side. This music hall was sadly flattened when the new flyover was built in the mid 1960's so no trace remains! - Such is the price of so-called 'progress'.
I personally LOVE this film to pieces because it shows where I played as a youngster and the area that I grew up in - even 10 years after this film was made, the area was basically still the same as in 1950. I am also a London trolleybus freak and there are plenty in this film!!
Thanks for the great answers. I'll now go and watch it again!
shareYour mum is the best!! What a great insight to this great movie.
shareThe information about the locations already provided is correct however in addition the scenes at the dog racing track were shot at the White City Stadium in Shepherds Bush, London, W12. Interestingly enough I served at Shepherds Bush in the mid 60's and the White City was exactly as in the film then, even down to the music played and the tote. My son is now a police officer at Paddington so this film has strong family significance. I met 'George Dixon' while he was filming Dixon of Dock Green much of which was shot in Shepherds Bush.
share'Dixon' was shot in the lobby of the Coliseum - no way to fake that 'C' class trolleybus sweeping by just at the moment that 'Riley' pulls the trigger, so it was no studio shot.
I can't help wondering if the Director timed the shot so that the trolleybus would be in the shot - unlike a diesel RT, the filmmakers couldn't get the trolleybus to run appear each time they wanted it. It would have been an in-service vehicle. There's a feast of 'bus footage in the film, with STLs, RT3s, and even a Greenline 9T9 at one point.
A great film - idealistic, maybe, and might bring more than a smile to a modern audience, but it's still compelling viewing. I'm particularly impressed by the tight and effective editing that keeps the film's pace right up to the mark.
Roger Rettig
Talking of Trolleybuses - during Hanley's chase on foot of Bogarde - there is a nice long shot looking across the wasteland/allotments from the Central Line towards White city Stadium and, in the distance, you can faintly see a queue of trolleybuses in front of the said stadium, with the sun glinting off their roofs. I recolect this was traditional procedure in those days with public transport servicing sporting and other large functions (not many private cars in those days!).
To add to the above about the White City Stadium - nearly all of the later scenes in which Dirk's character was being hunted were really shot inside the old stadium and much of it on a real race night.
It's just as I remember the old dog track from when I used to go and lose money there in the 1970s before it closed.
There's a great moment when one real punter sees the camera and hides his face behind his race card.
The stadium was also the venue for the 1908 Olympics.
Did anyone notice the name of the comedian at the bottom of the bill poster that advertised the Tessie O'Shea bill?
It was Tommy Cooper.
http://www.secretoftheincas.co.ukhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhSPcAyCgwE
The locations and the rather gritty post war feel to London, really made this film stand out IMO.🐭
shareand the 1966 World Cup!
Ironically, Wembley wouldn't cancel a Dog Racing meeting to host the match between Uraguay and France, so the match was played at the 76,000 capacity White City.
At the time Old Trafford had been refurbished for the World Cup to hold just 42,000
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