Gamma People, The

During the opening credits, some shots from the east ramp of the Arlberg railway can be seen, here near the town of Imst, Tyrol state, Austria.

A westbound train can be seen at the river Inn, presumably below the municipality of Imsterberg.

A westbound international express train, but not the 'Arlberg-Orient Express' from Bucharest to Calais, passes the famous Trisanna bridge next to Wiesberg Castle with Co'Co' type electric loco of BBÖ class 1020. Shot from the Tyrol major road looking towards the Paznaun valley.

Not the same train, because we see a westbound local train with BBÖ class 1670 of (1A)'Bo(A1)' type, at the Imst gorge approaching the box girder bridge across river Pitze.

Again the six-axle BBÖ series 1020, originally E 94 class of the former German Reichsbahn, which follows the course of the river Inn with an international express train

For the sake of completeness, because made at M.G.M British studios in Elstree, of course: For reasons unknown, the coupling bracket on the screw coupling of the last carriage breaks. Even without Gamma Rays, we are already experiencing pure Science Fiction, because the broken screw coupling will sooner or later also cause the air brake line to break, bringing the train to a sudden halt.

And now an eastbound local train, seen from behind, soon reaching Imst station. The rear of the train consists of a two-axle BBÖ passenger carriage with open entry platform due to the summer heat in 1955, a so-called Spantenwagen. In the far background, can be seen the road bridge over the river Inn, connecting the railway station to the historic market town of Imst, which is out of view to the left. Above it, is the Karrer tunnel of the Tyrol major road.

Meanwhile, the now solo traveling express train carriage, originally a so-called 'Schürzenwagen' type AB4ü- 38 of the former German Reichsbahn, continues rolling without braking, but slowly loses speed. Of course, filming did not take place on the Arlberg main line, but on a non-electrified industrial siding that served a gravel pit at the southern outskirts of Ötztal-Bahnhof village.

But as if nothing had happened, the AC electric loco of the then Bundesbahnen Österreich (BBÖ) arrives with its international express train at the next underway station. Presumably shot at the eastern part of Ötztal station.

Two boys watching the passing train recognise the dangerous situation and manually switch the points .......

....... so a short time later, the compartment car, still rolling along without braking, but with our two heroes still playing chess on board, is diverted to a branch line. Probably again Ötzal station.

On the slightly downhill, now-abandoned branch line, the carriage, which in reality would have been brought to a halt long ago by its own Knorr air brake system due to the broken air brake line, rolls still unbraked toward the border of fictional Gudavia state.

The completely surprised border guard has no choice but to jump to the side before the four-axle passenger carriage smashes the barrier to pieces. The Police Command is immediately alerted by phone, whilst ...

... the BBÖ mixed-class express carriage is rolling ever deeper into the Ruritania-like dwarf state. Still filmed south of Ötztal Bahnhof village on the later abandoned and dismantled industrial siding, the second branch of which ended at the time by the lower station of an inclined lift for forestry, which can be seen in the centre background.

The news of the breakthrough at the national border by a mysterious railway carriage spreads like wildfire and prompts Police Prefect Colonel Körner (Philip Leaver) to immediately march to the railway station with an armed escort. We see the first shot, which was taken in the district town of Imst, some 50 kilometres west of Innsbruck. The building in the background, which served as the Polizeikommandatur (police headquarters) during filming, was later demolished and replaced by a modern style building. But it seems that Art Director John Box had some difficulties with the correct spelling of German-language signs.

Of course, the 'Schürzenwagen' with our two heroes on board, the only passengers by the way, comes to a stop precisely and with squealing brakes (!) on an overgrown siding at Mitterling station. For a country with a roughly size of between the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Liechtenstein, the railway station seems a bit oversized. But in fact we see Ötztal station, electrified by overhead catenary with 15000 V AC since 1925. Today the siding leads to the local electric power plant of the Austrian Federal Railways.

After newspaper man Mike Wilson (Paul Douglas) and press photographer Howard Meade (Leslie Phillips) get off the train pretty irritated, they try to explain to Colonel Körner that their train is on its way to Salzburg, to which the suspicious Police Prefect replies, "What train? I see no train”. Rather irritated, Wilson and Meade then search the map in vain for a country called Democracy of Gudavia.

As a result, the luggage, including the travel chess, is taken out of the compartment and the two strangers are taken away as suspected spies.

While Wilson and Meade languish in the medieval-looking dungeon, Dr. Boronski experiments with Gamma Rays in the castle. The hilltop castle of St. Petersberg, west of Silz village in Tyrol, seen from across the local pond.

After a short phone call between Colonel Körner and Dr. Boronski, Wilson and Meade are immediately released.

While Meade continues to search for Gudavia on the map, the Colonel, after all sorts of apologies, assures Wilson of his unconditional support.

Wilson tells Körner that they need a car to get to the Salzburg Festival. But the Police Prefect explains that there is only one car in the whole country, which is unfortunately 'not available at the moment'. Shot by the Antonius Fountain in the middle of the Imst main square called Stadtplatz, standing in for King Ferdinand Square.

Wilson sends his Photographer, who is still studying the map, to the telegraph office, actually the then tax office and now the district prison. Of course, the postal clerk cannot or does not want to send a telegram abroad, whereupon Meade leaves, highly irritated. And at the Hotel Post, our heroes get the best room, but no long-distance connection, neither with Berlin, Munich, Zurich, nor even with London.

From the balcony, the two also watch as the locals gather, after a woman, screaming in despair "Murder!" again and again, collapses. Again shot by the Antonius Fountain onto Stadtplatz.

Wilson and Meade go downstairs immediately and meet Colonel Körner in front of the hotel, who assures them that nothing has happened. "Nothing? These people are pretty upset about Nothing", Wilson means.

The Colonel also informs them of an official invitation from Dr. Boronski for tomorrow, whereupon the two leave the disturbing incident alone for the time being. The house seen behind Meade at Stadtplatz 4 was later demolished and replaced by a new building.

Meade and Wilson stroll down a seemingly deserted alley to explore the town ........

....... when they are overrun from behind by a crowd of boys rushing towards them.

After our heroes are back on their feet, a factory sign can be read, which could provide a clue to the previously unknown street.

While the two are strolling down Floriangasse together, with Printing and Publishing House J. Egger in the background, Meade moves unnoticed by Wilson to the right in search of an opened café. The following scene with St. John Stuart in front of Café Kron were obviously shot at M.G.M. British Studios in Elstree, using one of this typical to come Hammer-style backdrop, as there was no building directly alongside the wall for filming.

Suddenly, Meade is surrounded by creepy mute figures, apparently mentally limited young men, whom Boronski commands from the background with a whistle like a pack of dogs.

Still shot at Floriangasse the press photographer runs down the street in panic, hoping to catch up with Wilson again .......

As Meade runs straight into Wilson's arms, he stammers something about "a crowd of mindless goons".

Wilson struggles to calm the press photographer. He says to Meade, that perhaps he is getting a little bit nuts due to the disturbing events of the day so far, so they return to the hotel. We see the couple in front of former Schloss Rofenstein from 1685, housing today the district's main administration.

The next day, the reporter and his press photographer, accompanied by Colonel Körner, set off for the castle of former King Ferdinand, who died in a mysterious accident five years ago. The view south from the edge of Silz Forest shows again Burg St. Petersberg in the far background.

After visiting the castle, Wilson and Meade discuss their impressions, after Boronski (Walter Rilla) turned out to be Dr. Macklin, a scientist who disappeared without a trace five years ago. Presumably somewhere in the outskirts of Karrösten village, with Laggers summit (2328 m) visible in the far background.

On their way back to Mitterling, they encounter a funeral procession headed by the coffin of Bikstein, a lab assistant to Boronski who died under mysterious circumstances. We are in the village of Karres opposite the war memorial chapel, behind it, hidden by the tree, the parish church and to the right the mortuary chapel.

Wilson suggests visiting Bikstein's widow, and so the two stroll down Kirchsteig lane, watched by young Hugo Fendt. The house on the right has since been replaced by a new building that houses the Karres municipality fire station.

In this Day for Night shot Wilson and Meade leave the Bikstein house with one of the Boronski diaries in their pocket. Notes in the diary showed that, the scientist turns out to be a mixture of real Dr. Mengele, the notorious Nazi war criminal who fled to South America after the war, living at the time of filming in Argentina, and fictional criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse, who was later also played by Walter Rilla in 'The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse'. Unknown place somewhere in the town of Imst.

Young Hugo (Michael Caridia), completely brainwashed by Dr. Boronski, is highly intelligent but also a truly bad boy and "as nimble as greyhounds, as tough as leather and as hard as Krupp steel", as Adolf Hitler used to say. As soon as Wilson and Meade leave the Hotel Post, he sneaks into their suite and steals one of the freshly developed photographs that were taken unauthorized in the castle. In the background, can be seen the property Stadtpatz 3, which served as the 'Hotel Post' during filming. The actual Hotel Post, formerly the aristocratic residence Schloss Sprengenstein and inspiration for Carl Zeller's operetta 'The Bird Seller' from 1891, is located at the corner of Postgasse with Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz.

A little later, Hugo and Meade's paths cross again, so the youngster immediately turns around and runs away. Could be Schustergasse, but not confirmed so far.

But the somewhat surprised Meade has already spotted Hugo and immediately begins to pursue him to get back the stolen picture.

Hugo runs like the devil, or like a greyhound so to say, to lose his pursuer. Coming down the Stadtplatz site, he reaches the corner against Floriangasse.

But the press photographer is not so easy to shake off, here by the same spot next to the oriel with onion helmet of the so-called Haus Mungenast at Stadtplatz 12, where the garden meanwhile disappeared by a modern style extension. After a brief moment when Meade has lost sight of Hugo .......

....... the wild chase continues down Schustergasse.

By the Florianbrunnen, Meade manages to catch up with the youngster, but is outsmarted and unintentionally gets his feet wet. In the centre background Mühlenweg branches off, while the corner house, seen behind Meade, was later demolished and redeveloped.

After picking himself up again, he storms into the narrow alley that connects Floriangasse with Schustergasse.

Meanwhile, Hugo runs along the small lane that leads to the Stadtplatz back area .....

....... while a farmer on his horse comes towards his pursuer on the unpaved lane, which now no longer exists due to the complete redevelopment of the area.

When Meade reaches the same spot as in Capture 48, he discovers Hugo on the swing. In the background the north facade of the original town hall can be recognised, located at Stadtplatz 11. The building was renovated in 1989 and has housed the city library since 1993.

Meade tries in vain to get Hugo to hand over the stolen picture. Beyond the fence the west site of the Mungenast property, first mentioned in 1815, also seen in Capture 44.

But after he waves the photo negative in Hugo's face, the boy suddenly lunges at the British citizen. Eventually, the Boronski Boy Scouts join the fierce brawl in the background, and Meade loses out. To the right can be seen again the original town hall, with the former Rofenstein castle at Stadtplatz 1 in the far background. This site of the square is now a paved parking lot.

Herr Lochner (Martin Miller), who runs the Hotel Post, decides to bring his daughter Hedda (Pauline Drewett) across the mountains to Vienna. There, the musical prodigy will be able to study at the conservatory without worry and pressure from Boronski. Once again harassed by Hugo Wendt, she, frustrated and angry, had played the intro of Chopin's Polonaise in A, Op. 40, No. 1, 'Military', on the piano off the cuff. Already in the outskirts of Imst the Catholic parish church Mariä Himmelfahrt can be seen in the distance.

By ruthless Hugo, Boronski already knows about Lochner's intentions and once again sends out his pack of mindless henchmen, with St. John Stuart playing the leading goon, who set out on the trail along the old federal major road like a bloodhound. The parish church of St. Stephen at Karres village, consecrated in 1493, can be seen in the far background.

After Paula Wendt (Eva Bartok), who works for Dr. Boronski too, has tried in vain to dissuade Lochner from escaping with his daughter, she finally discovers his body deep down in a ravine. Wilson tries to comfort the distraught sister of Hugo. Further down in the background can be seen the Tyrol major road and even further down Imst station, later Imst Pitztal station, whose tracks run along a mighty retaining wall, with the river Inn to the right.

Boronksi suddenly appears on the scene, played by Walter Rilla. When Wilson confronts him about Lochner's death and demands to know what's happened to young Hedda, the mad scientist sets his gang of goons on him, but the former San Francisco police reporter narrowly escapes. On the far left in the background, the Expositure Church of St. Magdalene and St. Nicholas at Karrösten village can be seen.

Boronski has the police ban the traditional Fasnacht (carnival), whereupon the inhabitants rebel and gather onto the main square in disguise and masks. Facing onto the Antonius Fountain across Stadtplatz towards Floriangasse.

In the midst of the wild Fasnacht hustle and bustle, Wilson meets again the widow of Bikstein (Rosalie Crutchley) and hurries home with her, where Paula is already waiting. Somewhere in the streets of Imst.

Luckily Meade arrives from around the corner with the car promised by Major Körner and picks up Wilson and Paula, who are being pursued by the two police officers visible in the background. Indeed, we are back again at the Florian Fountain.

Meade drives at full speed up Floriangasse towards Kramergasse to shake off the two police men, here next to house number 10.

During the steep climb to the castle, the car's engine overheats and conks out. The trio barely gets out when the motor explodes and the 1935 Adler Trumpf Cabriolet bursts into flames. Wilson sends Meade back to the town for reinforcements.

Wilson and Paula are approaching the entrance to the castle keep where Boronski's laboratory is located to free Hedda. This shot was probably made on the set construction at the M.G.M backlot, where Medieval films like 'Ivanhoe' were in vogue at the time.

Meanwhile, Meade has gathered over a dozen young and strong men from Mitterling and sets off with them to the castle. We see them again from the edge of Silz Forest, with Burg St. Petersberg in the far background.

When the 'cavalry' led by Meade attempts to storm the castle, they are immediately attacked by Boronski's henchmen, who apparently house in the arcades below the access way, and a violent brawl ensues. Shot at the exterior area of Burg St. Petersberg.

Meanwhile Wilson, Paula, and Hedda are blasted with gamma rays by Boronski after they have fallen into a trap because of Hugo. But blood is thicker than water, and as events escalate, the mad scientiest is brought down by his young protégé, whilst setting the entire lab on fire. Outside Meade is attacked by Boronski's lab assistant as he tries to gain access to the castle keep. The camera angle proves that due to the different architecture, it was not shot at Burg St. Petersberg.

Meade saves Paula and Hedda, Wilson saves Hugo, and Boronski perishes in the flames. Eventually, the entire castle is engulfed in flames, and the keep collapses due to repeated explosions. Apparently, an impressive set construction at the M.G.M backlot was burned down at the end of filming.

At Mitterling the town band marches for the festivities, after the nightmare is over. To the left once again the Printing and Publishing House J. Egger at Floriangasse.

The happy ending arrives in the form of the official state car, a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet, in which our two heroes, after giving Gudavia a good shake-up, set off for Salzburg and Vienna together with Paula and the two teenagers. One last time at the heavy crowded Stadtplatz, with the view towards Floriangasse.