Director: Michael Apted
Release Date: October 1974
Writing in the Daily Mail, 30 September 2017, Ray Connolly, the film’s scriptwriter, recalled that ‘Filming began on a cold February morning in 1974 at a church in West London, where a few dozen extras had been hired to mob our fictional rock star Jim Maclaine, as played by David Essex, when he appeared. The money spent on the extras could have been saved. As soon as David Essex showed his face, hundreds of young local girls mobbed him as he fought his way to a waiting limousine. That was the way it would be right through filming, as our star’s fame just grew and grew.’
Capture 1
David Essex and Adam Faith in the disused railway sidings attached to Nine Elms North Goods Depot. The viaduct carries train towards Vauxhall, to the left, and Queen's Road (Battersea), to the right. They appear to be standing where Ponton Road currently (2023) runs parallel to the viaduct.
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As they approach the back of the van the view appears to be south west in the direction of Haines Street. The large building, a block of flats?, remains a mystery.
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When Essex shows Faith the other members of his music group the gasometer, at right, appears to be the one which stood near the corner of Prince of Wales Drive and Battersea Park Road.
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Essex, with Paul Nicholas, Karl Howman and Dave Edmunds, look on from a yard on the west side of Scrubs Lane as Faith negotiates for better transportation. H. Burton was at 115 Scrubs Lane.
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As the negotiations continue, between David Daker and Faith, the view appears to be west towards the Rolls Royce building with Hythe Road at extreme right.
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With Scrubs Lane to the right the view is north towards Hythe Road.
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The view south west along Wapping Wall as Faith and the group arrive in their new vehicle. The club entrance is a doorway to the former Metropolitan Wharf.
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Unidentified. Group members arriving at their digs following a show.
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Unidentified. More of the same with group member Keith Moon in the centre on the steps.
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Unidentified. Looking for investment to record the group Faith visits a money man. If the sign across the road reads 'Tina' Campbell it hasn't proved helpful.
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Faith driving west along Tavistock Street as the group head to a meeting with a record company.
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Essex in Tavistock Street where Burleigh Street is in the distance to the right.
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As a record company executive, played by Marty Wilde, addresses the group the view is from Hudson House across to the north side of Tavistock Street.
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Essex is now a 'star' so reporters wait in Mandeville Road, Northholt, when he attends his mother's funeral. The buildings at right are near the corner of Kingsmead Drive.
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Fans storm Essex's car in the grounds of St. Bernard's Church, Mandeville Road.
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St. Bernard's Church, Mandeville Road.
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As the excitement continues in the church grounds it affords a shot of some interesting buildings, since destroyed, near the corner of Eastcote Lane.
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Facing north in Clifford Road as the funeral arrives at Alperton Cemetery.
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Faith's view as some recording executives pull up in Park Lane.
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As Faith looks down Wilde and Larry Hagman have just stepped away from their Rolls Royce in Park Lane.
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Faith may be in the Londonderry Hotel, Old Park Lane, while the view is north along Park Lane, where the building at right is on the corner of Pitt's Head Mews.