GB 1971 1hr 28mins Dir: Stephen Frears Starring: Albert Finney and Billie Whitelaw
An amateur private detective becomes embroiled in a drug-related murder
This crime drama features the full hat-trick of Liverpool railway termini, in one film! Lime Street station features most prominently, with a train of blue & grey-liveried Mk1 and Mk2 coaching stock departing in one shot. In the background to this scene parcels vans are present, and they include an old LNER Gresley brake. There then follows a brief scene onboard the train as it passes over the Runcorn Bridge. Later shots were taken at both Central and Exchange stations, in their final years of operation, but no trains feature. Finally, there are scenes filmed on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground at both Aldwych and Russell Square stations with 1959-built tube stock.
Having parked her beautiful Lotus Europa S2 between the huge iron pillars of the station, Billie Whitelaw makes her way along the platform at Liverpool Lime Street. The red carriage visible through the pillars is the LNER Gresley brake.
A train of blue and grey coaches pulls out of Liverpool Lime Street station
A boat on the Mersey is framed by the ironwork of the Runcorn Bridge as the train crosses over the water. The railway bridge opened in 1868 and crosses the Manchester Ship and Bridgewater Canals as well as the Mersey.
Albert Finney at Liverpool Central, which closed less than a year after this film was released. The deep-level underground station is still open, however, on Merseyrail’s subterranean network.
And this makes up the trio of Liverpool termini open at the time of filming. This is Liverpool Exchange which remained open until April 1977.
Arriving at a London Underground station, Albert Finney makes his way down to the platforms. This is a relatively rare glimpse of the booking hall at Aldwych.
Down on the platform now at Aldwych and Albert Finney is being watched closely by Fulton Mackay
Moments later and a train of 1959 stock draws into the platform
Albert Finney inside 1959 trailer car No.2750
Successfully evading his shadow, Albert Finney squeezes out through the closing doors at Russell Square
