Psychomania

Date: 1973
Director: Don Sharp
Production Company: Benmar Productions

Stars: George Sanders, Nicky Henson, Mary Larkin, Ann Michelle, Roy Holder, Robert Hardy, Beryl Reid
Location(s): London, Surrey

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A gang of young people calling themselves the Living Dead terrorise the population of a small town.

Additional Information:

Screen shots uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill. HD captures: Neil Webster.

Also known as ‘The Death Wheelers’ (US Title)

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At the start of the film, members of motorcycle gang The Living Dead ride around standing stones known as the Seven Witches. Julian Easton tells us that these are fields to the north-east of where Squires Bridge Road in Littleton, Surrey becomes New Road and lie between the road and the M3 Motorway. This is confirmed by Andy Waller who points out the rather level horizon which is the top of the wall enclosing Queen Mary Reservoir.

After running a car off the road which kills the Driver, Tom Latham (Nicky Henson) and the gang fool around in a church yard. Andy Waller provides this additional capture, locating the churchyard as that of St. Mary Magdalene on Squire's Bridge Road in Littleton, Surrey, next door to Shepperton Studios.

Andy returned to the same grave stones.

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Leaving the Seven Witches, the gang head to town.

The ride continues aver a muddy ford. This is the River Ash ford crossing Watersplash Road in Littleton, which appears in several other productions including ‘The Night We Got the Bird’, 'Miss Tulip Stays the Night' and ‘Make Mine a Million’.

The ford is now closed to vehicles as Andy's view shows.

The peace is about to be shattered in the shopping centre. Walton on Thames, Surrey.

John Hicks tells us that this location is now all redeveloped, so exact replica shots are hard to take. But these are as close as we can get.

The Living Dead wreak havoc. The now demolished Dukes Head public house can be seen in the left background. This is Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames and was also seen in 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer'.

The Dukes Head in 2001. The pub was closed in 2005 and has since been demolished. Picture copyright Walton-on-thames.org

A repeat of the previous capture . . .

. . . to show that the Dukes Head pub has been replaced by a Waitrose store and obligatory 'stunning' apartments. John Hicks

Pedestrians are harrassed by the bikers. Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames, Surrey.

Just make out the block of flats poking from behind Waitrose. John Hicks.

A young woman with a pram is chased.

I assume the current building was being built behind the white hoarding in 1973. John Hicks.

Oh, oh! Can you guess what happens next? Walton on Thames, Surrey.

Barely recognisable but it's the right spot. John Hicks.

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Gang member Abby Holman (Mary Larkin) takes a break from the mayhem. The shopping centre on Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames.

The gang moves on after the police arrive. Walton on Thames shopping centre. The area has been redeveloped.

Again, all redeveloped now. Looking down to New Zealand Avenue, where they also shot Naked Truth. John Hicks.

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The Living Dead ride away pursued by the police. Julian Easton feels sure that the small multi story car park is within Shepperton Studios grounds but visible from Squires Bridge Road behind Mary Magdalene Church in Littleton, Surrey. (RL)

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The gang ride into a multi-storey car park. Julian Easton is sure that the multi story car park stands within the studio grounds at Shepperton. (RL)

The police chase the gang out of town. The road appears to be a race or test track - note the wrong centre white lines for a corner. Andy Greenland confirms that this is the Military Test Track at Longcross near Chobham, on the south side of the M3, which was also used in 'Children of Men'.

Andy sent this ariel shot to show the camera position at the location. Image copyright Bing.

The pursuit heads into the woods. Andy advises that this is on the Longcross Test Track, probably called FVRDE at the time. at Longcross near Chertsey, Surrey.

Andy, who has marshalled and co-driven on many car rallies at Longcross, provides this picture to pinpoint the spot. Image copyright Bing.

Hatchet drives off a bridge and kills himself in the process. The location is identified on an IMDB forum as the M3 where it passes over the River Thames near Laleham, Surrey.

The M3 was being built in 1972/3 so the film crew would have been able set this up without having to worry about other traffic. John Hicks. At last and finally, a bit of matching architecture!

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Resurrected Tom Latham stops for petrol. Unidentified location.

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Riders start to commit suicide. This appears to be the test or race track again when looking at the sequence. Andy Greenland locates this as Longcross Proving Ground which is, ironically, now in use for filming pending redevelopment.

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The police make enquiries. Facing towards numbers 14 and 16 Ashurst Drive in Littleton, Surrey, found by Rick.

The entrance to Tom Latham's parents house. Julian Easton identifies this as Littleton Park House situated within the studio grounds. (RL)

Julian sends this Google Image to support his identification but wonders how Google managed to wangle their way in. The Orangery has clearly been since. (RL)

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Chief Inspector Hesseltine (Robert Hardy) arrives at the Latham's house. The grounds of Littleton Park House says Julian. (RL)

Back in town, gang member Chopped Meat is about to park next to an official looking sign. Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames.

Multi-story car park on left now replaced with Sainsbury's car park. John Hicks. And the houses in the background look the same.

The biker contemplates his suicide. This is one of the tower blocks that stand on Wellington Close, Walton on Thames as seen from Hepworth Way.

As I took this shot a taxi driver pulled up, wound down his window and shouted "knock 'em down!". John Hicks. No! No! Keep them. It's about the only oldish bit left.

Chopped Meat (Miles Greenwood) looks up at the tower block. Hepworth Way once again.

Old 1973 multi-storey car park now replaced with Sainsbury's car park. John Hicks.

Jane Pettibone (Ann Michelle) and Tom look on as Chopped Meat jumps from the tower block. And it's Hepworth Way again.

Unchanged except for more vegetation. John Hicks. More veg, but less fruit. However it's good to know that at least a few reel streets remain.

A Passer-by (Heather Wright) looks at Chopped Meat's parked bike. Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames.

Almost unrecognisable but the same spot. John Hicks.

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Outside a supermarket, the peace is about to be shattered once more. Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames.

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The Gang returns to the shopping centre. Hepworth Way in Walton on Thames, Surrey.

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Causing more mayhem and destruction, the Living Dead ride into the supermarket. The store is currently Budgens on Upper Street in Islington N1 discovered by Neil Webster.

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Tom and Abby drive to Tom's parents house and the immortal Tom rides straight through a wall. Unidentified location. Whilst remaining 'unidentified', given the following capture, Geoff Dodd suggests a false wall built within the studio grounds. However, whilst the background detail is not clear enough to positively identify it, the arched windows on the first floor strongly suggest that it is also Littleton House. (RL)

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Tom and Abby wait for the rest of the gang outside his house. Geoff Dodd identifies this as Littleton Park House at Shepperton, the same features can be seen in 'The Strange Case Of The End Of Civilisation' Captures 14 and particularly 15. (RL)