Midas Run

The film opens with John Pedley (Fred Astaire) walking through London. John Cobbett-Maddy places this as the bridge over the Serpentine between Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It has surely to be one of the central lamps, let's not be fooled that he was filmed walking towards Piccadilly! (RL)

After taking shots of both sides, I plumped for the central section of the east side. SJ

Passed over yet again for a knighthood, the British agent strides towards his office. This is Albany, running between Burlington Gardens and Albany Court Yard off Piccadilly in London W1.

Albany Court Yard with Piccadilly in the right background.

Hatchard's across the way is unfortunately covered with scaffolding. SJ

A reverse point of view finds the veteran Secret Service agent heading towards the camera. Albany Court Yard with the entrance to Albany in the background.

I reversed the v. SJ

Traffic stops as Pedley walks across a busy road. The corner of Albany Court Yard and Piccadilly.

The corner now. SJ

Pedley reaches the shop that provides cover for the Secret Service offices. The pavement outside Hatchards bookshop on Piccadilly W1.

Business as usual. SJ

Author Mike Warden (Richard Crenna) shouts from his rooms at university when John Pedley wires for him to meet him in Venice, along with a publisher who is interested in his work.

Springtime in Venice. The Grand Canal with Palazzo dei Camerlenghi to the bottom left and the tower of Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli in the right distance.

Mike resigns his post at the university and travels to Italy. Manuel explains that the camera is placed on the campanile of the San Bartolomeo church and pans left across the roof tops bringing Ponte di Rialto into view, with Palazzo dei Dieci Savi on the left.

Arriving in Venice, Mike is ferried across the Grand Canal in a gondola. Looking towards Campo Santa Sofia with, as Manuel Gurtner points out, to the left, part of the Palazzo Morosini Sagredo, now the luxurious Hotel Ca’ Sagredo.

Enjoying the sights, the American walks through Piazza San Marco. Basilica San Marco fills the background.

From the archives of 2013. SJ

The Piazza and Basillica also appear in 'Istanbul Express', 'Summertime', 'Assassination in Rome', 'My Song Goes Round the World', 'The Wings of the Dove', 'Moonraker' and 'Death in Vencice'. Manuel Gurtner draws our attention to the Torre dell'Orologio in the background, well-known for the two "moors" that chime the hours on the roof top.

Rain begins to fall as Mike makes his way too the café where he is to meet Pedley. Fondamenta de Borgo near the intersection with Fondamenta Bonlini.

As the rain continues, Mike throws food to the pigeons as he waits. Looking towards Molo di Palazzo Ducale from beneath the Colonne di San Marco e San Todaro at the waterfront of Piazzetta San Marco.

The two long distance war gaming opponents meet at last. Bar Gelateria Al Todaro Dal 1948 on Piazzetta San Marco

As Pedley puts his plan into action, Mike Warden makes his way to meet with the supposed publisher. Facing east along Riviera degli Schiavoni with Vittorio Emanuele II monument and Chiesa Santa Maria della Pietà in the background to the left, San Marco basin on the right and Ponte del Vin across Rio del Vin in the bottom left as described by Manuel.

Following a rebuff from the 'publisher', Pedley consoles a drunken Mike. Outside on Antica Locanda Montin on Fondamenta de Borgo.

When Pedley tells him that he's planning to steal $10 million, Mike stops in his tracks. Looking like the courtyard of the Doge's Palace, Manuel Gurtner explains "Apparently an elaborate set was created for this sequence at Tirrenia Studios, located at Tirrenia between Pisa and Livorno in Tuscany."

Mike stands on his hotel balcony on the morning after finding Sylvia Giroux a room the night before. Looking south-west along the Grand Canal from the balcony of Hotel Marconi on Riva del Vin near Ponte di Rialto. Manuel tells us that opposite, alongside the Riva del Carbon, the palazzi Ca' Loredan, Ca' Farsetti, Palazzo Cavalli and Palazzo Grimani as well as the corner of Canal Grande and Rio San Luca can be seen.

Meeting in a bookshop, Mike learns about a gold shipment being transported from Zurich via Rome to fictional Tanzia when he asks questions about Pedley's proposal. Manuel Gurtner places this as inside the bookstore then known as Libreria Sansovino with gondolas on the Bacino Orseolo outside.

After Mike makes it a condition of his accepting, Sylvia Giroux (Anne Heywood) is brought on board and is briefed by Pedley. Riva degli Schiavoni with Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on the far side of Bacino San Marco.

Less busy. SJ

Pedley explains that he will be in England directing the operation. Looking east on Riva degli Schiavoni with Museo Storico Navale, the Naval History Museum at Campo San Biasio visible in the background to the right.

Returning to London, John Pedley makes his way to the office. Looking across Piccadilly W1 from outside Hatchards bookshop.

Now. SJ

The camera follows as Pedley crosses Piccadilly. The corner of Sackville Street can be seen in the centre distance.

No need for a brolly today. SJ

Pedley enters the bookshop and climbs the stairs to the room where a secret door gives access to the Secret Service offices. Facing east on Piccadilly in W1.

Hatchard's with scaffolding. SJ

Acting on Pedley's instructions, Mike and Sylvia approach the corrupt General Ferranti to transport and dispose of the stolen gold. Villa del Carretta, Belvedere in Crespina, Tuscany located by Steve Randall.

General Ferranti (Adolfo Celi) questions the scheme as being madness before agreeing to help. The steps of Villa del Carretta in Crespina found by Steve Randall.

Next, Mike and Sylvia make their way to the Austrian border to meet the legendary smuggler Anton Pfeiffer. Manuel Gurtner tells us that "In reality we are in the middle of the Appenines. Closed for passenger traffic since 1999, this is Grondola-Guinadi station on the 'Pontremolese', the single track mainline between Parma and La Spezia. The Bo'Bo' type DC electric loco of FS Class E.424 by the Italian State Railways has just leaving the Borgallo tunnel (length 7972 m) with a car shuttle train, while in the centre distance can be seen the 1129 m high Monte Cucco mountain range."

The pair climb from the railway station and are met by a Guide who takes them to outlaw Anton Pfeiffer. Manuel continues "The area above the southern end of the stazione Grondola-Guinadi is now completely wooded but, apart from the cottage to the centre right, all other buildings still stand."

Pedley directs Mike and Sylvia to an old church "built like a fortress" where they make contact with Mark Dietrich who can supply and fly a wartime fighter plane to down the plane scheduled to carry a gold shipment. The Chiesa di San Pietro (Church of St. Peter) in Portovenere on the coast of Liguria, La Spezia province. The then Taverna del Corsaro bar no longer exists.

The couple find an old abandoned villa and survey the property before checking out the nearby airstrip. Steve Randall locates this as Villa Orlando at Torre del Lago Puccini in Viareggio, Tuscany.

The pair become romantically entwined after making their way back to the villa along the beach.

The heist begins with Mark and Sylvia closing the road behind their Shell petrol tanker, one of the three vehicles to be utilised to carry the stolen gold shipment to the airstrip.

With the gold safely transferred into a garbage truck, a camper van and the tanker, the vehicles make their way from the airfield where the plane had been forced to land.

Passing the garbage truck and the tanker, a police car heads in the opposite direction.

The camera follows the police car as it speeds by with sirens howling. Manuel Gurtner advises that this is Via Livornese main street in the village of San Piero a Grado, Pisa province.

Allowing the garbage truck to proceed along the main road, the Shell tanker turns off. The church is San Piero a Grado, 7 kilometres west of Pisa city centre. (SR)

Having been waiting for the arrival of the gold, Lord Henshaw is rushed to Pisa to meet with Pedley who was unintentionally accompanying the shipment. Piazza del Duomo in Pisa in Tuscany with the Tower of Pisa in the left distance.

Lord Henshaw (Ralph Richardson) enters the building where recovery of the gold is discussed. Beneath the statue of Moses in the courtyard of Palazzo dell’Arcivescovado on Piazza Arcivescovado, Pisa.

Being gained on by a police car, the garbage truck continues towards the Austrian border. The sign reads San Ginese which is a village in the commune of Capannori, Lucca province, Tuscany. The truck is heading north on Via di San Ginese and Manuel draws our attention to the church in San Ginese di Compito, called Chiesa Parrocchiale San Ginese Martire, in the background.

The gold is discovered and the Driver of the truck is questioned after being pulled over.

Following the capture of the Shell tanker, Mark and Sylvia check into a hotel as they begin to realise that Pedley was assisting in the gold’s recovery. Manuel Gurtner explains that 'Albergo Granduca' seems to be fictional as the building hosts the branch of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world's oldest bank.

Following Mark's arrest after confronting Pedley, Sylvia is towed onward after being rescued by Carabinieri and policeman when the camper breaks down.

Pedley approaches Sylvia as Carabinieri converge on General Ferranti's warehouse after the remaining portion of gold is delivered.

Wister (Roddy McDowall) leads the handcuffed Mark into a police station where Lord Henshaw and Pedley are waiting.

Back in London, the Royal Standard flies over Buckingham Palace.

Only difference is that the gates are closed. SJ

John Pedley walks through the crowds to receive recognition for recovering the stolen gold.

Now. SJ

As Pedley is knighted, Mark and Sylvia make their way from the Palace gates. The Mall in London SW1 with Buckingham Palace in the background.

The north-eastern wing. SJ