633 Squadron
Date: 1964
Director: Walter Grauman
Production Company: Mirisch Films
Stars: Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris, Maria Perschy, Harry Andrews, Donald Houston
Location(s): Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire; Argyll & Bute, Highland (Scotland)
Region(s): Scotland, South East R-Z, South West
Storyline:
An RAF squadron is assigned to knock out a German rocket fuel factory in Norway that supplies fuel for the Nazi effort to launch rockets on England during D-Day. Their nearly impossible mission is further complicated by a German air raid, the difficult approach to the target and the capture and torture of the underground leader who is assisting the squadron.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Ray Edwards and published by Richard Lovejoy
John Skinner advises that the German sequence is an out take/discard from The Great Escape, the same Producers.
Simon Dickson who is selling important behind the scenes photographs and correspondence on eBay has kindly agreed for us to use the material in a supporting article to our listing of the film. The items and links to the eBay listing can be viewed by clicking here.
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Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
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.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Opening scenes are of a German World War Two base. With this and the the next capture likely to be a set but included for scene setting.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
A German Army vehicle is seen leaving the Camp carrying a high ranking German Officer.
- Capture 3
- 31 Aug 2024
The retreat of 633 Squadron Officers when stood down. The Black Swan is played by the Three Compasses public house, Pegmire Lane, Aldenham, Hertfordshire, still open for business. The premises also appear in 'A Welcome to Britain'.
David Fost provides this now capture some 60 years after the original filming. RE
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
633 Squadron aircraft landing at RAF Sutton Craddock bomber airfield. This is actually RAF Bovingdon airfield, northwest of Bovingdon, Hertfordshire. A local market is held on part of the old runways today.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Wing Commander Roy Grant (Cliff Robertson) arrives by car at the office in RAF Sutton Craddock. RAF Bovingdon was mainly a USAAF airfield from 1942 to 1962. By the time this movie was being made, the USAAF had gone.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
RAF Sutton Craddock Control Tower, actually RAF Bovingdon Control Tower, also seen in 'Hanover Street', 'Silver Dream Racer' and 'Mosquito Squadron'. The airfield closed in 1972 and since 1987 the the airfield has been the site of HM Prison The Mount.. Looking at Google Maps, as of 2016 the Control Tower still survives along with the little building seen in this still. Phil Milsom directs us to the website https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/military-sites/6303-bovingdon-airfield-control-tower.html#.VTkK4Wx0yP8 for more information and the sad decline with the passage of time. (RL)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Officers of 633 Squardron depart in an RAF vehicle. Again this is RAF Bovingdon looking towards the hangars. Adam Edwards updates us that the airfield is now Bovingdon Studios, hosting the likes of ITV's 'Dancing on Ice' along with other productions such as 'Masters of the Air', so no longer derelict. "A rather appropriate fate considering."
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
Wing Commander Roy Grant arrives at the offices of RAF Sutton Craddock.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
A German Convoy passes through a European village.
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
An RAF Staff car pulls up at the sentry gate of RAF Sutton Craddock.
- Capture 12
- 07 Sep 2024
Wing Commander Roy Grant arrives outside The Black Swan. Antony Blair identifies this as The Three Compasses on Pegmire Lane at Patchetts Green near Watford, Hertfordshire.
A wider view from Antony for context.
- Capture 13
- 14 Aug 2017
During a quiet moment, Wing Commander Roy Grant (Cliff Robertson) takes Hilde Bergman (Maria Perschy) for a picnic beside a river. This still is taken just before the camera pans left onto them. According to a '633 Squadron' Wikipedia entry, this is the same location as the river scene in 'From Russia With Love' and Gordon Thomson confirms the location as Tykes Water Lakes Bridge on the Aldenham Estate which also features in 'Voices', 'Dracula AD 1972', 'Taste the Blood of Dracula' and 'Fear in the Night'.
Ivor Williams provides this shot of Tykes Water Lake in Elstree adding that it has indeed been used in many TV programs and movies over the years. These include, he says, the opening titles of the 6th series of tevelision's The Avengers showing Linda Thorson running over it. (RL)
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
The entrance to a German Command Post that 633 Squadron are asked to destroy. Possibly this is a stage set. Yes it is indeed a set, see http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
Another view of the German Command post shortly before being destroyed. Looks very much like a stage setting. A set it is, see http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/mgmblot.htm (RL)
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
Final shots of a high ranking RAF officer walking from the Control Tower at RAF Sutton Craddock. Throughout the movie there are several aerial shots of bombing runs etc. These would be very difficult to pin point their locations as there are no identifying structures to aid visual identifaction. Most were filmed in Scotland.