Curse of the Golem (aka It!)

"Power bringeth destruction; beware, lest it be unleashed. He who will find the secret of my life at his feet, him will I serve until beyond time. He who shall evoke me in the 17th century, beware, for I cannot by fire be destroyed. He who shall evoke me in the 18th century, beware, for I cannot by fire or by water be destroyed."

"He who evokes me in the 19th century, beware, for I cannot by fire or by water or by force be destroyed. He who in the 20th century shall dare evoke me, beware, for neither by fire, nor water, nor force, nor anything by man created can I be destroyed. He who in the 21st century evokes me must be of God's hand himself because on this earth the person of man existeth no more."

Assistant Curator Arthur Pimm (Roddy McDowall) arrives at work to be told by Museum Curator Harold Grove that the museum warehouse has been destroyed by fire.

The front steps of The Imperial War Museum in Kennington, London. SJ.

After Grove is found dead at the foot of a statue that survived the blaze, Pimm returns home to tell his dead mother that he is now the acting Curator.

Inside the museum, the mysterious statue is placed on display as Pimm is told by Head Trustee Mr. Trimingham that he will not be appointed as the Curator.

The Imperial War Museum on Lambeth Road, London SE1. SJ.

Police arrive to make enquiries following the death of workman caused by the statue falling onto him. Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park with buildings on Kennington Road in the distance.

Now. SJ.

The camera follows the car as it passes through the museum grounds. The Imperial War Museum stands in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. The greenery of the park was glimpsed in ‘Genevieve’.

The driveway to the museum. SJ.

The Wolseley approaches the museum entrance. The museum has occupied the central part of the former Bethlem Royal Hospital since 1936.

Panning slightly left. SJ.

Inspector White (Noel Trevarthen) and Detective Wayne (Ian McCulloch) get out of the car. JT advises "The hospital was originally called Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane. Bethlehem was gradually corrupted into bedlam, which we still use to describe noisy confusion".

Now. SJ.

Visitors queue to see the statue that’s been branded as a killer by the press.

The steps of the Imperial War Museum. SJ.

When Jim Perkins arrives from the New York Museum and identifies the statue as a Golem, he and Ellen Grove spend the night in London. A colourful Piccadilly Circus in W1.

Peter provides a daylight shot of the same, familiar location.

As Jim Perkins (Paul Maxwell) and Ellen Grove (Jill Haworth) enjoy a drink together, back at the museum Pimm discovers an inscription on the Golem. JT identifies this as Lower Mall, Hammersmith W6 with the River Thames flowing from Chiswick in the background.

From a similar viewpoint. SJ.

Pimm visits an Old Rabbi who confirms that the statue is a Golem, created by Rabbi Loew in the 16th century. This is Old Marylebone Town Hall on Marylebone Road in NW1. The building was seen in ‘Strange Bedfellows’.

Ellen walks through the museum grounds where Pimm finds her. Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park is commonly referred to as the Imperial War Museum park. JT's soldier shop stood just in the left of centre distance.

One can barely make out the Victoria Tower of the Houses of Parliament behind the tree but this is now the only angle it can be seen and then only in winter thanks to new buildings on both sides of Lambeth Road as well as extra frondescence. The housing block on the left on Kennington Road proves the location. SJ.

A Waiter carries the bill to a table where Pimm and Ellen have finished their drinks. Outside The Rutland Arms on Lower Mall, Hammersmith.

The Rutland Arms is easily recognisable. SJ.

Pimm takes the bill. Lower Mall at the end of Mall Road W6.

Outside the Rutland Arms which is very close to the Blue Anchor, so no shortage of pubs on Lower Mall. SJ.

After a generous tip is left, Pimm takes Ellen's hand. Facing south-east on Lower Mall.

And that's the same building (with scaffolding) to the right of the frame. SJ.

Ellen tells Pimm that he needs a holiday after listening to him say that he can do almost anything. Lower Mall with The Rutland Arms in the left background. The area also appears in 'All Coppers Are . . . ', ‘Life at the Top’ and ‘Cassandra’s Dream’.

Lower Mall. SJ.

Pimm even suggests that he can knock over the bridge. Lower Mall on the north side of the River Thames in W6.

A view of Hammersmith Bridge now. SJ.

A Policeman walks past the museum where Pimm brings the Golem to life. This is the west side of the Imperial War Museum in Kennington.

A more modern view. SJ.

Pimm orders the Golem (Alan Seller) to follow him. A closer view of the side door to the Imperial War Museum.

I forgot to take this one first time so returned to the site. In the intervening eleven years most of the ex-windows and doorways have been converted to full length glass windows to allow more light in. My ghostly reflection is an attempt to mirror the Golem. SJ

The Golem obeys as Pimm runs ahead to start a truck. This wall of the Imperial War Museum faces Kennington Road.

Now, on the south-west side of the Museum SE1, with an altered door and window. SJ.

Pimm drives the Golem to Hammersmith Bridge. The bridge has featured in many films including ‘Duffer’, 'Burnt Evidence', ‘Theatre of Blood’, 'Absolutely Anything', ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Repulsion’.

The famous bridge now. SJ.

Instructions are given to the Golem. Looking up at Hammersmith Bridge from the towpath on the south bank of the River Thames.

A variation! The south side of the bridge in SW13. SJ.

The Golem wrecks the bridge as Pimm waits in the truck. This is beneath south end of Hammersmith Bridge.

Under the bridge in Barnes. SJ.

Having complete his task, the Golem returns to the truck and is driven back to the museum. Rutland Grove in Hammersmith W6.

After a couple of visits, hindered by doubts which I've put down to tree removal, I've settled on the south side of Rutland Grove looking west towards Mall Road. SJ

To destroy the unholy creation, Pimm orders the Golem into the river. The steps are next to Hammersmith Bridge, on the opposite bank to Lower Mall. JT adds that this is where was also made part of 'Cosh Boy'. "Are the steps still there?"

Replacing a shot from 2009 where I had the wrong set of steps (not using the reflection in the Thames). These are the ones to the west of the bridge rather than to the east. SJ

The deranged man watches as the statue disappears beneath the water. Through the bridge span can be seen the since redeveloped Riverside Studios.

Taken just west of the bridge on the Barnes side to replace my seven year old error. SJ

Having found the way back to the museum, the Golem next survives an attempt to destroy it by fire before rescuing Pimm who has been sent to an asylum.

After kidnapping Ellen, Pimm drives the young woman, the Golem and his dead mother to The Cloisters, the museum's annex in the country. Andrew Matthews advises that the gates give entry to the Clandon Park estate at West Clandon near Guildford, Surrey and recalls that, as kids, he and his friends must have driven the film crew mad as they rode around the set on their bikes . . . "But they all seemed happy to see us."

Miss Swanson lets Pimm through the gates. Paul Mowatt identifies the location as Wayneflete Tower on Pelham's walk in Esher, Surrey.

Paul's comparison highlights changes on the approach to the building which is owned by his girlfriend Penny Rainbow.

After the Golem is uncovered, Miss Swanson is warned to mind what she says to Ellen. More details about Wayneflete Tower can be found by clicking on the link in the header section of this page.

A closer view, captured by Paul Mowatt.

Miss Swanson (Dorothy Frere) attempts to summon help by lighting a beacon on the roof of The Cloisters. Wayneflete Tower identified by Paul Mowatt.

Taken from the best angle accessible by Paul.

The Army are called in and unsuccessful attempts are made to annihilate the cursed statue. Andrew Matthews explains that this gateway stands at the corner of Park Lane and Epsom Road in Merrow, Guildford adding "These are the Grade II listed, 18th century wrought iron gates installed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown that stand between the gatehouses dating from 1776 which he designed.

Andrew captured a closer view of the gates.

Ellen falls whilst escaping after being carried from the building by the Golem. Wayneflete Tower in Esher, Surrey located by Paul Mowatt.

Now that the undergrowth has been cleared, Paul provides a clearer shot of the tower.

Jim Perkins comes to the rescue moments before a nuclear bomb is dropped on The Cloisters.