Director: Samuel Gallu
Release Date: October 1969
There’s some doubt as to whether this film was ever released, but it appears to have gone into production about 28 April, as The Man Who Killed Himself, according to a report in The Stage, 10 April 1969. Filming was taking place by 9 May when the Marylebone Mercury reported that the production company had occupied ‘An empty house awaiting demolition in Alexandra Road, St. John’s Wood’ and converted it ‘ into a film studio.’ Presumably interiors were shot at this location where ‘a dividing wall has been removed on the first floor to give a compact studio.’ The Evening News added, 22 May, that Donald Pleasence had been filming in Aldwych. It is interesting to note that on 7 July 1969 , at 6 p.m., a twenty minute programme entitled ‘The Movies. Sam Gallu’s new film Arthur Arthur being made on location’ was broadcast on BBC 1. Has it survived? Whilst the film appears to have garnered a fair share of publicity during filming the release date of October 1969, given here, is presumably fiction.
The Pennsylvania State University holds the Samuel Gallu Collection which includes material relating to the production of this film. Unfortunately the ‘SHOOTING SCHEDULE – WEEK ELEVEN’ and ‘WEEK TWELVE’ is only such sheet in the collection which covers Monday 7 July-Friday 18 [July, 1969]. Filming took place as follows. 7 July, ‘Registrar’s Office (Camden); Mumtaz [Restaurant, 4-10 Park Street, NW1]; Police Station (Allitsen St.). 8 July, ‘Hester’s Flat’ (Camden). 9 July, ‘Hester’s Shop (Camden Passage, N.1.). 11 July, ‘Pan Am Terminal (Victoria). 13 July, ‘Toy Shop’ [Great Marlborough Street]. 14 July, ‘Mellon’s Houseboat (Kingston).’ 16 July, ‘Mellon’s Houseboat (Kingston)’ and ‘Launch (Kingston).’ 18 July, ‘Superloo Lounge (Euston)’ and ‘Wig Shop (Woburn Walk).’ On another sheet there is a reference to ‘Queen Bee Barge, Kingston Bridge, Kingston Upon Thames.’ It’s unfortunate that the ‘SHOOTING SCHEDULE’ for weeks one to ten are missing.
Capture 1
The view out of the toy shop of James Galt, 30 Great Marlborough Street, into Carnaby Street at left and Foubert's Place at right.
Capture 2
After buying a giant plush toy in Galt Donald Pleasence soils it in a puddle in Great Marlborough Street. The pub in the distance, The Grapes, is on the corner of Little Marlborough Street.
Capture 3
Unidentified. Pleasence on a staircase at work.
Capture 4
Unidentified. Presented as the base of the building Pleasence works in as Terry-Thomas approaches.
Capture 5
Unidentified. Pleasence and Thomas presumably at the base of the same building, which, considering the woodwork at left, is close to a railway station.
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When Pleasence' lawn mower gets out of control it exits the rear of 50 Well Walk, Hampstead, into East Heath Road, which affords a shot of The Pryors across the road.
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Pleasence leaving home at 6 Gainsborough Gardens, Hampstead.
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Pleasence at Euston Station.
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After a quick 'change' in the toilet an alternate Pleasence walks through Euston Station.
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Bolsover Street, with Marylebone Road in the distance, as Michael Bates nears No. 109. The 'No Left Turn' sign refers to Clipstone Street.
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Judith Arthy and Pleasence in the Mamtaz Restaurant, 4-10 Park Road, by Regent's Park, with an excellent clue as to the location across the street.
Capture 12
Pleasence driving up to visit Tammy Grimes on her boat with Kingston Bridge in the distance. The view appears to be down stream.
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Pleasence on a second visit to Grimes, standing on her boat, as Mark Eden sits beneath the tree. The car is pointing towards Kingston Bridge.
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Pleasence outside a well dressed 99 Aldwych.
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More of Gainsborough Gardens as Pleasence arrives.
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Yet more of Gainsborough Gardens.
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Grimes' coach pulling away from the Pan-Am terminal, at Semley House, as Pleasence stands in Semley Place, Victoria.
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The coach in Semley Place, with the view into South Eaton Place, as Grimes calls to Pleasence.
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The view from the coach as Pleasence runs in Royal Hospital Road.
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More of Euston Station showing another of Pleasence' arrivals.
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Unidentified. Joan Benham, Raymond Huntley and Pleasence at his wife's funeral.
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Following a weekend away Pleasence parks in Thames Street, Kingston Upon Thames.
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Percy Harrison traded out of 11 Thames Street.
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As Pleasence walks on a cut abruptly places him in Camden Passage, Islington, by Charlton Place.
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Then it's back to Kingston Upon Thames the view from Bishops Hall into Thames Street.
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The river front in Richmond showing, at left, the White Cross pub, Water Lane, as Pleasence drives up.
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Then it's back to Camden Passage as Pleasence and Shelley Winters enter her home.
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Police activity takes place in Allitsen Road, St. John's Wood.
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Pleasence in Allitsen Road heading towards St. John's Wood High Street.
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Facing into Allitsen Road from the corner at St. John's Wood High Street.
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Pleasence entering the Sir Isaac Newton pub from Allitsen Road.
Capture 32
One of several views of The Barn, Nan Clarks Lane, Mill Hill, the house Pleasence buys and shares with Winters.
Capture 33
As Pleasence approaches in Woburn Walk the view is into Duke's Road along with the junction at Flaxman Terrace and Burton Street.