Inspector Clouseau

An establishing shot of London. Parliament Square in SW1 with the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster to the centre.

Peter provides this image of the famous landmark.

A Times newspaper van is tracked as it passes through Parliament Square and heads along Whitehall.

Following the action, Peter takes this comparison.

The van turns into Downing Street. London SW1.

Members of the press question Commissioner Sir Charles Braithwaite (Patrick Cargill) about the latest in a string of robberies.

At Heathrow Airport, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Alan Arkin) is met by Shockley (Richard Pearson) from Special Branch and Superintendent Weaver (Frank Finlay).

After being briefed about the robberies, Clouseau calls on the Superintendent.

The Inspector is watched by Frenchie LeBec and members of Clyde Hargreaves' gang.

Following an attempt on his life during which LeBec is shot dead, Clouseau arrives at Commissioner Braithwaite’s club in search of a bomb. Dave Buckley points out that this set was also used in Quatermass and the Pit quat302 but from a slightly different angle. In addition he remarks that as Quatermass was made at MGM Borehamwood, and, although imdb.com doesn't say so, it is likely that Clouseau was made there as well. (RL)

The Inspector is sent to France to follow the repatriation of LeBec’s body. Looking onto the lower end of Monument Street from Lower Thames Street in London EC3 with the entrance of Lovat Lane to the right and Billingsgate Buildings on left.

The same corner . . . . now in English. (PW)

The remains of Frenchie LeBec are loaded into a corbillard. Lower Thames Street, opposite the corner of Monument Street with the old Billingsgate Market to the left.

Rebuilding took place after the closure of Billingsgate as a fish market. (PW)

Clouseau tiptoes across the road. Monument Street at the junction of Lovat Lane with the café played by a suitably disguised Cock public house, renamed in 1983 to The Walrus & the Carpenter.

The suggestion is that this part of the film takes place in Le Havre but the reality is quite different. (PW)

When the corbillard pulls away, the Inspector tries unsuccessfully to hire a taxi. Lower Thames Street with travelling cranes alongside the Thames visible through the gates.

It's hard to believe that this is the same place. (PW)

Having obtained a three wheeled delivery motorcycle, Clouseau sets off in pursuit. Looking north-westward along Monument Street from the junction of Lovat Lane with Billingsgate Buildings on the extreme left.

Careful angling hides the base of The Monument. (PW)

The Car Funéraire is followed along narrow streets. Facing Monument Street on Botolph Lane with St. George’s Lane to the right.

The bollards confirm the location. (PW)

The crossroads formed by Monument Street and Botolph Lane. The area was also seen in ‘The File of the Golden Goose’ and, towards Lower Thames Street, 'The Sandwich Man'.

With thanks to the Capita security staff at Peninsular House, this is taken from the first floor of the building. (PW)

A Policeman directing traffic looks as Clouseau when he fails to move on when signalled. Looking up at the long demolished north-west facet of Billingsgate Buildings at the corner of Monument Street and Botolph Lane.

The current Peninsular House has occupied this site since 1976. (PW)

The Sureté Officer peers ahead as he tries to catch up.

Lovat Lane in EC3. (PW)

A band passes, holding up Clouseau in his fish truck. The corner of St. Mary and Hill and St. Dunstan’s Lane.

One bollard remains when all around has been swept away. (PW)

An ambulance approaches along another street. St. Dunstan’s Lane in EC3 with St. Mary at Hill in the distance.

Looking along the same lane. (PW)

The Inspector heads for the same junction. Idol Lane at the corner of St. Dunstan’s Lane. The area was seen in 'Children of The Damned'.

Same street, same bollard. (PW)

After a conflict with the ambulance Driver, Clouseau manages to catch up with the corbillard. Botolph Lane with the redressed corners on Monument Street to the left and Billingsgate Buildings on the right.

Taken from the lobby of Peninsular House. With thanks to the security staff at Capita. (PW)

The chase heads into the countryside. The corner of Lower Thames Street and Monument Street with the New Fresh Wharf in the centre background.

No hearses to be seen in the never ending line of traffic. (PW)

The Inspector arrives at the cemetery where LeBec is being buried. Even this is a studio set, see http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

When spotted by the mourners the interloper is chased from the graveside... from the studio set anyway, http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

A car approaches, driven by Inspector Lisa Morell of Interpol. This sequence appears to be filmed on a studio set. A studio set indeed, see http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

Clouseau is driven away to safety via another studio set. http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

When Lisa Morel (Delia Boccardo) stops the car outside a Police Station, the Inspector handcuffs the young woman that he believes to be a crook. Looks like we’re still at the studio, yes, see http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

Clouseau and Lisa drive away to foil an imaginary bank robbery as master criminal Clyde Hargreaves hands out rubber Inspector Clouseau masks to his gang members. It looks as if we might be finally leaving that set. See, http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)

An establishing shot of Le Havre station. The sign is a prop as this is Zürich Hauptbahnhof on Bahnhofplatz in Zürich 8001, Switzerland.

After being seen off by Préfet de Police Geffrion, Clouseau runs to join the correct portion of his train after boarding the wrong carriage. Zürich Hauptbahnhof.

L'Arbalète departs with the Inspector on board. The named Trans-Europe Express service ran between Gare de Paris-Est and Zurich from 1957 until 1979 but Manuel Gurtner points out that in reality this would be the TEE "Gottardo" or "Ticino" which ran between Zurich and Milano.

A series of shots show the train's progress towards Zürich. Manuel Gurtner advises that this is the TEE "Gottardo" or "Ticino" heading southward on the Gotthard line at Wassen in the canton of Uri, Switzerland.

Revealed as working for Hargreaves' gang, Weaver attacks Clouseau and throws him from the train. A TEE service leaving the Axenberg Tunnel on the shore of Lake Lucerne near Flüelen in Uri canton recognised by Manuel Gurtner of www.eisenbahn-im-film.de

Luckily, the attempted murder fails. Manuel Gurtner identifies this location as looking north to the Catholic church of Frick on the Bözberg line that runs between Basel, Brugg and Zürich.

Manuel provides this image of the same spot and points out that the equipment that Clouseau gets entangled with is typically the type used by the British Railways travelling post office, which does not exist on the continent.

The train reaches its destination. The River Limmat flowing through Zürich with the twin towers of Grossmünster on the east bank and the spire of Kirche Fraumünster to the right.

Now disguised as Clouseau, Weaver is met by Hoeffler (Wallas Eaton), the Director of National Security, on arrival at Zürich Hauptbahnhof.

Having also travelled from Le Havre, Lisa approaches to warn the Inspector about Weaver.

The disguised Weaver listens to Lisa’s suspicions. Zürich Hauptbahnhof on Bahnhofplatz in Zürich.

As Lisa walks away puzzled, Weaver approaches another member of the gang and instructs him to get her.

Weaver is driven away by Hargreaves who has infiltrated the authorities. Facing southward towards Bahnhofplatz from Bahnhofquai at the front of Zürich Hauptbahnhof.

Hargreaves and Weaver head to meet with Bergesch, the Minister of Finance. Bellerivestrasse in Zurich located by Manuel Gurtner.

The car is brought to a stand outside the Ministry after the two crooks have swapped clothing and disguises on the way. Manuel Gurtner advises that in reality this is an office building on Bellerivestrasse near Lake Zurich.

Meanwhile, the real Inspector Clouseau attempts to call London but runs out of change. The railway station at Eiken, a municipality in the district of Laufenburg in the canton of Aargau.

The German speaking villagers are reluctant to help the dishevelled man. Looking to the north-east on Bahnhofstrasse in Eiken.

A Nun (Barbara Dana) catches Clouseau as he takes coins from a charity collection.

The Inspector offers his watch to the Nun in exchange. Eiken station on Bahnhofstrasse.

At noon, gang member Stevie Frey (Michael Ripper) dons his Clouseau mask.

Cut to the form of a statue gracing a modern building.

Moving down, the camera finds the first of many disguised gang members as they begin to enter banks around Switzerland. The sign reads Banque Cantonale de Lausanne.

Another ‘Inspector’ enters another bank. The junction of Neumühlequai and Walchestrasse in Zürich.

The Banca Di Lugano is also targeted.

Time passes as the vaults are emptied into security vans on the orders of 'Inspector Clouseau'.

Another imposter gets out of a car.

The disguised crook swaggers into his assigned bank.

Stevie Frey takes his mask off in the armoured van as he leaves the Bank of Winterthur.

The real Clouseau arrives at a Bank of Zurich branch to cash a cheque and discovers that he has apparently already taken all the money. This is the entrance to the former SBG (Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft) on Paradeplatz. On the other side of the place stands the 'Savoy' and on the right in the background is the Fraumünster Church. Location identified by Manuel Gurtner.

A similar view across Paradeplatz by Manuel.

Moving the cash to their hideout, the gang transfer the money into Lindt & Sprüngli liveried vans. Facing north-east on Zollstrasse, Zürich.

The van is driven away to the next rendezvous point. Looking towards the junction of Zollstrasse with Neugasse. The distant buildings have been replaced.

Likely to be in or near Zürich, but Manuel thinks possibly Lucerne . . . for the moment an unidentified location.

Another Mercedes-Benz van loaded with notes heads for Zürich. This is Seebrücke crossing the River Reuss in Lucerne, Switzerland with Kapellbrücke in the background.

Manuel Gurtner recognised that the van is passing Lausanne's Bessières bridge in the Canton of Vaud with Notre-Dame Cathedral in the background.

Manuel provides this picture of the bridge with the Cathedral in the background. Image copyright Google.

More stolen cash heads to join the growing convoy. The tower to the right is Nölliturm on St. Karli Quai, Luzern and Männliturm stands above behind. Both form part of Museggmauer, the city's ancient fortifications.

Vans start to converge as they near their destination. Manuel identifies this as Helvetiaplatz in Berne with the Welttelegrafen-Denkmal Fountain and the Historical Museum in the background.

Delivery vans from all over the country meet. In the centre distance can be seen the twin spires of St. Leodegar in Lucerne.

Looking east along Kramgasse in Bern, Switzerland.

The camera pans as the van passes. Kramgasse with the Zytglogge clock tower in the left background.

Münsterbrücke over the River Limmat in Zürich with the tower of St. Peter's Church to the centre top.

At the chocolate factory Hargreaves and Addison Steele are let in by Gutch the night watchman to await the arrival of the vans. The Lindt & Sprüngli factory at the corner of Wiesenstrasse and Seestrasse in the suburb of Kilchberg, Zurich.

The money is packaged in chocolate bar wrappers and crated up before being loaded onto a barge. Manuel Gurtner locates this as the eastern quay of Kleinhüningen Harbor in Basel, Switzerland.

Clyde Hargreaves (Clive Francis) speaks with Steele as Weaver prepares to depart for headquarters.

With the cash on board, the barge sets out for Cologne. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle on Pfalz Island in the River Rhine near Kaub in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

While Clouseau and the Gutch are questioned before Weaver is unmasked, the gang enjoy the leisurely journey.

A TV News Reporter (Grahame Mallard) interviews Clouseau after his release. The Lindt & Sprüngli factory in Kilchberg, Zurich.

In Cologne, the Inspector catches up with Addison Steele (Barry Foster).

Steele is tricked into believing that Clouseau is Weaver in disguise.

Realising that the the man is not wearing a disguise, Steele makes his escape after taking the keys from the police car.

Driving off in his Amphicar, Steele is pursued by the Inspector. In the background stands Cologne Cathedral on Domkloster, Köln 50667, Germany.

Clouseau follows Steele in the yellow Lotus Elan that he has taken. This is Heinrich-Böll-Platz and in the left distance is Hohenzollern Bridge which spans the River Rhine as it flows through Köln.

The Inspector keeps up with Steele. Crossing Severinsbrücke in Köln.

Steele turns off the main road to cross a bridge. Malakoff Swing Bridge at the entrance of Rheinau harbour in Cologne with Am Leystapel to the right.

Clouseau becomes trapped when the bridge's barrier is lowered in front of him. In the right of centre background stands Malakoff Tower. The swing bridge dates from 1896 and is the oldest Rhine River bridge in Köln.

Steele speeds along the harbour. Im Zollhafen in Köln 50678 with Severinsbrücke passing overhead. The warehouse to the right now houses the German Sports & Olympics Museum.

The Inspector catches up with Steel in the harbour.

Clouseau keeps up but Steele has the advantage in his Amphicar and turns into the river to escape. In the left distance stands Mülheimer Brücke on the east bank of the Rhine in Mülheim to the north of Köln.