Smiley's People - Paris Locations (Part Three)

Welcome back to the third instalment of our forensic investigation into the Paris locations used in the filming of Smiley's People. During this instalment we had planned to feature a number of Paris locations but Chris's research into just one site led us off on an interesting diversion. Chris is researching these articles as he writes them so new information is being uncovered all the time. We were both surprised to discover that one scene we had always assumed to have been shot in Paris was actually filmed a lot closer to home! Chris takes up the story...

Kirov instructed Madame Ostrakova to attend at the Soviet Embassy the next morning and we can assume that she'd have made her excuses at work and at 8:32 we see her at the wrought iron gate, the fence bearing the brass embassy plaque. I can only make out odd words on it such as 'Republic', 'from Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'. I have to assume that the BBC paid for a brass sign to be made, I wish I could find online a photograph of the genuine article but unfortunately since the bloc fell in 1989 they've been replaced with Russian Federation signs.

In the comparison above, behind the gate and trees we can pick out the rows of windows and masonry of the office building at 9 Boulevard Lannes, Paris 16; whilst in the foreground is Avenue des Pologne. In my Location Summary I revealed that the location of the Embassy is in fact the Paris Dauphine University, Place Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, Paris 16 and here's the map, annotated to indicate Madame Ostrakova's location. 

Each of the buildings on the campus are designated by a letter.

If Eileen Atkins was to retrace her steps today and look in the direction of the University there'd be no wrought iron gate at all, as shown in this Streetview image, where with reference to the plan, the reader can just make out the ground floor windows of building B underneath the suspended floor of Building A.

Then we see the iconic shot of Madame Ostrakova walking across the Embassy's courtyard and again with reference to the plan we can work out that Simon Langton's crew must've placed the camera on Building B to capture her approach to the entrance of Building C

Obviously the University's premises make a splendid setting for the scene. The lone Estonian immigrant and the foreboding Soviet Embassy. Which member of the Thirteenth Directorate could be recording her every move from behind any one of those faceless windows? 

In in-depth articles such as these the writer presents a film from the institution's website showing happy students enjoying the facilities (rather than studying all hours like we used to do) and here's ours. Watch closely, you might spot some of the locations from the programme. 

You may have noticed an interesting caption about the history of this building in the film:

We don't of course know whose idea it was to choose this location but we here at the Guinness Is Smiley office 😉 can't help wonder whether David Cornwell (taking full advantage of his position as scriptwriter) was making a small joke at the expense of our closest allies.

By February 1952, NATO had outgrown its existing headquarters in London and a new facility, designed by the French architect Jacques Carlu, opened in early 1960. As can be seen in the above photograph the building was shaped as an A (for Alliance) and (with reference to the plan) that Building A is a more recent addition. Looking north, Avenue des Polognes is in the foreground and a gate is visible at the lower left. It must have a companion behind the trees to the right and that's the one through which Ostrakova enters the Embassy's courtyard.

Ostrakova's entrance into the building is filmed from inside building C and we can match the distinctive line across the door and the round door handles to a still from this short film of NATO arrivals in 1952.

Now we must turn our attention to the interior scenes and that presents a problem because it it was very hard to make them out in the video above and here's a more extensive survey of the University's interiors.

First of all let's try matching up the stairs (by the way, notice the hammer and sickle sculpture in the background).

And the waiting area with the reception desk.

There is a lot for the location enthusiast here. OK so the University must have had the builders in a few times since 1968. They constructed Building A and I have no doubt remodelled building C but the differences here are structural. They could move some doors, install new desks and handrails and cover over that lovely marble floor, but the height of the building and the balconies are permanent structures that could only be disguised. (I am indebted to Control who drew this conclusion first.) Those interiors, no matter how much Le Carre' might have wanted to film in NATO's very own Soviet Embassy, aren't at Porte Dauphine at all.

I immediately tried a reverse image search but the trouble is that the program is only too good at identifying the numerous Soviet symbols with which the location had been dressed. Refining my search by adding 'marble floor' or 'building in Paris' only confused matters. Fortunately at this point I was grateful for the advice of a Smiley's Person who revealed that there'd been no trip to Paris on the Beeb after all, because they filmed the interiors in London. About five minutes later after another search I was able to confirm that the location chosen was a building used for so many film, television and video productions and that is Crush Hall, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E 7HU. 

We can see from the photo below that it's a match for our location.

And here it is in Batman Begins...

And here's one of George's other proteges on site in his latest adaptation...

And here's the waiting area viewed from the stairs...

The University, that is the University of London, has a mini industry going letting out their buildings for film work and the locations fan can follow it all on their website. 

Now let's have a look at some of the set dressing we see on screen. First of all the desk must've been added, that's a thoroughfare rather than a reception area and it's the same with the sofa, complete with the comrades waiting their turn. Then there's the picture hanging where the wall lamp is:

Now I've seen that picture somewhere before, Control and I can't get a clearer image so the internet's no use but maybe there's one of you out there that can identify this slice of Soviet imagery. On that subject, how about a bust of Lenin. Go on, you know you've always wanted one!

And then there's the office where Attache Kuznetsov (played by Renny Krupinski) takes Madame Ostrakova to fill in the forms.

I've tried to identify that room and it could be the Jessel Room but if not it still seems very likely they would have filmed both scenes with those actors at the same location.

OK so we're nearly done. Just a couple of things to clear up.

Firstly what happened to the NATO Headquarters? How come Paris Dauphine moved in? On June 21st 1966 President de Gaulle withdrew his troops from NATO and Porte Dauphine had to be relocated in a hurry.

I'm sure we can all imagine how such a hasty move would present significant security risks and opportunities for a real mole.  

Kim Philby revealed how easy it was to steal secrets from the British secret service.''Every evening I left the office with a big briefcase full of reports that I had written myself, full of files and actual documents from the archive. I used to hand them to my Soviet contact in the evening. The next morning I would get the files back, the contents having been photographed and early the next morning I would put them back in their place.''

By the way, Paris Dauphine University haven't finished developing the Paris campus. This film shows another building planned for 2024.

AND finally Gita Denise.

Below you will find an image of Gita Denise from Nightmare For A Nightingale in 1976. She's credited but doesn't appear in Smiley's People. Episode 1 already exceeds an hour's duration and we know that additional scenes were filmed and then fell on the cutting room floor. The book makes mention of several visits Ostrakova has to make to the Embassy so it's possible she appeared in an eventually deleted scene.

Next time we take a train ride and Ostrakova realises she's been had...