Clouded Yellow, The
Date: 1950
Director: Ralph Thomas
Production Company: Carillon Films
Stars: Jean Simmons, Trevor Howard, Sonia Dresdel, Barry Jones, Kenneth More
Location(s): Cumberland, Lancashire, London, Newcastle upon Tyne
Region(s): London C-D, North
Storyline:
When Secret Service agent David Somers is fired, he takes a quiet job with the Fentons at their country estate – cataloging butterflies, hence the title insect. After a murder occurs, an exciting chase ensues.
Additional Information:
Stills and now images by John Owens.
Jimmy Snow, special effects technician, for whom we have a fulsome summary of his career written by his granddaughter Brigitte, together with her memories of him, worked on this film. All that she has shared with us can be read here.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
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
- 31 Mar 2022

At first thought to be near Parliament Square, then Whiteley's store in Queensway, for which Peter took a comparative shot in 2014 but admitted that there was "no way I could match it", now Dave W gives it to us for real. It is Kingsway, London WC2 and Maj. David Somers (Trevor Howard) has just passed No 24 and is about to turn left into Sardinia Street. Quite correctly on his way to Capture 2. (RL)

What a relief to finalise this one after a long puzzle. Looking north on Kingsway. SJ
- Capture 2
- 07 Jun 2013
Somewhere in London - the church should be identifiable... Great Hall (New Hall), New Square, Lincoln's Inn, Holborn, WC2A 3TL. Looking west. Greg Mishevski.
With more modern motors in Lincoln's Inn. SJ
- Capture 3
- 07 Jun 2013
Near cly002.
Turn around from the above and there's no. 12, New Square. The lamppost's gone. SJ
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Distinctive circular thatched house. Called White Lodge, Tapgrove, Hampshire in the film but I can't find a place called Tapgrove... After 14 years, a joint venture with Jules Balantyne has found 'Glenamoy', Nan Clark's Lane, London NW7. Not surprisingly, many changes but the basic elements remain. (RL)
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Full shot of the house. As per the previous capture 'Glenamoy', Nan Clark's Lane, London NW7. (RL)
- Capture 6
- 30 Nov 2018
Junction of Oxendon Street and Coventry Street, London.

Replacing John Owens Google Street View. (RL)
- Capture 7
- 30 Nov 2018
Oxendon Street, London.

Replacing John Owens Google Street View. (RL)
- Capture 8
- 30 Nov 2018
Coventry Street again.

Replacing John Owens Google Street View. (RL)
- Capture 9
- 30 Nov 2018
Heading into Lyons Corner House.

Replacing John Owens Google Street View. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
London Underground - Holborn tube station, and the decor suggests a Central Line platform.
- Capture 11
- 23 Aug 2011
- 27 Aug 2026

Exit at Newcastle Central Station.
An exit from Newcastle Central Station - now in a car park but unchanged - the good old standby the drainpipe is still visible to the left. John Owens.

Tony Leighton sends in this update with the comment, "Newcastle Central Station. Not much change since 2011. The archway is still a car park entrance and what looked like a temporary builders fence on the left seems to have become permanent." (SJ)
- Capture 12
- 14 Oct 2022
The bus station in Newcastle - two distinctive buildings in the background.

The same location 72 years later, captured by Antony.
- Capture 13
- 23 Aug 2011
- 27 Aug 2026

Newcastle - looking down the river to the Tyne Bridge. See 'The Likely Lads'.
This quayside area of Newcastle has been completely redeveloped and none of the original buildings remains. This shot is taken from roughly the same spot looking west down the Tyne with a view of the Tyne Bridge, the Swing Bridge and the High Level Bridge. John Owens.

Another from Tony L., "Newcastle upon Tyne Quayside. Taken from a few hundred yards east of John Owens' 2011 photo, there is one original building still standing, on the extreme right. The Tyne Hotel, at the southern end of Milk Market, stood derelict for many years but is now refurbished and trading as the Tomahawk Steakhouse & Carvery." (SJ)
- Capture 14
- 21 Jan 2015
Warehouse in street just along from cly013 ... Tony Leighton adds, "The Tyne Hotel at the south end of Milk Market on the corner of Quayside (seen in the previous capture on the right) stood derelict for many years but is now refurbished and trading as the Tomahawk Steakhouse & Carvery." (SJ)
Ken Alexander sends this shot remarking that although the road, Milk Street, has been altered the buildings on the left and back remain. (RL)
- Capture 15
- 23 Aug 2011
- 27 Aug 2026

Trevor Howard and Jean Simmons with Newcastle Castle in background.
This is St Nicholas Street looking down towards the castle... John Owens. Chris Morgan adds,"The castle keep is in the background with a Tyneside electric train from the coast on the viaduct. The 31B didn't run on that route, although the 34 did. It seems Newcastle Corporation Transport were keen to show off their new buses." (SJ)

And a third update from Tony, "St. Nicholas' Street. Now a much quieter part of Newcastle than in 1950. There is less traffic as the High Level Bridge (entrance in the centre distance) now only permits use by southbound buses." (SJ)
- Capture 16
- 07 Apr 2025

An additional still sent in by Chris Morgan who identifies the Great North Road, then the A1, with John Wardle and Richard Winchester proposing the the section of road outside the Princess Mary Maternity Hospital heading out of Newcastle upon Tyne as the bus is en route to Gosforth.

Richard confirms his thoughts with this view of the Great North Road, outside the hospital.
- Capture 17
- 07 Apr 2025
They have just got off a bus where Trevor asked for tickets to Jesmond. Paul Fitzpatrick locates this as the main road between Newcastle and Gosforth by the Town Moor. The building in the background isn't a church but the 'Princess Mary Maternity Hospital' where he was born, which has since been repurposed as luxury apartments.

The view 75 years later by Richard Winchester.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
A very distinctive feature as the background which could possibly be a gatepost. However, Richard Winchester could find no evidence of such a structure on the Great North Road... Tony Leighton suggests studio trickery (SJ)
- Capture 19
- 07 Apr 2025
A street in Newcastle with a church in background . . . identified by Greg Mishevski as Kingsland in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne with Jesmond Presbyterian Church

Richard Winchester replaces an earlier Google capture with this original view.
- Capture 20
- 30 Jul 2022
A side street in Newcastle? No . . . St. Christopher's Place running between Wigmore Street and Oxford Street in London W1 located by Paul Fitzpatrick.

And Paul's brother Nick sent in the comparison the very next day. (SJ)
- Capture 21
- 'Now' required
Possibly the Tyne Bridge? Philip Hodgetts confirms that it is indeed Tyne Bridge and specifically, looking southward. (RL)
- Capture 22
- 'Now' required
The Aira Force Cafe near Ullswater - there was still a cafe here when I visited about 10 years ago.
- Capture 23
- 09 Jun 2016
Signpost nearby - the steps and wall should still be there?
Bill Hughes confirms that the wall and gate are still there but the path and steps have been grassed over. (RL)
- Capture 24
- 09 Jun 2016
Liverpool street with pub at the end, tenement flats to the left and distant view of the Liver Buildings. Street sign in the film says 'Coronation Way' but I can't trace any street called this. Mike Bradford tells us; Upper Frederick Street, at the junction with Hardy Street, looking north. The tenement block went in about 1987 and there is a Chinese supermarket on the site. The corner pub still survives.
Bill Hughes confirms that it is indeed Upper Frederick Street, L1 5DH and supports with this Google Street View. (RL)
- Capture 25
- 'Now' required
Possibly in Liverpool's Chinatown area. Some shots of this area, unless this is a set, in the Magnet. Phil Anderton agrees, This is clearly a studio set - the studio lighting and the English translation "Chinese Grocer" on the outside of the shop to let the audience know what it's supposed to be, are giveaways. There's obviously no photo for this. However Mike Bradford disagrees; the 'Chinese Grocer', was on Grenville Street South, judging by the later views supposedly from inside the building. All of the buildings on this street have been demolished.
- Capture 26
- 18 Aug 2011
Liverpool Lime Street station looking back towards the station concourse.
Phil Anderton has done his best with this one, but...the brick pillars??? Perhaps we're too far to the left.
- Capture 27
- 'Now' required
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in the background. See The Magnet. Mike Bradford states; This is Upper Frederick Street, although the background buildings may be on Upper Pitt Street and are visible because of demolition.
- Capture 28
- 05 Sep 2010
Jean Simmons gets off a Liverpool Overhead railway train.
The Overhead Railway was closed in 1956 and demolished soon after. This photo from the 1950s identifies the station as Huskisson Dock - see the bridge and station buildings. Photo courtesy of Paul Wright at www.disused-stations.org.uk.
- Capture 29
- 'Now' required
This is Gladstone Dock Station on the Liverpool Overhead Railway, not Huskisson Dock, which is further south. Note the pattern of the rail on the footbridge, says Mike Bradford. Indeed, the middle angled braces go up towards the centre of the bridge. Exceedingly well spotted.
- Capture 30
- 05 Sep 2010
Jean Simmons running along the Liverpool Dock Road (actually Regent Road). Behind you can see the stairs to the Brocklebank Dock station (not the same station that she got off at in the previous capture)
Difficult to spot this but I believe the building immediately behind the white lorry in the capture is this pub on the corner of Millers Bridge and the Dock Road in Bootle - see the windows roof and chimney. John Owens.
- Capture 31
- 27 Apr 2012
Ok it's a dummy and not Barry Jones falling to his death - Liverpool Dock Road again - see also the 'audience' at the top of the warehouse.
This is the old Tate and Lyle Building taken from Great Howard Street. The chutes have long gone and the actual screen shot may have been taken from inside the factory site but this is the building used. Phil Anderton. However John Burns claims; The warehouse was demolished and this shot is not therefore correct.
- Capture 32
- 05 Dec 2020

An added still provided by Adrian Holmes who recognised the Lake District.

The road to Newlands Pass, approx 0.5 m NE of Buttermere village. Google supplied by Adrian (SJ).

