Operation Stogie

Date: 1962
Director: Ernest Morris
Production Company: Danziger Productions Ltd.

Stars: John Hewer, Anton Rogers, Susan Stephen
Location(s): Hertfordshire, London, Middlesex

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

To prove their suitability for officer training, a pair of army cadets are sent on an initiative test which involves gaining entry to a high society party and photographing the snobbish hostess smoking a cigar.

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson

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  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

Scattershot Camp, where Major Soames sets cadets Ted Cook and Charlie "Jock" Arnold an initiative test, hopeful that they will fail. As Geoff Dodd says it looks rather 'industrial' to be a real army camp, and so it is, if you accept the entrance gates to the Danziger New Elstree Studios. (RL)

  • Capture 2
  • 'Now' required

Major Soames explains that Cook and Arnold are to carry out an assignment to Cormorant Manor in Kent, the home of Lord and Lady Cormorant. Geoff Dodd recognises this as 'The Old Barn', Common Road, Stanmore, Middlesex. (RL)

  • Capture 3
  • 14 Sep 2025

The Major continues that the objective is to attend the highly exclusive annual party thrown by Lady Cormorant and for the pair to have their photograph taken with the hostess smoking a cigar. Durrants House on Durrants Farm Estate, Croxley Green in Hertfordshire.

Bringing the house into the present day, Antony Blair provides this matching view.

  • Capture 4
  • 'Now' required

Hitch hiking from the camp, Charlie Arnold (Anton Rogers) and Ted Cook (John Hewer) arrive outside the lodge of Cormorant Manor.

  • Capture 5
  • 14 Sep 2025

The two make their way to the house where they knock at the kitchen door and ask Molly the Maid if there is any gardening work available. Durrants House, Little Green Lane in Croxley Green.

Antony Blair zooms in for this comparison.

  • Capture 6
  • 13 Dec 2025

As part of Charlie and Arnold's plan to infiltrate Lady Cormorant's event, a taxi takes the pair to the Executive Hotel where United Nations mediator Dr. Polk is about to check in. White House on Albany Street, London NW1. The building also features in 'Third Party Risk', 'Ring of Spies', 'Tread Softly Stranger', 'The Counterfeit Plan', 'Gideon's Day' and 'Night Plane to Amsterdam'.

A new porch has extended over the drop-off. SJ

  • Capture 7
  • 'Now' required

Dressed in suits and bowler hats, Ted and Charlie arrive at the Neanderthal Club to meet with Lord Cormorant. The unidentified colonnade is also featured in 'The Depraved'.

  • Capture 8
  • 'Now' required

Ted and Charlie leave the club with Lord Alfred Cormorant (Richard Caldicott) and make their way back to the hotel.

  • Capture 9
  • 24 Sep 2025

At a hotel across town, Delegations from Inner Besseraba and Outer Besseraba arrive for a conference. Number 20 Eastbourne Terrace in W2.

The 1958 tower received a facelift in 2016. SJ

  • Capture 10
  • 24 Sep 2025

The camera tilts down the building inside which Journalists receive "no comment" from both parties. Facing south-east on Eastbourne Terrace in Paddington.

Looking south down Eastbourne Terrace. SJ

  • Capture 11
  • 'Now' required

Posing as men from the United Nations, Ted and Charlie return to Cormorant Manor. Dating from the 1860s, the Grade II listed Durrants House now has an address on Gloucester Court, Croxley Green.

  • Capture 12
  • 'Now' required

Gaining entry through the front door, Ted and Charlie set the next part of their scheme into action. Durrants House on Little Green Lane in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.