Director: Paul L. Stein
Release Date: May 1948
The Rugby Advertiser, 21 October 1947, reported, using the film’s title during production, that ‘The modifications effected by the Germans to London’s topography have, according to Paul Stein, at present directing “So died a rat,” made a unique opportunity for outdoor film shooting in the metropolis of which, he notes with surprise, few seem to be taking advantage.’ One film which had very effectively taken advantage of wartime bombing was Hue and Cry which had been released in February 1947. The report continued that the director ‘saw the chance to take a series of London scenes varying from Pimlico, Baker Street, Gloucester Square, Charing Cross, Victoria to London Bridge, the East End, the docks and Arsenal football ground. In the City particularly, Stein says, it is possible to film views that have not been visible for centuries and, if re-building starts, may never recur. With narrow courts and lanes and lack of lighting, much of London was impossible to film-makers, but it is otherwise now as a result of the bombing attacks.’ On 20 November the Kinematograph Weekly added that ‘With final shots being filmed in the London docks over the week-end’ location filming was complete. Unfortunately surviving prints of the film are extremely fuzzy, and somewhat dark, while the location filming in no way fully reflects the rather ambitious plan originally laid out by the director.
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Unidentified. Mervyn Johns' taxi pulling up near what appears to be a City of Westminster street sign. Perhaps this is a Pimlico location mentioned by the director.
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Unidentified. Johns in another taxi en route to Paddington Station.
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Unidentified. Johns' journey to Paddington continues.
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Unidentified. When Johns later returns to London he arrives at this station.
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The view west along Station Approach, Baker Street, as Johns waits to meet an accomplice.
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Johns conveniently stands next to a Baker Street Station sign.
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As Johns walks away from Station Approach the south side of Marylebone Road is in the distance.
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Unidentified. A random shot as the police search London looking for Johns. Many shots in this sequence feature one image superimposed on another image making identification basically impossible.
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Johns on Victoria Embankment nearing, off to the left, Charing Cross Underground Station.
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Johns entering Charing Cross Station.
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Johns exiting what appears to Monument Station, on the corner of King William Street and Eastcheap, with 51 Gracechurch Street in the distance.
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Johns heads south on London Bridge.