Day of the Triffids, The

"All reports confirm that the world is witnessing an unprecedented shower of meteorites. There is no record of a display such as this in recorded history." A Narrator explains what's happening with matte shots helping to open the story.

"At observatories, astronomers are noting this fantastic phenomenon and are carefully calculating the effect on our solar system." A matted view of the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory near Goostrey in Cheshire.

Inside the huge greenhouse at the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Watchman prepares to sit down for his supper before he's stricken with terror as he investigates an odd noise. Another matte, this time of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Middlesex.

In the morning light, Big Ben strikes 9 as merchant navy officer Bill Masen wakes up in his hospital bed. The clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in SW1.

Sadly not a matching time. SJ

When his calls to Nurse Jamieson and Dr. Soames go unanswered, Masen removes the bandages from his eyes following surgery of ten days ago. Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road EC1.

1956's Clean Air Act has made things stay a lot brighter. PW

At a remote lighthouse, scientists Tom Goodwin and his wife Karen wait for the boat bringing relief before hearing that the entire population has been stricken with blindness after watching the previous night's meteor shower. Anthony McKay identifies Longships Lighthouse off Lands End, Cornwall.

Bill Masen (Howard Keele) leaves the hospital after learning from Dr. Soames that everyone has gone blind. The street outside Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road.

No way in, or out, when I visited. PW

Making his way through London, Masen walks past abandoned cars. Newman's Row on the east side of Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2 with Lincoln's Inn Library filling the background.

Not a great deal of change. PW

Continuing on his way, Masen's movement is sensed by a large plant in the bushes. Lincoln's Inn Fields with the still extant public lavatories to the left.

Looking from the park to the ladies' entrance of the loo located beyond the railings. SJ

Masen witnesses scenes of chaos and destruction. Browsing londononlocation.co.uk, Anthony McKay found that Richard Lovejoy had spotted Cowcross Street at Peter's Lane, passing The Universal Casings Co., Ltd., sausage skin manufacturers, at number 5.

Looking west with Peter's Lane on the right. The white column on the far right edge belongs to No.5, now an eatery. SJ

Helping each other or attempting to get about on their own, People feel their way as Masen looks around. Lincoln's Inn Fields looking towards Serle Street WC2.

The location now. PW

Unaware of where he is, an Elderly Man climbs onto a water fountain. The drinking fountain at the east corner of Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

A corner which has survived for over 60 years. SJ

Masen reaches Marylebone station and makes his way inside where he enquires if any trains are running. Marylebone station on Melcombe Place NW1.

Taken from roughly the same position. PW

Hearing a train, Masen turns to look along the platform where an express speeds towards the stop blocks at the terminus. Platform 4 at Marylebone station.

Lots of redevelopment over time but essentially the same, now shorter, platform. PW

The train comes to an abrupt halt and Passengers spill onto the platform before Masen walks through the wreckage to see if he can help. Marylebone station can also be seen in many other productions including 'The IPCRESS File', 'Rotten to the Core', 'Life at the Top', 'A Hard Day's Night', 'Up Jumped a Swagman', 'Carry On Girls', 'Postman's Knock', 'Smashing Time', 'Don't Open till Christmas' and 'Billy Liar'.

After rescuing Susan (Janina Faye) from a Man at the station who had discovered that she can see, the orphan explains that she was hiding in the luggage van after running away from boarding school. Simon James' London Movie Guide identifies the area as the east side of Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Not the clearest of views but the building to the right in the screen capture appears to be the one in the centre of this image. PW

Nearby, a dog barks at something in the bushes. Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2.

Not the best of comparisons as greenery obscures the buildings. PW.

Wondering why the dog is barking, the pair walk over to investigate. Laid out in the 1630s, Lincoln's Inn Fields is the largest public square in London.

Seeing nothing that the dog could be barking at, Masen decides to leave it alone and the two turn to walk away. Lincoln's Inn Fields is named after the adjacent Lincoln's Inn.

A clearer view o the background buildings. PW

When the dog whimpers in pain before going quiet, Masen walks back to find the animal's body lying on the lawn beneath a strange looking plant. Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2.

After wandering around Lincoln's Inn Fields I came to the conclusion that it had been remodelled and some trees had been removed. This is the closest that I could get to the same shot. PW

Deciding to head for his ship, Masen leads Susan away from the dead dog. Piccadilly Circus W1.

Looking towards Shaftesbury Avenue. SJ

On their way to the docks, the two walk through blinded Citizens in the streets. Parliament Square SW1, in front of the Houses of Parliament.

A slight gap in the never ending hoard of tourists. PW

Masen and Susan cross the river. Looking towards Parliament Square SW1 from Westminster Bridge which features in many films including 'Genevieve', 'Night and the City', 'London Belongs to Me' and 'Seven Days to Noon'.

The Olympics got rid of the traffic for this shot!! PW

Near the eastern end of the bridge, a car is discovered that Masen checks over. Westminster Bridge crossing the Thames with the steps leading down to River Walk in front of County Hall in SE1.

Just to the west of the Stone Coade lion. SJ

The two drive through the City towards the docks. Watling Street EC4 with added optical effects found by Anthony McKay.

After driving along smoke filled streets with blazing buildings on all sides, Masen steers the Humber Hawk into the docks. Royal Victoria Dock to the south of Victoria Dock Road and east of Silvertown Way in E16.

Parking on the quayside, Masen and Susan walk towards the seaman's ship. The Royal Victoria Dock in West Ham.

In the radio room on board, the companions hear numerous desperate messages from ships and aircraft calling for aid as well as news of a disaster meeting in France. In the background stand warehouses on the southern quays of the Royal Victoria Dock.

Taking a small boat and sailing across the English Channel, Masen and Susan find another car and drive south through Paris. A matte shot of the Arc de Triomphe in Place du Général de Gaulle.

The real Arc de Triomphe from ground level. PW

Becoming lost, the pair are directed to a château being used as a Blind Peoples home after coming across Christine Durrant on the road. Anthony McKay advises that this is St. Nicholas' Rectory on Church Square in Shepperton. Middlesex which was found by Clive T. The top row of windows is a matte.

When Masen decides to press on with the journey south, Mr. Coker (Mervyn Johns) from the château helps to load their car with supplies. Anthony McKay found Village Road in Denham in Buckinghamshire. Since 1988 the premises have been the Da Remo Ristorante Italiano while the building next door has been converted to residential use.

Returning 63 years on, Antony Blair captured a less obscured view.

As it moves towards the Citroën, Masen takes a shot at one of the mutated plants which Coker explains is a Triffid. Village Road, Denham located by Anthony McKay. Other views of the often seen village appear in 'Murder Ahoy', 'The Man in the Moon', 'Made in Heaven', 'Murder She Said', 'Kadoyng', 'Ghost of a Chance', 'Poet's Pub', 'The Square Peg', 'Captain Clegg' and 'The Games'.

Renovation or rebuilding has since taken place as Antony Blair's comparison shows.

Returning to the château, Masen tells Miss Durrant that they all have to leave as Triffids are swarming in the vicinity. Anthony McKay passes on that Clive T discovered St. Nicholas' Rectory, now Erasmus House, on Church Square in Shepperton can also be seen in 'Hoverbug' and 'The Snake Woman'.

Triffids inch their way towards the château forcing Masen, Susan and Miss Durrant to flee. The roof to the left looks familiar as does the lawn stretching away in the background. Could this be Littleton Park at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Middlesex?

Finding the rescue centre at Toulon destroyed, Masen, Susan and Christine Durrant (Nicole Maurey) continue on to the US Naval Base at Cadiz. Smoke and flames fill the scene created by mattes and models. Although this shot is augmented by special effects, Anthony McKay advises that "according to the continuity notes, live action for the Toulon scene was filmed at the same time as scenes on the ship seen earlier."

Masen leads a horse and cart on which Susan and Miss Durrant are riding into a Spanish village. A matte shot of the backlot at Shepperton Studios in Middlesex.

Entering a deserted restaurant, Miss Durrant cuts bread as Masen makes coffee while Susan explores the nearby fairground. The 'Spanish Square', a backlot set at Shepperton Studios in Littleton.

Susan comes across a circus van which makes the next leg of the journey easier. Marion Brand identifies this as El Poble Espanyol at Sants-Montjuïc in Barcelona, Catalonia, an architectural museum built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition.

The camera pans with the van. Janina Faye comments "'The Day of The Triffids' may well have had scenes filmed on location in Spain, but I only got as far as the 'Lot' at Shepperton Studios!". Marion again solves the mystery . . . this is El Poble Espanyol on Avenue de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia in Barcelona.

Masen drives the circus van from the village and into the countryside. El Poble Espanyol at the the back of the big square advises Anthony McKay adding "But these days the road is more 'pedestrianised' and lined with stalls and cafes."

After climbing into the mountains along winding roads, the three find the home of and Luis and Teresa de la Vega. A matte creates this illusion. Janina Faye mentions that "The scenes outside the villa with the circus van and the Triffids approaching was all shot at Shepperton Studios".

When the Triffids attack the villa, Masen jumps from the circus van after creating a diversion allowing Luis, Teresa, Christine and Susan to escape. Anthony McKay found Trevean Cliff, between Portheras Cove and Porthmore Cove in Cornwall.

Luis, Teresa, Christine and Susan make it to the Naval Base at Cadiz and wait for Masen to arrive. HM Naval Base Faslane on Gare Loch in Dunbartonshire advises Anthony McKay who expains that this is footage of HMS Narwhal, taken from 19560's 'Look at Life: Military Submarine'.

Masen picks his way to the rocky coast. Zennor Head in Cornwall located by Anthony McKay.

Seeing a life-raft approaching the rocks, Masen calls down to the Crew.

Without wanting to spoil the ending . . . "Mankind survived and once again had reason to give thanks." Sitges Cathedral on Plaça de l'Ajuntament in Sitges, Catalonia identified by Marion Brand.