Shirley Valentine

A dreary Thursday in Liverpool. Strathearn Avenue, Twickenham in Greater London.

Some alterations to houses are noticeable in Antony Blair's comparison.

Shirley Bradshaw (Pauline Collins) arrives home from Sainsbury's with the shopping. Strathearn Avenue in Whitton, Twickenham identified by Simon James in his book 'London Movie Guide'.

The garage has become an extension. SJ

A flashback explains why she is serving egg and chips for her husband's dinner as a neighbour, Gillian (Julia McKenzie), calls on Shirley to ask a favour. Strathearn Avenue.

Wrong angle but these were early days as I search my archive. I'm even using an "analogue" camera, remember those and how the light used to get in? SJ

Gillian asks Shirley to feed Claymore the dog whilst she and her husband are away in Brussels. Strathearn Avenue.

Antony found more extensions!

Prior to the opening shots and with steak in the shopping bag, Shirley heads to feed Claymore. Ryecroft Avenue at the junction with Strathearn Avenue, Twickenham.

John Harwood fills in the one I missed 4 years ago. (SJ)

Shirley visits her son Brian (Gareth Jefferson) in his squat. Neil Rigby identifies this as Grimsby Street, London E2.

The nearest comparison possible to replace Neil Rigby's earlier Google view. (PW)

Brian tries out his 'street poetry' on a couple of lads in the process of stealing a car. Neil Rigby got in touch with Gareth Jefferson who told him that these arches were in the East End, and he found Grimsby Street in Shoreditch which also appears in 'Run Fatboy Run', 'Bartleby' and 'Tube Tales'.

Looking west along the same street. (PW)

Jane (Alison Steadman) tells Shirley that she has won a holiday in a competition and is taking her to Greece. IMDb tells us that filming took place in Littlewoods' Oxford Circus department store on Oxford Street, London . . . and the 'Index' catalogue logos seen in this sequence give this location away.

The tickets are picked up from the travel agency. Neil Rigby narrowed the branch of Thomas Cook down to Heath Road, Twickenham TW1 4BZ.

With the aid of Google, Neil notes that the tiles and even the alarm remained the same until they closed. (RL)

Shirley worries about what her husband will think. St Pancras station in London N1.

About here, taking my cue from the next shot. SJ

Jane firmly explains that Shirley is going on the holiday. St Pancras station in pre-Eurostar days.

Eurostar certainly changed the interior. SJ

Photographs for Shirley's passport are taken. St Pancras station on Euston Road N1. Various aspects of the station appear in many films including ‘Smashing Time’, ‘The Servant’, ‘The Ladykillers’, ‘Wings of Mystery’, ‘The Fourth Protocol’, ‘McVicar’, ‘The Comedy Man’, ‘‘Mona Lisa’, ‘A Cry from the Streets’, ‘Richard III’, ‘Voyage of the Damned’, ‘Nuns on the Run’ and ‘Simon and Laura’.

Certainly a little less clutter. Taken from alongside the Betjeman Bar. SJ

Another flashback sees Young Shirley Valentine (Gillian Kearney) reminiscing about her schooldays. Neil adds that this is Waldegrave school for girls on Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Greater London.

John Harwood understandably didn't wish to hang around a school too long and found the extensions and the foliage hampered matches. But this and the next two comparisons may have to do. (SJ)

Shirley remembers a young Marjorie Majors (Catharine Duncan) who was the bright girl of the class.

An example of extension by John H. (SJ)

A Teacher (Matthew Long) catches Shirley and her friends smoking.

Similar architecture by John. (SJ)

A few weeks ago, Shirley remembers being splashed by a Rolls Royce as it passes. The corner of Great Russell Street and Bloomsbury Street, London WC1.

Peter captured a busier corner.

The Phantom VI stops a few yards away. The Marlborough Hotel on Bloomsbury Street WC1.

The same place now by Peter.

Marjorie Majors (Joanna Lumley) gets out of the car and takes Shirley into the hotel for tea where it's revealed that the former swot is now a prostitute. Outside the hotel presently named The Bloomsbury Street Hotel on Bloomsbury Street.

Peter took a similar shot now, the tree has gone but there is more traffic and signage.

After getting off the bus from town, Shirley walks towards home. Battlebridge Road / Cheney Road in the now redeveloped area north of Kings Cross station, London N1. Also seen in 'Chaplin', 'The Ladykillers' and 'Nuns on the Run'.

Not so much a now as a then before development. A sad loss to the location-lovers as this was packed with appearances. SJ

Walking in the rain, Shirley ponders about her life married to Joe. Neil Rigby, wandering with Google, found Crown Road, St. Margarets in Twickenham, not a stones throw from the studio! (RL)

Antony Blair replaces Neil's Google image of the location showing the same tiled doorway and brick frontage.

Shirley goes shopping for the things she will need in Greece. Ranelagh Street, Liverpool in Merseyside, just by the exit from Central station looking towards Church Street found by Neil Rigby. A nod then to Liverpool, the setting, after all.

Neil replaces the previous Google shot with one of his own.

The passport is collected. This looks like the architecture of St Pancras station.

I agree, it does look like the architecture so I submit this effort, taken outside the tube entrance on Euston Road. I remember this was boarded off over 20 years ago and perhaps there was refurbishment to the base of the columns and indeed the pavement. Certainly the brick arrangement by the "passport office" sign seems to match with the fifth up/third down arguably being the original. SJ

After his wife realises that she is still Shirley Valentine, Joe Bradshaw (Bernard Hill) returns home one rainy evening to find her gone. Strathearn Avenue facing Ryecroft Avenue in Twickenham.

A daylight shot of the location by Antony Blair.

Shirley settles down for her break in Greece, having lost Jane when she met a 'fella' on the plane over. Agios Ioannis, Saint John, Mykonos, Greece.

A flashback sees the bus bringing Shirley from the ferry. Adam Conner found Polikandrioti in Mykonos.

Matthew Webley took this view from the beach, which is obviously more fun than the road.

The bus drops Shirley and other holidaymakers at the quiet Manoula's Hotel where they are staying. Agios Ioannis near Mykonos town.

Overlooking Paralia, Agios Ioannis taken by Adam Conner.

When she sees Shirley sitting on her own, fellow guest Jeanette (Anna Keaveney) invites her to join her.

Shirley takes an evening stroll. Adam Conner identifies this as looking up the hill from the beach at Agios Ioannis towards the Manoulas Hotel.

he Manoulas Hotel survives in Adam's comparison.

At a beach taverna, Shirley meets Kostas Dimitriades (Tom Conti). Agios Ioannis, Mykonos.

As her friendship with Kostas blossoms, Shirley buys flowers.

A wedding party passes through the small town. Serakonta in Mikonos Town, Mikonos recognised by Stelios Diamantis.

The location now by Marcus Herbert.

Kostas walks with the bride and her family. Outside the Camares Restaurant on Manto Square, Mykonos discovered by Adam Conner.

Sending this shot, Marcus Herbert tells us that the restaurant is now called Mosaic.

As Shirley sits at a cafe table, she is spotted by Kostas who asks her to join him. Outside the Catholic Church of our Lady of the Rosary in Mykonos Town identified by Marcus Herbert.

Marcus captured the scene now.

Kostas and Shirley arrive at the church where his niece is to be married. The Church of Zoodochou Pigis in the Alefkandra square, Mykonos found by Steve Randall.

The Metropolitan church in Mykonos City captured by Adam Conner.

Shirley tells Jane that she has decided to stay. Adam Conner identifies this as Little Venice in Mykonos City.

Adam returned to the same spot 34 years later.

After being persuaded to return home, Shirley says goodbye to Renos (Marc Zuber) as Jane gets onto the bus.

Shirley walks to the bus. Agios Ioannis, Saint John, Mykonos, Greece.

The bus departs and Shirley looks back at Kostas as he waves farewell.

After changing her mind and leaving Jane at the airport, Shirley walks back into Kostas' bar.

Shirley takes a job at Kostas' taverna and settles into Greek life.

In between phone calls from home, Shirley shops in the local market. Stelios Diamantis identifies this as Akti Kampani in Mikonos Town on Mikonos, Greece.

Extensions to the eateries on the right are apparent in Adam Conner's shot.

The camera follows as Shirley heads to a fruit stall after buying fish for the taverna. Akti Kampani located by Stelios Diamantis.

Adam Conner captured the busy location.

Joe Bradshaw calls his wife yet again.

Brian persuades his dad to go and find Shirley. Agios Ioannis on Mykonos, Greece.

A little more built up in Adam Conner's comparison.

In the distance, Shirley sits with two glasses and pours wine. Agios Ioannis on Mykonos, Greece.

Adam Conner found another rather different view.

Neil Rigby provides this additional screen capture that covers the "bookshop scene", Blackwell's University Bookshop, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5TX. (RL)

Neil was not able to provide a "now" shot as all the windows are covered in posters so sends this Google Earth extract showing the same view beyond the bookshop window. (RL)