Escape from Broadmoor

Date: 1948
Director: John Gilling
Production Company: Harry Reynolds Productions

Stars: Victoria Hopper, John Stuart, John Le Mesurier, Frank Hawkins, Tony Doonan
Location(s): London

Region(s):

Storyline:

Years after a maid is murdered at a remote country mansion, the killer returns to the scene of the crime where he encounters a chilling dose of supernatural revenge.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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John Gilling introduces the film “In presenting the first of my series of psychic mysteries, I merely relate the story of ‘Escape form Broadmoor’ as it was told me. I do not vouch for its truth or accuracy - I do not know if it happened at all, or if it did, whether it happened quite like this - but the story interested me. I hope it will interest you too.”

  • 'Now' required

Moving from the London rooftops to street level, the lens finds a corner close to where Jenkins is running from a Scotland Yard Detective.

Jenkins (Tony Doonan) ducks as he runs alongside a low wall. Facing south towards numbers 13 and 19 Shepherd Market in London W1.

Looking south onto Shepherd Market now. PW

A little way behind, Detective Reynolds peers over the wall as he follows. This is facing east on Curzon Street in Mayfair and a similar view of the location can be seen in 'Follow Me'.

The same, unmistakable location. PW

Jenkins turns a corner and hides in a pub doorway. Outside The Grapes public house on Shepherd Market W1.

A little more clutter about nowadays. PW

Picking up the trail, the Detective follows Jenkins to a ruined terraced house where psychiatric patient Pendicost is hiding after breaking out of Broadmoor Hospital. The Grapes on Shepherd Market also features in ‘Booby Trap’ while other parts of the street appear in 'Night, After Night, After Night', 'Murder Without Crime', ‘Maytime in Mayfair’, ‘Follow Me’, ‘Stage Fright’ and ‘Monsieur Ripois’.

Too busy to sneak about now. PW

  • 'Now' required

Cut to Twelvetrees, the house of Roger Trent on Hampstead Heath, where ten years earlier, Pendicot had murdered the Maid whilst committing a robbery.

  • 'Now' required

As Inspector Thornton drives Trent away for a night out at his club with the aim of reassuring him that the escapee will be caught, Plainclothes Officer Roberts (Pat Ryan) appears in front of the house watched from the bushes by Pendicost and Jenkins.