Five Clues to Fortune (Children’s Film Foundation)

Date: 1957
Director: Joe Mendoza
Production Company: Merton Park Studios

Stars: John Rogers, Roberta Patterson, Peter Godsell, David Hemmings, Dafydd Havard, Norman Mitchell, David Cameron, Peter Welch, Philippa Hyatt, Rex Montgomery, Robert Raglan, Henry Webb, John Stuart, Monica Moore
Location(s): Bedfordshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

A group of children follow a trail of five clues that lead to a treasure hidden for over four hundred years.

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson

Originally released as a cinema serial in eight instalments entitled ‘Dead Man’s Message’, ‘The Secret of the Antler’, ‘Raiders at Midnight’, ‘A Tight Spot’, ‘Race Against Time’, ‘Stampede’, ‘The Fifth Clue’ and ‘The Treasure Chest’.

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  • Capture 1
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At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries in England, King Henry VIII's Guards ride to claim the treasures of Woburn Abbey as an Abbot writes a cryptic clue as to their whereabouts.

  • Capture 2
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Over four hundred years later, the Old Abbot's house is demolished.

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Spotting the demolition whilst out riding, Michael (John Rogers) and Jill Strong (Roberta Patterson) pause to watch as a part of the building comes crashing down.

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Behind some dislodged panelling Jill spots a hollow in the wall.

  • Capture 5
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Having retrieved an antler from the hole at the Abbot's house, the siblings ride back to the stables at Woburn Abbey where they live with their Mother and Father, who is the Duke of Bedford's Steward.

  • Capture 6
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Joined by Mr. Fetlock's nephew Ken (David Hemmings), Michael and Jill tell him about the treasure of Woburn Abbey which has never been discovered.

  • Capture 7
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Reaching the house, Ken heads off home before Jill and Michael overhear Mr. King tell their Father that he's advised the Duke to sell the Abbey. Woburn Abbey at Woburn in Bedfordshire.

  • Capture 8
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Mrs. Strong sends Jill and Michael to Mrs. Wood (Monica Moore) in the village to collect their little brother Mark. Steve Randall found the Bedford Estate Cottages at numbers 15 to 18 Turnpike Road at Husborne Crawley to the north-east of Woburn in Bedfordshire.

  • Capture 9
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Carrying the artefact from the Abbot's house, Michael and Jill walk through the village with Mark (Peter Godsell) who had found another antler while digging in Mrs. Wood's garden. Leighton Street in Woburn, Bedfordshire with the Town Hall as the backdrop.

  • Capture 10
  • 24 Apr 2025

Outside a hotel, Michael spots the Duke's secretary Mr. King. The junction of Leighton Street and George Street in Woburn with the Market Square in the left background and High Street to the right.

Antony Blair returned to the same spot.

  • Capture 11
  • 24 Apr 2025

At the entrance to the hotel, Mr. King (David Cameron) speaks with Mr. Robson (Robert Raglan) who wants to purchase Woburn Abbey to build a soap factory. Facing the Bedford Arms Hotel on George Street, Woburn. The hotel also features in 'The Jigsaw man'.

A clearer and more colourful view by Antony Blair.

  • Capture 12
  • 24 Apr 2025

The three become suspicious as they heard Mr. King tell their Father that he was working late in the library. The corner of Leighton Street and George Street.

Hardly a change in Antony Blair's comparison.

  • Capture 13
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Mr. King tells Robson that Mr. Strong had near enough agreed to back him up on the sale of the Abbey and suggests a partnership. Facing the Town Hall from George Street in Woburn.

  • Capture 14
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At the hotel's tradesman's entrance, the Children notice Jonas (Dafydd Havard) and Bert (Norman Mitchell) talking with a Chef. The Bedford Arms Hotel on George Street in Woburn.

  • Capture 15
  • 24 Apr 2025

Deciding to to ask him about the antler, Michael, Mark and Jill approach Jonas who hurriedly hides a poached pheasant in a bag. Looking north on George Street in Woburn with buildings on High Street in the left distance.

Antony Blair found no poached game.

  • Capture 16
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Forced to spy for Mr. King after being caught with the pheasant, Jonas and Bert look at one another when they overhear that the Children have found markings on the antler found at the Old Abbot's house.

  • Capture 17
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Bert cycles away with the antler after he and Jonas set a fire at the stables as a distraction.

  • Capture 18
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Following clues that Mr. King had discovered after taking a parchment hidden in the Abbot's antler, Bert and Jonas make their way to the house that night. Woburn Abbey was founded by the Order of Cistercians in 1145.

  • Capture 19
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Careful to avoid Wenham, the night watchman, the pair look for the door that Mr. King had left open. The Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538.

  • Capture 20
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As Michael, Jill and Ken also follow the trail of clues, inside the Abbey Mr. King asks Jonas and Bert if the children have found anything that will lead them to the legendary treasure. The Woburn Abbey estate became the seat of the Russell family and the Dukes of Bedford in 1547.

  • Capture 21
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Locked in a room by Mr. King, the Children inch their way across the roof of the house after escaping through a window. Looking down into what was the enclosed courtyard at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

  • Capture 22
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Balancing on the parapet, Michael, Jill and Ken find a way back into the building. Demolition and rebuilding of the house was carried out during the 17th and 18th centuries.

  • Capture 23
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The three Children run towards the Abbot's Oak where their dog digs up a false clue hidden by Bert and Jonas. Presumably, the tree to the right is the Abbots Oak in the grounds of Woburn Abbey which stands in the background.

  • Capture 24
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Eventually finding the genuine clue, Michael, Jill, Mark and Ken head to the other side of the park looking for an old sundial. The Grade II listed Doric Temple, a folly in the grounds of Woburn Abbey.

  • Capture 25
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When Mr. King, Bert and Jonas get to the next clue first, Michael and Mark ride back to the house to tell their Father. North Court at Woburn Abbey at Woburn in Bedfordshire.

  • Capture 26
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Creating a distraction, Mr. King tells Mr. Strong (Peter Welch) that the herd of bison have escaped and are all over the park. In the background stands the North Court at Woburn Abbey.

  • Capture 27
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Watching the steward drive away, Mr. King smiles to himself. Dry rot was discovered following occupation by the Political Warfare Executive during World War II which led to half of the Abbey being demolished.

  • Capture 28
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After sending Mr. Fetlock off to help Mr. Strong, Mr. King searches the house for the Abbot's cup. Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

  • Capture 29
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Mrs. Strong (Philippa Hiatt) returns home. Woburn Abbey was opened to the public for the first time in 1955.

  • Capture 30
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After Michael and Jill tell their Father that Mr. King wants the Abbey to be sold, the crooked secretary returns to the house after learning that the cup has been placed in the safe. The southern aspect of Woburn Abbey.

  • Capture 31
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Mr. Fetlock (Rex Montgomery), Mr. Strong and the Children run from the house after the pieces of a treasure map are snatched by Mr. King. The Grade I listed Woburn Abbey at Woburn.

  • Capture 32
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Handed the map by Mr. King, Bert and Jonas flee to a log cabin on the estate.

  • Capture 33
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Following muddy footprints left by the crooks, Mr. Fetlock, Mr. Strong, Michael, Jill and Ken surround the cabin.

  • Capture 34
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Escaping from the cabin, Bert and Jonas ride towards the gates of the estate. Looking east along Park Road in Woburn Park.

  • Capture 35
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Getting a lift from a lorry full of Children visiting the park, Mr. Strong, Ken and Michael reach the gates before Bert and Jonas. To the left is Park Street running through Woburn Park.

  • Capture 36
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Switching to Jonas and Bert's viewpoint, the shot moves to where the gates are closed against them. Facing west on Park Street at Woburn Abbey with Star of Roads, now Star Lodge, to the left.

  • Capture 37
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Some of the Children from the lorry are posted at one of the other gates.

  • Capture 38
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More Children stand guard as Mr. King drives through the park.

  • Capture 39
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Jill follows Mr. King to the cabin where he retrieves the map before driving on to a ruin on the estate.

  • Capture 40
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Outside the Old Watchtower, Mr. King digs at the spot indicated on the map.

  • Capture 41
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Found by Jill as they drive through the estate, Mr. Strong and the Children approach the ruin where Mr. King has uncovered a chest.

  • Capture 42
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Hiding when disturbed, Mr. King climbs over the wall of the ruin as Mr. Strong hands Jill a pen-knife to open the chest.

  • Capture 43
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Taking a bag of jewels while Mr. Strong and the children are occupied examining the chest's contents, Mr. King heads to the Abbey.

  • Capture 44
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Alerted by Mr. Strong, the lorry full of Children follow the thief.

  • Capture 45
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Mr. King's escape is blocked by a high wall.

  • Capture 46
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The crook turns and runs through a gateway into a courtyard. Through the gateway stands Woburn Abbey's North Court.

  • Capture 47
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Chasing Mr. King, the Children from the lorry pour through the gateway. The screen running between North Court and South Court to the east of Woburn Abbey.

  • Capture 48
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Mr. King doubles-back when Mark appears with the family dog. South Court at Woburn Abbey.

  • Capture 49
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Finding more Children blocking his escape route, Mr. King is stopped in his tracks again.

  • Capture 50
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Mr. King runs towards the main building. Other views of Woburn Abbey and the surrounding buildings can be seen in 'The Iron Maiden', 'Crossplot', 'The Jigsaw Man' and 'Up in the World'.

  • Capture 51
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The Children our down the steps after him. Woburn Abbey with North Court in the left background.

  • Capture 52
  • 24 Apr 2025

At the gates to Woburn Abbey, the Duke's car enters the park as he returns home. The London Road Entrance gates to Woburn Abbey.

The gateway now, captured by Antony Blair.

  • Capture 53
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With Mr. King captured and the stolen bag retrieved, the jewels that will save the Abbey from being sold are handed over to the Duke. Woburn Abbey, to the east of Woburn in Bedfordshire.