Fire Maidens from Outer Space

Taking off from Los Alamos in New Mexico, a TWA fight passes over New York City en route to England.

Landing gear is deployed as the Lockheed Constellation comes in to land at London Airport. The field pattern and vegetation are not what appear on the approach to London.

Nuclear scientist Luther Blair disembarks along with other Passengers. The shirt-sleeved Official and tropical trees in the background suggest somewhere other than London.

Dr. Higgins (Sydney Tafler) meets Luther Blair (Anthony Dexter) outside the terminal building. This is the entrance to the administration block at MGM’s Borehamwood studios on Elstree Way in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Exchanging greetings, the two get into the Doctor’s car. MGM Studios on Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

Leaving the airport, the American is driven to Dr. Higgins’ observatory where a discovery has been made. In front of MGM studios, Elstree Way in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

The journey across London continues. Geoff Dodd "offered up" Stirling Corner A1/A411 roundabout for this and the following capture, both shot from 'The King's Arms', seen in 'The Scamp' capture 20. But Geoff was concerned that he couldn't find that vital piece of evidence. An excellent photograph of 'The King's Arms' is found in the the Francis Frith Collection M357015 confirming all of the roundabout features. A virtual expeditionary force instigated by Paul Baker on Facebook Barnet - A Trip Down Memory Lane led to support/identification from John Auld that it is Stirling Corner, and further confirmation from a lady who worked in the building in the background, John Tann safe manufacturer. Well done all. (RL)

The John Tann building at the entrance to Stirling Way was where Morrisons is today. 3 of the 4 roads joining Stirling Corner roundabout are now controlled by traffic lights. As Denis Hoare says, the simple 'Keep Left' signage that many of us remember has been replaced by a new shiny blue arrow without words. (RL)

Following the car, the shot passes a turning off the roundabout. Stirling Corner roundabout A1/A411, see previous capture. Geoff Dodd points out the S11 police box far left. (RL)

Denis admits that he hasn't quite got the correct angle, despite the police phone box being highlighted in the original screen capture, which would be just out of shot to the left. He would like to blame the traffic fumes, but it does explain why he first thought the car in the original film capture was going the wrong way around the roundabout! He clarifies by pointing out that it's actually leaving the roundabout and heading onto the A411 towards Barnet. It is so satisfying that these things happen to other people too. (RL)

This road isn't far from the studio, or even the observatory in the following capture. Dave W needed no assistance to locate the car passing 590 Watford Way (A1) and was gratified to see the garden wall and low Fire Hydrant sign remain to confirm. The location was also recognised by Antony Blair who adds that the view is towards Apex Corner. (RL)

The two arrive at the observatory where, inside, Dr. Higgins explains that an Earth like atmosphere has been detected on a newly found thirteenth moon of Jupiter. Looking towards the University of London Observatory on Watford Way, Mill Hill in Middlesex.

John Harwood found this the only angle possible. (SJ)

After launch, the progress of a rocket ship to Jupiter is monitored from the American British Astronomical Station at Houndspoint in Surrey. The administration block at MGM’s Borehamwood studios with one of the stages visible in the left background.

The three week journey to Jupiter encounters a meteor storm before the Crew spot their target.

One for the album . . . after smoking cigarettes following a successful landing, Anderson (Rodney Diak), Captain Larson (Paul Carpenter), Sydney Stanhope (Harry Fowler), Luther and Dr. Higgins leave the ship and look across a landscape more reminiscent of Pogles Wood than the thirteenth moon of Jupiter.