Beyond the Curtain
Date: 1960
Director: Compton Bennett
Production Company: Martin Films Ltd
Stars: Richard Greene, Eva Bartok, Marius Goring
Location(s): Surrey, West Berlin (West Germany)
Region(s): Germany, South East A-D
Storyline:
A refugee from East Germany finds herself trapped in her home city of Dresden when a plane she is travelling on between Berlin and West Germany is forced down.
Additional Information:
Page compiled by Steve Randall
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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 06 Jun 2026
The title sequence provides a view of the Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin, West Germany. The actors in this film stayed in the UK, while the location shooting in Germany was done by a second unit.
Keith Prested visited this week. He reports that all is much the same now although the Berlin Wall has of course 'been and gone' since filming took place.
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The Soviet World War II Memorial, Grosser Tiergarten, West Berlin.
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In a West Berlin nightclub, airline captain Jim Kyle is dancing with Karin von Seefeldt, a stewardess he plans to marry. Unidentified location.
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In the morning they arrive at the airport. Berlin Tempelhof Airport.
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Karin boards the plane for Frankfurt, a Douglas DC-4. Berlin Tempelhof Airport.
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The radar station reports it has lost track of the aircraft. Straying in a storm, it has been intercepted by MiGs. Berlin Tempelhof Airport.
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The redirected plane lands in Leipzig and is greeted by a Russian contingent. Unidentified location.
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Karin (Eva Bartok) is marched into a car. The Russians say she has requested asylum. Presence of the actors indicates a UK location, possibly Walton Studios.
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Karin is driven to a large house. The nameplate reads Volkspolizei - Präsidium Leipzig. There she is told she will be taken to her former home town of Dresden. Unidentified location.
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Karin is driven to Dresden. Cobbled streets and a dome in the distance which Manuel Gurtner recognises as the cupola of the so-called Lipsius Building, which houses the Academy of Fine Arts and is located near the famous Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The dome of the Frauenkirche, which at 91 meters was even higher, collapsed after the devastating firestorm caused by the Allied air raid in February 1945. Reconstruction did not take place until between 1993 and 2005.
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The car turns right beside some large buildings. I wish I could read the street names.
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In a Dresden street with tramlines, the car pulls up at Karin's old house. Karin is left with her aging mother.
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The scene shifts to West Berlin where Jim has arrived to rescue Karin. The Café Schloss Marquardt was a prominent, historic café located within the Kempinski Hotel on Kurfürstendamm in West Berlin.
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Cut to another image of Kurfurstendamm at night.
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Zoom left to the Cafe Berlin where Jim is embarking on a plan to rescue Karin.
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- 09 May 2026
Jim (Richard Greene) has obtained a fake visa and heads into East Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate.
Nick Boorman paid a visit recently and found himself at the location.
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Karin talks to East German doctor Hans Körtner (Marius Goring) at his hospital, who tells her that her brother Peter is dead. Royal Holloway College, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey. Also seen in 'Fumo di Londra', 'Howards End', and 'Salt & Pepper'.
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At Karin's home Jim attempts to persuade her to leave with him.
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At Jim's hotel, finding him gone, Karin makes contact with a girl called called Linda who says she has tranport for her. Unidentified location.
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Linda (Andrée Melly) and Karin walk around the corner to the garage. Doubles were probably used here.
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Linda has a motor bike and Karin rides pillion as they speed away. But they are being followed.
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Panning right we see the chasing car.
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The chase continues to the edge of a reservoir.
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The stunt doubles speeed along the side of the reservoir.
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The bike veers onto a path where the car cannot follow.
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Linda and Karin reach a pumping station, where they find Peter alive.
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At police headquarters a plane is arranged to transport Jim to West Berlin. However Peter swaps places with him and takes the trip to safety instead. This is the side entrance to the Italian Embassy in Berlin, situated in Graf-Spee-Strasse, which was renamed Hiroshimastrasse in 1989.
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A farm near Meissen where Linda sees off Jim and Karin for their escape to Berlin in a farm produce lorry.
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The van drives into East Berlin.
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Panning left, the end of the Autobahn is in sight.
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Anticipating the plan, the police arrive at Fruchthof Berlin, which at the time was at 66 Ringstrasse in Mariendorf, West Berlin.
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The van driver instructs Jim and Karin to hide amongst the straw in a barn for the day.
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The van driver makes his regular delivery. Facing north on Rathausstrasse, as the van turns left to cross Ringstrasse.
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The van enters Fruchthof Berlin at Ringstrasse 66.
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The police examine the fruit deliveries.
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Under cover of darkness, Jim and Karin scramble through bomb wreckage, enteing a tunnel chassed by the police. The rest of the drama is played out underground.