Wall of Death (A Scotland Yard supporting feature)
Date: 1956
Director: Montgomery Tully
Production Company: Merton Park Studios
Stars: Cyril Chamberlain, Vernon Greeves, Vanda Godsell
Location(s): Essex, London
Region(s): London T-Z, South East R-Z
Storyline:
The death of a stunt rider on an amusement park ride is investigated by Scotland Yard.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
Number 15 in the series introduced by the crime writer Edgar Lustgarten.
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- Capture 1
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"London. Cradle of the Commonwealth." The towers at the West Front of Westminster Abbey in SW1 with Victoria Street to the right.
- Capture 2
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"Largest city in the world." The camera moves to find Central Hall with the headquarters of London Transport at 55 Broadway to the top left.
- Capture 3
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"734 square miles of buildings and streets in which eight and a quarter million law abiding citizens live and work and play in freedom from fear and in safety." In the distance, Buckingham Palace comes into view.
- Capture 4
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"And here, deep in the heart of the city, close to many of its historic buildings . . . " St. James's Park, The shot moves across The Mall, the Duke of York Monument, Carlton House Terrace and Horse Guards Parade.
- Capture 5
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". . . near to the great government offices and only a stone's throw from Parliament itself stands . . . " The Admiralty is centered upon.
- Capture 6
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". . . Scotland Yard, headquarters of the great police organisation that watches over the safety and security of the people in a constant war against the nation's crime." Scotland Yard with Victoria Embankment to the right.
- Capture 7
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An ambulance hurries through a fairground towards the ‘Wall of Death’. Garry King recognised the Kursaal amusement park on Southchurch Avenue in Southend, Essex.
- Capture 8
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Arriving on site, the Fire Brigade begin to extinguish the blazing wreckage of stunt rider Joe Hartier’s motorcycle. The attraction was that of George “Tornado” Smith at the Kursaal in Southend confirmed by Garry King.
- Capture 9
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Mrs. Toms (Rita Webb) tells Mr. Toms (Gordon Phillott) “You know I can't stand watching anybody get hurt. We should have gone to the all in wrestling where I wanted to!”. Found with help from Garry King, this is the Kursaal in Southend with the scenic railway in the background.
- Capture 10
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When it’s discovered that Joe’s mechanic Ben Watts had fled the fairground earlier that day, Detective Inspector Harris (Cyril Chamberlain) arrives to begin his investigation.
- Capture 11
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Tracing Joe’s family to France, the Inspector sends Detective Fuller to speak with his Mother.
- Capture 12
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Sergeant Fuller (Vernon Greeves) and a Gendarme (André Maranne) call at Madame Hartier’s house and learn that there was no love lost between herself and her son’s wife.
- Capture 13
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The Police presence at the Port of Dover is increased after Rudi Schmidt is found to have left the circus where he worked alongside Joe’s wife Nina. Could this be Merton Park Studios on Kingston Road in Merton Park SW19?
- Capture 14
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Officers chase the trapeze artist when he’s spotted in the shadows.
- Capture 15
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Rudi Schmidt (Ferdy Mayne) appears on a walkway before being apprehended by the pursuing Policemen.