Alan Parker's "Origin" of "A Melody" and the filming location of "Origin" that still remains today

Tracy Hyde was walking down this road.

If this is also the "origin" of his talent, Peter Suschitzky, who was the cinematographer of "Melody," went on to become a regular in David Cronenberg's films after working on " The Rocky Horror Picture Show " and " Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back .""Melody" is remembered as the early work of the great cinematographer's career.

Having traced back various "origins" in this way, and although it may seem a bit far-fetched, what has become of the filming locations, the "origins" of filming, nearly 50 years later? The location of the final wedding and trolley scenes, which are burned into the memories of many people, has of course been redeveloped and no trace of its original appearance remains, and the school where the filming took place has been closed (though the building itself still stands), but the filming locations around Piccadilly Circus, a tourist attraction where Daniel and Tom wander, such as the park (Soho Square), remain intact.

Another unforgettable scene from this film is the one where "Melody Fair" plays. Melody sneaks out her clothes and trades them for goldfish from a peddler as she walks through town. The roadside stone pond where she lets the goldfish into (at the time, horse-drawn carriages still passed by and the pond was a watering spot for the horses) is now overgrown with flowers, but the original remains as it was.

Located quietly at the intersection of Lambeth Road in London. Photo: Saito Hiroaki

After this, Melody, goldfish in hand, heads to the pub where her father frequents during the day to get her pocket money. The pub still stands today, and although the name was changed several years ago, the exterior remains the same as when the film was shot.

The exterior remains the same as it was back then. Photo: Hiroaki Saito

"Melody" was not a big hit in the UK, so only a few Japanese fans have visited the filming locations. Therefore, it is nice that it has not become a strangely "tourist" destination. It is possible to visit filming locations from half a century ago in London, where old architecture has been maintained for many years. In this way, experiencing the "origins" of a beloved work is sure to be an irreplaceable experience for movie fans.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

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