London in film, is a strange and contradictory city. One level it's very obvious. It's the city of Big Ben, red buses and Tower Bridge. All visible distinct shorthand that place a film in what is arguably, the world's capital city.
There is another London is a little more surreal, unreal if you will. A London that has an impossible geography. The London that has cobbled streets nestling cheeck to jowel with the Mall. Where a quick left turn from the Isle of Dogs finds you walking through Hyde Park.
There is of course the fictional, never existed at all London of Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Harry Potter. Although Kings Cross now boats a platform 9 3/4.
Lastly, and most importantly, London is it's people. It's cinematic people. Real one's like Michael Caine, Barbara Windsor, Charlie Chaplin, Ray Winstone and Bob Hoskins.
It's fictional ones like Fagin, Harold Shand, Alfie Elkns. People with the London tube map for arteries. And those who are forever associated with London, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the ripper & James Bond.
In this blog over the coming weeks, we'll be looking at seminal London films. highlighting London locations and examining the London it represents.
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