School for Secrets

Zoologist Professor Heatherville (Ralph Richardson) runs through rain for a meeting with Dr. McVitie of Aberdeen University, Professor Laxton-Jones of Manchester, Dr. David Dainty of London and Mr. Eddie Watlington from Eureka Radio Corporation.

With the group of Boffins recruited for the war effort, they are sent to a military base for instruction on transmitters.

An R.A.F. Technical Officer explains the workings of the transmitting tower. The Matte Shot blogspot explains that special effects miniatures were produced for the masts.

Near the transmitting station, Professor Walter Laxton-Jones (Raymond Huntley) sprints away after a swim while Professor Heatherville, Sir Duncan Wills (Finlay Currie), Dr. Dainty (Ernest Jay) and Dr. Jock McVitie (John Laurie) leave Mrs. Watlington (Pamela Matthews) relaxing on the beach. A set at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire.

Professor Laxton-Jones listens as an Officer explains that incoming enemy aircraft can't be detected at sea level. Jimmy Snow's granddaughter Brigitte draws our attention to the following from the Dover Express dated Friday 3rd May 1946 "St. Margaret’s Bay has been chosen for the making of a film, 'Top Secret'. Workmen have been busy erecting a model radar station and listening post on the beach and the cliff beyond the Granville Hotel." The hotel stood on Hotel Road overlooking St. Margaret’s Bay in St. Margaret’s at Cliffe, Kent and was demolished in 1996.

Whilst out fishing, Sir Desmond Prosser (Edward Lexy) proffers his thoughts on the progress of the war.

For safety, the Boffins and their equipment are relocated from the coast to Kippenhampton College where the Pupils cheer as they're driven away before RAF lorries arrive.

Escorted by an RAF Officer, a car brings the Wives of the Boffins to number 25 Inkerman Terrace in Kippenhampton. In reality, Church Crescent in London N10 identified by Bob Surtees. The street also appears in 'The Magic Box'.

Mrs. Arnold peers from behind the curtains on an upstairs window as the car comes to a halt outside her lodging house. Finding something very familiar about the front door, the diamond shapes with projecting horns and the six panels are distinctive of the work of William Jackson Collins, a builder active in Crouch Hill and Muswell hill around 1900, Bob Surtees locates this as outside number 25 Church Crescent in Muswell Hill.

Pilots play chess before being scrambled when a raid is detected approaching the coast.

Bombs fall at a radio station, knocking the receivers out of action before the control room is hit.

Villagers in Kippenhampton turn their heads skyward when a test flight carrying Eddie Watlington passes over after reducing height to 1000 feet. Douglas Winchester recognised Market Place at the junction with High Street in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire.

No planes flying over when Antony Blair arrived on the High Street.

Facing north from the corner of Market Place and High Street with St. Peter's church visible in the left of centre background, located by Douglas Winchester.

No shelter for Antony Blair's shot of the background buildings.

A Constable looks up. Douglas Winchester identifies High Street, Chalfont St. Peter with the White Hart public house on the left and the corner of Market Place to the right.

Antony Blair found that rebuilding has taken place in the background.

At the base of one of one of the radio masts, Airmen pause their work as the bomber flies towards them.

Customers run from a bar to catch sight of the low flying plane. The Greyhound Inn on High Street, Chalfont St. Peter, found with the assistance of Douglas Winchester.

The Greyhound remans a haven as Antony Blair discovered.

A Bus Driver takes his cigarette from him mouth just before the bomber hits the guy wires of the radio mast. The junction of High Street in Chalfont St. Peter with the left background windows those of numbers 44 and 46 High Street.

Villagers run for cover as the Pilot loses control of the plane. Looking past the front window canopy of the George Inn on High Street, Chalfont St. Peter with the Greyhound Inn in the left background.

Antony Blair remained outside the George Inn.

A plume of smoke appears from behind a factory as the bomber crashes killing all on board. The Matte Shot website explains that this is a composition shot comprised of live action, miniatures and a matte painting. A link to the excellent Matte Shot blogspot appears in the Header Section of this page. The same backdrop appears in 'Eyes of Annie Jones'.

Professor Heatherville, Sergeant Treese and a group of Commandos are evacuated from France after a raid on an enemy installation.

The Boffins' secret experiments help the fighting capability of the RAF with work continuing until the end of the war.

A line is thrown to a waiting aircraft from the launch carrying Professor Heatherville, Professor Laxton-Jones and Sir Desmond Prosser.

To the echo of wartime radio messages, the plane passes one of the masts on its way to the United States.