Cross-Roads

After examining marks on the tree that he and his sister Susan had crashed into six months earlier, Harry Cooper (Christopher Lee) thumbs a lift before bring picked up by Betty (Mercy Haystead). As well as recognising the car as a Wolseley Hornet, Anthony Spencer identifies this as Elstree Road where it becomes Watford Road between Bushey Heath and Elstree in Hertfordshire, about a quarter of a mile west of the Fishery Inn.

While talking on the way to London, Betty is surprised that Harry knows so much about her. Anthony Spencer locates this as Elstree Road where it becomes Watford Road between Bushey Heath and Elstree, about a quarter of a mile west of the Fishery Inn, with the Aldenham Works power plant in the right background.

The well presented young man asks if they can stop at a telephone box so that he can make an urgent call. Elstree Road just to the east of the junction with The Rutts in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. A telephone box survived at the location until 2019.

After a call to theatrical agent Bernard J. Maskell, Harry gets back into the car and the two continue on their journey south.

Explaining that Betty reminds him of his deceased sister, Harry is driven to Maskell's office. Facing west along Prince’s Gardens from Ennismore Gardens SW7 with Exhibition Road in the distance.

Part of the terrace has been lost. SJ

Betty pulls up outside the building where Maskell operates from. Outside Kingston House south on Ennismore Gardens.

1-32 has been added and the lamp-post moved. SJ

Unknowingly dropping his cigarette case, Harry says goodbye to Betty and enters the the building to meet with the sleazy impresario. Kingston House South can also be seen in 'Escape Route', ‘Terror Street’, ‘The Vicious Circle’ and 'Suspended Alibi'.

Little change. SJ

Leaving Betty inside the building with Maskell's body after she enters to return the cigarette case, Harry takes her car and makes his escape. Facing the since demolished and replaced numbers 69 and 68 Ennismore Gardens in SW7.

A wider shot to show the general area near Moncorvo Close. SJ

Ignoring traffic on a main road, Harry flees from the scene. The junction of Kensington Road and Ennismore Road SW7 with number 7 Princes Gate in the background.

A moment's break in the traffic. SJ

This is Prince of Wales’ Gate on Kensington Road.

A few added signs. SJ

The Ring in W1, now part of Park Lane, with a building at the corner of Park Lane and Green Street in the left background.

Looking from The Ring towards Marble Arch beyond Tyburn Way with the Cumberland Hotel on Oxford Street in the background.

The Cumberland Hotel is now The Hard Rock Hotel. SJ

While Betty contacts the police, Harry continues to drive north. We benefit once again from Dave W's childhood memories, for whilst he was on a bus, not in a car, he recognises Edgware Road, London W2 with Frampton Street going off on the right, the missing property No. 454 having been war-damaged. (RL)

70+ years on Denis Hoare found that the ornate lampost, shown in the screenshot, along with all the others, has been replaced, but appears to be in the same lo cation. Most of the area's redevelopment appearsto be on the west side of the road, although the old fire station and garage/petrol station on the corner of Orchardson St to the right have recently been replaced too. (RL)

Looking from Shoot Up Hill on the A5 Watling Street in NW2 facing the crossroads formed by Walm Lane and Manstone Road with Cricklewood Broadway ahead.

Whilst 'out and about' in his Wolseley motor car Denis Hoare managed to take this shot for us......both hands on the wheel? (RL)

The junction of The Broadway, Church Road and Stanmore Hill in Stanmore, Middlesex with Bernays Institute visible in the left distance.

Antony Blair took a trip to Stanmore for this shot.

Panning with the car brings Stanmore Hill into frame.

On the opposite side of the road stands The Fishmongers Arms public house at 132 High Street in Bushey, Hertfordshire. The location also appears in ‘Johnny On the Spot’ and 'Skid Kids'.

A Police Car takes up the pursuit as Harry passes at well over the speed limit. Facing Herkomer House at the corner of High Street and Melbourne Road in Bushey,

Pete Hammond returned to the corner.

Outside The Fishery Inn on Watford Road in Elstree, Hertfordshire, a pub that can also be glimpsed in 'Small Town Story'. The terrace on the right has been demolished but the house beyond survives.

Taken from the pavement outside the Bhageecha Indian bar and restaurant which took over The Fishery in 2020. The terrace is now a car-park. SJ

The roundabout at the junction Elstree Road and North Western Avenue, the Watford By-Pass, in Bushey Heath.

Cornering hard, the patrol car keeps up. The roundabout at the junction Elstree Road and North Western Avenue also features in ‘Small Town Story’ and 'Murder at the Grange'.

Little Bushey Lane, Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire with sign for King’s Head public house to the left.

Around the corner on Little Bushey Lane with Little Bushey, the white building, ahead.

Little Bushey Lane approaching the junction with Chiltern Avenue and Wayside Avenue.

When the sports car crashes into a tree at the corner where Susan Cooper died, two Policemen (N. Morris and N. Matthews) get out of their car to search the wreckage . . . . but find no one inside. Anthony Spencer believes that this is is very likely Elstree Road where it becomes Watford Road between Bushey Heath and Elstree in Hertfordshire, the same location seen at the beginning of the film with Aldenham Reservoir behind the trees in the background.