Brides of Fu Manchu, The

News stands report the kidnapping of prominent scientist Jules Merlin. Westminster Bridge, London SW1 is seen in the background.

Taken from Westminster Pier. SJ

The scene is set by London's Tower Bridge.

The cannon has been moved away from this viewpoint. SJ

Franz Baumer (Heinz Drache) and his fiancée Marie Lentz (Marie Versini) walk by the river along Tower Wharf, London EC3.

Richard Lovejoy found a lot of railings on his visit.

They are set upon by a Chinese gang attempting to capture Marie. Tower Wharf EC3.

RL provides a less violent scene.

The gang get away, leaving Marie unconscious. Tower Wharf, also seen in 'Jazz Boat', 'The Diamond', 'Diamonds for Breakfast', 'Alfie', 'A Run for Your Money' and 'The Naked Edge'.

Neil Kenny provided this comparison and admits he had to contend with a security cabin and marquee that impeded his view.

Inside Bow Street Police Station, Fu Manchu's nemesis, British police commissioner Nayland Smith (Douglas Wilmer), and his assistant Dr. Petrie (Howard Marion-Crawford) get on to the case. Bow Street Police Station, WC2 was closed in 1992 and now houses a police museum. It also featured in 'Bobbikins' and 'The Weapon'.

A greater choice of transport these days. (RL)

The police rush to the film's St. Edmond's Hospital where Marie works, as another attempt is made to kidnap her. This is the Gatehouse to The Charterhouse, looking out on Charterhouse Square, EC1. The Charterhouse appears in 'Das Verrätertor', 'A Jolly Bad Fellow' and 'Morgan, a Suitable Case for Treatment'

This unsatisfactory shot of the gatehouse is taken from Charterhouse Square looking in and so is highly replaceable should anyone wish to take one of the daily tours inside (currently £15). SJ

A stock shot introduces Paris, where Fu Manchu has forced Jules Merlin to work for him to save his abducted daughter.

The Chinese gang manage to capture Marie at a ballet performance at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith W6. The interior scenes are shot at that theatre, so this exterior may well be too. However, the theatre was demolished and rebuilt in 1969.

Jules Merlin is called to London. He arrives at Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place, London NW1.

The platform is less smoky at Marylebone Station today in this shot from Neil Kenny..

Jules (Rupert Davies) is being tracked by Sergeant Spicer (Kenneth Fortescue). Marylebone Station.

Neil beat me to comparison 10, where we stood in identical positions by the ticket barrier. This is s detail from the same area which may or may not be the same pillar. SJ

Sergeant Spicer follows Jules and notes the number of the car that picks him up. Marylebone Station.

As with the above comparison, a matching pillar but I'm not guaranteeing the same one. SJ

Police watch over the house of Otto Lentz, Marie's father. Clarence Crescent, Windsor, Berkshire.

Sergeant Spicer checks on the situation with the constable on site (Denis Holmes). Clarence Crescent, Windsor.

Looking much the same today, Elizabeth House at number 8 Clarence Crescent.

The two policemen patrol the street. The gate belongs to 7 Clarence Crescent, and was seen in capture 13.

Some changes evident, including the gate.

They notice someone leaving the house whom they assume is the cleaner. It is Ling Tan (Tsai Chin) in disguise as the gang attempt to capture Otto. 7 Clarence Crescent, Windsor.

A neat hedge, and a black front door.

They see a man leaving the house and boarding a car. Clarence Crescent, Windsor.

Now with double yellow lines.

Lin Tang removes her disguise, joins another car and speeds off. 11 Clarence Crescent, Windsor.

My, how that puny tree has grown.

Sergeant Sniper pursues the car carrying the captive.

The cars negotiate a ford.

The police car has to swerve to avoid a haycart and goes off the road.

The car carrying "Otto" turns off the road. Waltham Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

An unassuming entrance to the airfield.

The car enters the airfield of the film's West London Flying Club. This is White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire, home of the West London Aero Club since 1947. The hangar on the left still stands.

Now joined by another hangar. The CCF at my school used to be taken up in Chipmunks by RAF pilots here.

The car carrying "Otto" enters a hangar, and drops him off. White Waltham Airfield.

Sergeant Spicer arrives at the West London Flying Club. White Waltham Airfield.

Sergeant Sniper is unable to prevent the plane taking off with the captive on board. White Waltham Airfield.

In the present day, Antony Blair found a WW2 Spitfire sitting on the same airfield.

Police cars speed through London towards the London offices of Wireless International where the criminals are based. The junction of Lower Thames Street and Monument Street EC3.

Positioning difficult here as the road layout has changed, but the main elements are in the right place. The two towers stand unchanged in a developing landscape.

The police cars reach St. Katharine Docks E1, crossing the old swing bridge. The warehouses also appear in 'Pool of London', 'Soho Incident', 'The Creeping Flesh' and 'The London Nobody Knows'.

Without the benefit of the roadway it is not possible to stand further back. (RL)

After crossing the bridge, the car turns left into St. Katharine Way. St. Katharine Dock.

The cream 'Tower Walk' residences, just visible, follows the curvature seen in the screen capture but the loss of roadway and bridge coupled with development rather limits the extent of the comparative shot. (RL)

The car approaches Wireless International's offices. St. Katharine Dock, with Tower Bridge in the distance.

The view of Tower Bridge has been lost but we have gained 'The Shard'. (RL)

The police arrive at the Wireless International offices. St. Katharine Dock now widely redeveloped.

The film action took place just inside what is now Commodity Quay. (RL)

They see a receiver on top of the building.

They climb up to destroy it. Warehouse rooftops at St. Katharine Docks.

They reach the receiver, only to find that it is a dummy. The Tower of London can be seen in the distance behind the original Thomas Telford warehouses which have since been redeveloped.

A constable stands watch over St. Paul's Cathedral EC4, where a dedication service for an international arms conference is taking place, which Fu Manchu intends to destroy.

Today with tourists.

Seargeant Spicer and Otto Lentz arrive at the cathedral with news that they have found and disabled the receiver.

Today in the autumn sunshine.

Rayland is searching for Fu Manchu's worldwide HQ. In the film this is a near a French army fort in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. In reality, who knows?

Otto and Dr. Petrie visit the BBC transmitter to attempt to send a blocking signal. Dave W establishes this as Brookmans Park transmitting station in Hertfordshire, with Great North Road and parallel Upland Drive beyond the outer gate in the distance. (RL)

They prepare to send a blocking signal. With the capabilities of electronics they may well have been able to send a blocking signal, but Dave W has found this cluster of aerials to be at Borough Hill, Daventry in Northamptonshire. All now gone. (RL)

The Chinese gang makes its way through London in a van carrying the receiver, disguised as a police van. Facing west down Carter Lane EC4, with Dean's Court to the right.

Carter Lane today. (SR)

The crowd surges forward as the van arrives. St. Paul's Cathedral EC4.

No surging crowd today. (SR)

Will the evil plan succeed, or will the signal be blocked? We await the answer. St. Paul's Cathedral EC4

Taken from a similar spot. (SR)