Biggles

Jim Ferguson (Ales Hyde-White), a catering salesman in New York is driven home by his colleague Debbie (Fiona Hutchinson). Cutlers Gardens, London EC2.

Looking south-west towards Cutler Street. SJ

Jim heads for his apartment. Cutlers Gardens, now renamed Devonshire Square, is an office development built on the site of East India Company Warehouses.

Panning right to the west brings in this corner. SJ

Air Commodore William Raymond (Peter Cushing) awaits Jim's arrival. Cutlers Gardens, EC2.

The first passageway leading north-west across a small courtyard to New Street. SJ

William follows Jim to his room. Cutlers Gardens, EC2.

Either I needed inside access or that's a prop roof. In case of the latter, I opted for this view with similar architectural look, but of course this can be replaced if necessary by an improvement. SJ

After experiencing a time slip to the first World War in which he saves Biggles from a crashed plane, Jim is returned to New York. Brooklyn Bridge, New York

Hearing a pneumatic drill sounding like a machine gun, Jim flings himself to the ground. Goodman's Yard, London E1.

An awkward angle to capture.

Nearby workmen give him strange looks. Goodman's Court E1.

A rubbish location ...literally.

Jim enters his office. Lloyds Court Business Centre, 1 Goodman's Yard E1, the site of Travelodge London Central Tower Bridge.

They've changed the doors.

Jim's next adventure in time takes him into a dogfight. The planes fly over a frozen lake.

The planes pass a ruined windmill.

The flying sequences were based around Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

Having obtained a photo of a secret enemy weapon from Biggles, Jim returns to the present and visits the Air Commodore who has a room in Tower Bridge.

No. 1, Tower Bridge, a popular tourist spot.

Jim installs himself in the Tower Hotel, where he has a view of the bridge from his room.

Concerned, Debbie takes Chuck (William Hootkins) to London, arriving at Jim's hotel. The Tower Hotel, St Katharine's Way, London E1.

Now with a less garish sign.

Jim is transported to a convent in WW1, which is raided by the Germans. All Saints Church, Holdenby. Completed in 1340 but now redundant and not in use since 1972.

Roland Hall provides a wider view of the scene with this comparison showing the beautiful church.

Biggles (Neil Dickson), Algy (Michael Siberry) and Ginger (Daniel Flynn) are up before the firing squad. Holdenby House.

Jim emerges from the convent, dressed as a nun, to save his pals. Holdenby House.

Back in the present, Jim tries to explain to Debbie what is happening to him. St Katharine Docks E1.

The dockside wall in the capture is now hidden by the boats.

Debbie finds Jim difficult to believe. St Katharine Docks E1.

City buildings have spring up in the background.

The annoying Chuck is bundled out of Jim's hotel. The Tower Hotel E1.

Area undergoing refurbishment.

As she gives Jim a hug, Debbie is transported with him to the battlefield where they hide with Biggles, Ginger and Algy. Chislehurst Caves, Bromley, Greater London.

The battle continues among ruined buildings where the Huns are testing their weapon. Beckton Gas Works in Newham, Greater London, was used for these scenes.

Phil Evans had no crane to get the correct angle but this is looking west from Armada Way onto the Beckton DLR depot.

Biggles and party emerge from a ruined building. Beckton Gas Works closed in 1976. The building can also be seen in 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and much of the site is now home to retail and shopping parks.

Phil Evans had to approximate this photo as the original was shot on the other side of the fence, facing west. Phil's comparison is taken looking east onto the rear of where it stood.

After emerging from a shelter, Biggles witnesses the destructive power of the secret weapon. Other parts of Beckton Gas Works can be seen in 'Dusty Bates', 'Brannigan', 'Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Skid Kids' and 'The Cement Garden'.

More Huns arrive and a gun battle breaks out. Beckton Gas Works. The circular building to the left also features in 'Full Metal Jacket' and bore Vietnamese script set dressing long into the 90s.

Phil Evans supplies the comparison and adds that this is looking east from Armada Way towards the river and onto what is currently a storage facility for lorry trailers.

In the midst of battle, Jim and Debbie are sent back to the present. St. Katherine Docks E1.

A doorman finds the abandoned gun. The Tower Hotel E1.

Arms reduction has taken place.

Jim and Debbie start running.

They are pursued by a helicopter, and the view is now from the south bank of the river, near HMS Belfast.

HMS Belfast is out of shot to the left. SJ

The chase continues across now-demolished buildings on the south bank of the Thames.

We are above HMS Belfast, looking north across the river.

John Harwood used his drone to get to helicopter level.

Jim and Biggles run across a presumably soon-to-be demolished wall.

The duo jump from a block tagged as Spillers, identifying it as the Spillers pet food factory at Uveco Wharf, Bermondsey SE1, which closed in 1983.

They shin down a ladder.

Biggles and Jim run around a corner. This is where Horselydown Lane meets Shad Thames SE1.

New buildings abound and still there are messy works ongoing as SR found in comparison 37. SJ

They stand against the wall, Looking northwest towards Tower Bridge.

The same corner today.

Behind Jim can be seen the dome of The Tower Bridge Hotel, now The Pommelers Arms, a Wetherspoons pub, also seen in 'Stanley: A Man of Variety'.

This area is in a right state, with the pub currently under wraps.

Down Shad Thames the police are waiting. Facing east.

A somewhat different view today.

A group of punks shield the pair as they reach Tower Bridge.

Tourists replace the punks today.

After visiting the Wing Commander, Biggles and Jim abseil down the tower.

They leave the bridge in a hurry.

Looking much the same today.

The cops have seen them and give chase. Phil Evans advises that this is facing east towards the south end of Tower Bridge, showing the chimney of the Anchor Brewhouse, and in the distance on the left the white panels of the Metropolitan Police Marine Workshop in Wapping.

Phil Evans advises that The wharf from which this section was filmed has long gone, so this is as close as he could frame it from The Queen's Walk by the former City Hall. Looks pretty spot-on to me.

Biggles jumps into a nearby helicopter and whisks Jim away. Looking across the Thames towards the Tower of London.

The scene viewed from John Harwood's drone.

Passing through the hole in time, Biggles lands the helicopter on a WW1 steam train, and takes off again. This sequence was filmed on the Nene Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire. Michael Bradley adds that the helicopter used was a Bell 206BII JetRanger fitted with pop-out emergency floats on the skids. The helicopter lands on a flat-bed railway wagon while the train is moving at over 40 miles per hour. The stunt took 15 attempts over 2 days. The pilot was American stunt pilot and aerial co-ordinator Marc Wolff, who has worked on numerous movies including the pre-credits helicopter sequence in 'For Your Eyes Only'.

Biggles locates the secret weapon. The scene was filmed at the former London Brick Company works near Brogborough in Bedfordshire. Paul Dykes informs us that the interior scenes for the secret weapon's power station were filmed in the Turbine Hall at Bankside Power Station, which became Tate Modern.

The weapon is destroyed.

Biggles and his pals return to the convent to finish off the Germans. Holdenby House.

The helicopter joins in. All Saints Church, Holdenby.

Roland Hall got a clear view of the church minus helicopter.

Returning to the present, Jim is dropped in the Thames and picked up by the police. The Wapping riverscape is seen in the background, with the tower blocks of St. George's Estate in the centre.

The Air Commodore arrives. New Concordia Wharf SE1.

The best angle to get a clear comparison.

Tha Air Commodore prepares to meet Jim. St. Saviour's Dock SE1.

Today's view of the jetty.

Jim is led across the walkway. St. Saviour's Dock.

Debbie waits for Jim at the dockside. St. Saviour's Dock SE1.

Not much change here.

Debbie gives Jim a hug. St. Saviour's Dock SE1 is also seen in 'I Was a Fireman'

Butler's Wharf today.

Jim and Debbie are married. St. Dunstan & All Saints Church Church, Stepney High Street E1. The church exterior is seen in 'Eight O'Clock Walk'

Phil Evans visited St Dunstan's and comments "Not much has changed since Biggles, or indeed since 1949 when Hugh Easton's window was installed."