Puppet on a Chain

Date: 1971
Director: Geoffrey Reeve
Production Company: Big City

Stars: Sven-Bertil Taube, Barbara Parkins, Alexander Knox, Patrick Allen, Vladek Sheybal, Ania Marson
Location(s): London, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland (Netherlands)

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

Following a triple professional hit a U.S. agent arrives in Amsterdam to investigate a heroin smuggling ring. He finds a city rife with drugs and a police force unable or unwilling to do much about it. With his incognito female fellow agent the American is soon stirring things up.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

Screen captures 038 to 060 together with and “Now” shots provided by Neil Rigby and uploaded by Richard Lovejoy

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

Schiphol Airport Circa 1971

Schiphol Airport. With so much rebuilding, this shot could be very difficult to recreate. Frank van den Berg advises that in fact the airport still looks very much the same. (RL)

Frank corrects himself and says "Eeeh, A LOT has changed at Schiphol departure.. (RL)

Inspector Van Gelder (Patrick Allen) briefs Paul Sherman.

Binnen Wieringerstraat by Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam. "This is the only angle I could get on streetview to show the building design and features." Well done, Neil Rigby.

Paul (Sven-Bertil Taube) arrives at a hotel on Nieuwe Doelenstraat with the tower of The Zuiderkerk top left.

Frank replaces the Google Earth View that outstood since 2012. Here, he says, we see the entrance of Hotel NH Collection in the Nieuwe Doelenstraat with a traditonal barrel organ that you still sometimes can see and hear in Amsterdam. (RL)

Halvemaansbrug, looking to Amstel, Amsterdam.

The film footage must have been taken from an elevated position to show the bridge shape. NR/Google

Closer view of the hotel entrance.

Once known as nh Collection Doelen Hotel, it is now (February 2020) known as 'De l'Europe' advises Frank van den Berg. And Frank now provides us with a shot to replace the long outstanding Google Earth View. (RL)

The Assassin (Peter Hutchins) sets off from the hotel in persuit of Paul.

The corner of Staalstraat, Kloveniersburgwal and Nieuwe Doelenstraat. A further shot from Frank to replace the Google Earth View from 2012. It is he says The Nieuwe Doelenstraat seen from the Aluminiumbrug. In the background can be seen Rokin, Amsterdam. (RL)

Dam Square, Amsterdam 1012 with Rokin to the top right.

Dam Square looking towards the south side from ground level. (PW)

Dam Square, Amsterdam 1012 with Rokin to the top right.

A repeat of Capture 7 to support Frank's correctly angled shot. Dam Square, Amsterdam 1012 with Rokin to the top right.

Dam Square, Amsterdam 1012 with Rokin to the top right.

Frank circumvented 'officialdom' to take this photo of Damsquare from the 3rd floor of the exclusive warehouse Bijenkorf.

Paul on Pieter Jacobsz Straat. Looking from Rokin adds Neil Rigby as he confirms PW's suspicions.

Bring on the roadworks and scaffolding! Hans who works at Café In 't Aepjen on Zeedijk aided arrival at the correct location. (PW)

Sint Jansstraat leading onto Oudezijds Voorburgwal behind the camera. Location identified by Neil Rigby.

And here's the proof. (PW)

Paul passes the Stadhuis Garage on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Amsterdam.

The same buildings. (PW)

Paul heads for the steps of .....

De Admiraal on Herengracht 563.

Hotel De Admiraal, 563, Herengracht 1017 CD, Amsterdam. To replace Neil Rigby's Google Earth View Frank took this shot of the entrance of hotel De Admiraal on Herengracht 563. The first owner build this house in 1683 and his name was Dirk Compot. (RL)

The Begijnhof Museum, Breda, The Netherlands Circa 1971

A Hofje, a courtyard with almshouses. The Begijnhof Museum, Breda, The Netherlands

The Begijnhof Museum, Breda, The Netherlands

The Begijnhof Museum, Breda, The Netherlands. Found by Neil Rigby.

Maggie (Barbara Parkins) . . . . . not in Amsterdam.

Neil Rigby has come up with the location, Mount Street Gardens, Mayfair, London W1 which he supports with this Google image believing that "someone" will capture a real "now" before too long. Neil is right again, couldn't resist going to where I had never been before, but no statue now, maybe it was a plant! (RL)

The buildings overlook the statue in image poac013.

Having established 013 Neil Rigby quickly locates this as the rear of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Mount Street Gardens, Mayfair, London W1. Neil's Google shot replaced by the real thing, avoiding the many people doing exactly the same as in the film. (RL)

Entrepot-Dok in Amsterdam Circa 1971

Entrepot-Dok in Amsterdam

Frank found himself somewhere where there just happened to be a couple of locations 'on the other side of the canal' so he could replace our Google Earth shots. On the right of the original photo we see a police officer standing in front of entrepotdok 79. The original warehouse where part of the film took place. The original name of this warehouse was ‘Winschoten’ but after a serious renovation in 1984 they changed the name to: Weesp. Nowadays some offices and houses are made in the warehouse. (RL)

Entrepot-Dok

The other from Frank replacing our Google Earth View. As he says the original building on the left has been torn down and replaced by some new buildings. On the right top you can still be seen the building that was there in 1971 when they shot this movie. (RL)

Women of Volendam, Noord Holland, in traditional costume.

To provide us with this comparative shot Frank engaged the assistance of a local resident, who in turn engaged the help of further 'elderly residents' and all together advised him further. Apparently, the locals unofficially called this location 'Landje van Toon de Lange'. He was a small farmer and in the original photo can be seen some grass. Until the 1980's sheep were walking around on that field. On the right of the capture is a dark building, these were the stables of the sheep. In the early 1990's this place had to be demolished to make place of a parking spot. Nowadays this location is called: Kloosterbuurt. (RL)

Outside the Hotel Spaander, Volendam. The hotel also features in 'Super Agent Super Dragon'.

The hotel has seen much alteration and expansion. (PW)

A shop in Volendam.

No, not the same location. This image shows one of the few remaining buildings in the same traditional 'livery'. (PW)

Muiderslot Castle courtyard.

The courtyard now. Image copyright Google Maps.

Muiderslot Castle in Muiden, 15 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam.

Another Google View replaced by Frank, who together with Reelstreets, thanks the lady on the cash desk who kindly let him in for free to take these two shots. The front entrance of castle Muiderslot close to Amsterdam. The castle is located at the mouth of the Vecht river, some 15 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam, in Muiden, where it flows into what used to be the Zuiderzee. It is one of the better known castles in the Netherlands and featured in many television shows set in the Middle Ages. (RL)

Muiderslot Castle

Frank replaces for us a very long outstanding Google Image. The same front entrance as capture 21 but from a different angle. (RL)

The Marken Island lighthouse, east of Amsterdam in the Markermeer.

Neil Rigby found this.

The boat chase enters the canal system . . . Frank tells us that is the Prinsengracht where it crosses with the Haarlemmerdijk.

. . . here at Korte Prinsengracht with Haarlemmerstraat. Frank provides a confirmation shot taken from almost the exact camera location to replace Neil Rigby's Google view and tells us that it is part of a sluice. (RL)

Herengracht at Leliegracht, Amsterdam located by Neil Rigby.

Frank confirms that it is indeed on the intersection of Herengracht and Leliegracht, entering the Jordaan part of Amsterdam as identified by Neil Rigby whilst replacing the Google View. Capture 46 has the exact same camera location. (RL)

Neil Rigby writes "I took a look at the film and I'm sure the bar where 'Rab C. Nesbit' has a drink is near here, namely the De Haven Van Texel bar on Sint Olofssteeg. Looking along Oudezijds Achterburgwal with Vreoenburger Bruge carrying Spooksteeg in the middle distance. The location is also seen in 'Operation Amsterdam'.

Confirmed with the assistance of Hans at Café In 't Aepjen. (PW)

An added grab from Neil Rigby, looking towards Sint Olofssteeg.

The view from Vreoenburger Brug with acknowledgement to Hans for assisting in the confirmation of the location. (PW)

Magere Brug aka 'Skinny Bridge' over the River Amstel in the centre of Amsterdam. Also featured in 'Diamonds are Forever'.

From the archives. SJ

River Amstel looking at Amstel between Herengracht & Keizersgracht.

NR/Google view.

Canal view looking at the Munttoren ("Coin Tower") on Muntplein Square.

NR/Google view.

Canal view looking at Amstel & Nieuwe Herengracht.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Looking to Amstel & Keizersgracht.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Entering Reguliersgracht from Prinsengracht heading towards Keizersgracht.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Canal view from river Amstel.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Continuing along Reguliersgracht from Prinsengracht towards Keizersgracht.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Brouwersgracht with Keizersgracht beyond the bridge.

Neil Rigby/Google View.

Brouwersgracht looking towards Herengracht,

NR/Google View.

Brouwersgracht at Lekkeresluis/Prinsengracht.

NR/Google View.

Following on from poac024 entering the canal system. The boats are going along Herengracht at Leliegracht.

Frank provides a shot to replace the Google View provided by Neil Rigby back in 2016. (RL)

Underneath the bridge at Herengracht and Leliegracht.

A from a quieter Google perspective from Neil Rigby.

Herengracht into Reguliersgracht.

The same bridge taken from the north side of Herengracht replacing Neil Rigby's Google View. (PW) As Frank says, "The bridges has been modified over the years. Probably because the boats got bigger. ". (RL)

Keizersgracht at Leidsegracht.

A Google shot from Neil Rigby supports.

Leidsegracht approaching Keizersgracht, this section is used twice.

Less activity in this Google Earth shot from Neil Rigby.

Keizersgracht at Reguliersgracht.

A wider view of the same location from Google supplied by Neil Rigby.

Herengracht at Leliegracht as in Capture 26 says Neil Rigby

This is indeed on the intersection of Herengracht and Leliegracht entering the Jordaan part of Amsterdam confirms Frank. Capture 46 has the exact same camera location. (RL)

Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Looking towards Oudezijds Kolk.

The location is confirmed by Hans at Café In 't Aepjen on Zeedijk, the road passing over the bridge to the left. Replacing Neil Rigby's Google View identification.(PW)

Coming out of Beulingsloot into Herengracht by Leidsegracht........ Circa 1972

Coming out of Beulingsloot into Herengracht by Leidsegracht........

We are looking at the Herengracht and the boat will enter Leidsegracht in the center of Amsterdam.

We are looking at the Herengracht and the boat will enter Leidsegracht in the center of Amsterdam Frank tells us. Again replacing a Google View and supporting the identification by Neil Rigby. (RL)

........and going into Leidsegracht from Herengracht.

This shot has been taken from the exact same position as capture 48. To the man in the speedboat Frank would like to say: We do have speed limits in the Amsterdam canals!!! A particularly accurate replacement shot of a Google View by Frank who clearly confirms Neil's location identification. (RL)

intersection of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht Circa 1972

Leidsegracht at Keizersgracht. I’m certain the bridges have been rebuilt here. The shop on the corner remains the same.

intersection of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht

Not that many people on the bridges when Frank took this photo, a consequence of the COVID19 pandemic. Nevertheless, he confirms Neil's identification as the intersection of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht and replaces the Google Earth View. (RL)

The intersection of Reguliersgracht and Keizerstgracht, another location used twice.

The bridge was seen in 'Inside Out' and is overlooked by the entrance to Tiffany Case's apartment from 'Diamonds Are Forever'. Replacing the Google view from Neil Rigby.

Coming out of Leidsegracht into Herengracht.

Courtesy Google Earth from Neil Rigby.

Following on from 051 Leidsegracht and Herengracht.

A clearer view from Google supplied by Neil Rigby.

  • 'Now' required

Aerial shot of Beulingsloot going into Herengracht. Seen from ground level in previous shots.

  • 'Now' required

Second aerial shot going into Leidsegracht from Herengracht.

Grimburgwal.

A more accurate comparison shot from Frank to replace Neil Rigby's Google View. When you thought the traffic by car is terrible in Amsterdam this is what it is for boats. Even when your boat goes like 2 miles an hour you still do not have the time to read all these signs! (RL)

Grimburgwal.

NR/Google Earth.

Dodging the barge boat. Reguliersgracht at Keizersgracht.

The same intersection replacing the Google view provided by Neil Rigby. (PW)

From Oude Turfmarkt looking towards Grimburgwal.

Another from Frank to replace Neil's Google View. This photo has been taken from the Grimnessesluis and not much has changed except the name plate of the Grimnessesluis.

Facing south on Oudezijds Kolk.

Looking from Oudezijds Kolk towards the bridge carrying Zeedijk. Replacing the Google View provided by Neil Rigby.

Passing under Blauwbrug on the River Amstel. The chase ends past skinny bridge as mentioned in Capture 28.

Without getting my feet wet.Replacing Google View from Neil Rigby. (PW)