Wrong locations listed here
The locations are listed as London on here but internet searches all state that this film was shot on a Hollywood backlot.
shareThere were obviously extensive 2nd unit shots filmed in London to establish locations (with doubles for Doris Day and Rex Harrison getting in and out of cars and the like - switching to studio-shot process shots for the close-ups of the actual stars), but the only scene where any of the principal actors appeared in close shots, that looked definitely like a real location, was the bus stop scene.
There's still no telling if it was actually London. It could have been a location they found in the US that looked like a passable facsimile of a London street (it was less than half a block, after all) - or it could have been a very well-dressed backlot set, even though they don't usually look that authentic.
And just maybe the scenes in front of the flat, also obviously outdoors - but with all that construction needing to go on next door, it would have been much easier (and more likely) to build all that on the back lot.
I guess we'll never know for sure, but the movie has always looked like they spent an inordinate amount of time - and money - to turn Universal City into London when they probably could have done it faster and cheaper by filming the whole movie in the UK.
It would be nice if the Filming Locations section here on IMDB would denote when locations listed are NOT part of principal photography whenever possible.
The London locations are very well done, esp. the falling on front of the bus scene. Where the authenticity falls down, however, is in the pub when John Gavin is chatting to the barmaid whilst the scarred man is in there. British pubs do not take orders at your table unless they have a restaurant section. Nor would a customer put some coins on the table before leaving as the scarred man did. You go up to the bar and pay when you get your drink!
shareThe bus stop scene was filmed on the New York street area of the backlot.
shareYes, it was filmed on the New York street area of the backlot. But, it was very well done. It made one feel it was actually filmed in London due to its authentic looking street props. The set designer really did a good job on that street.
I noticed how they used doubles of Doris and Anthony Dawson in some of the actual London footage. And, there were plenty of shots of London used throughout the film. Most cleverly done in rear-projection screen shots in taxi scenes.
There is one big issue with the street scene - the vehicles are totally wrong. The bus is not in anyway an authentic London bus and given its prominence it really spoils the scene. There are no commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks/Lorries and the cars do not look right, other than the taxis. It’s a shame because the street itself looks passable
share