Diplomatic Passport

The film opens with a shot of London Airport where a delayed aeroplane from New York brings Ray and Judy Andersen to England.

The plane descends over the City on its final approach.

Footage of waving friends and family is seen as the diplomat and his wife leave the plane.

When he leaves Judy after being unexpectedly called away during the night, a car follows Ray as he drives from the film's St. James Chambers on Devonshire Street. In reality, this in the entrance to Bridford Mews off Devonshire Street in London W1 with Hallam Street in the left of centre background.

Paul Lincoln witnessed rather more formalised parking these days, and of course, those dreaded yellow lines. (RL)

Ray arrives at London Airport to find that heavy fog has delayed all flights to France. The same sign appears in 1955's 'Tim Driscoll's Donkey'.

At the suggestion of an Airline Clerk at the airport, Ray heads to the coast to catch the car ferry . . . followed by the mysterious black car.

Ray arrives at Dover in good time for the crossing.

At the port, an Official asks Ray to step into the Customs Office. Ray Glenister suggests that is likely to be a clever use of the MGM Studio complex at Elstree given that he finds evidence that the following capture certainly is. (RL)

While Ray is being questioned, a French Woman distracts a Policeman whilst her accomplice André hides an package in the diplomat's Chevrolet. MGM Studio complex at Elstree Ray tells us. (RL)

Cars are loaded on board and the TS Lord Warden leaves Dover.

After an uneventful crossing, Boulogne is reached. The port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The location is seen in 'The Scapegoat', 'A Day to Remember' and 'Mr. Nice'.

Taking a break during the 280 kilometre journey to Paris, Ray Andersen (Paul Carpenter) pulls into a petrol station for fuel and breakfast.

With the Chevrolet having transported the package through customs, André (John Bennett) removes it before Ray appears causing the pair to drive away in his car.

As Judy wakes up to read in a London newspaper that her husband has been injured and she has been killed in a road accident near Beauvais, Ray arrives in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.

Another stock shot reinforces that this is the French capital. Rue Royale in the 8th arrondissement with L'église de la Madeleine in the right background.

A battered car comes to a stand outside the Hotel Lorraine after the Driver gives the diplomat a lift from the north.

In London, Judy takes a taxi to London Airport. Piccadilly Circus, looking towards Coventry Street in W1 with Shaftesbury Avenue located by RL.

Peter captured this shot from the safety of a refuge.

Judy arrives at Continental Departures where she is disturbed to discover that her husband did not fly to France.

Not recalling the name of the hotel where she is staying, Judy takes a cab and searches the streets for a familiar landmark. RL recognised Coventry Street with Haymarket in the right of centre background . . . .

. . . and Peter provides the proof.

The cab drives along unfamiliar streets. A zoomed-in Capture 28, Brunswick Place, London NW1 Dave adds. (RL)

Paul provides this crisper and colourful comparison shot. (RL)

Thinking that she recognises her hotel, Judy tells the Driver to stop. Dave does like to be specific, Brunswick Place NW1 facing east, with York Terrace East behind the camera. The property in view is marked on OS 1953 as 4 Upper Harley Street. (RL)

Blessed by an unrestricted view Paul pressed the shutter button. (RL)

Judy Anderson (Marsha Hunt) gets out of the cab before realising she's mistaken. For fear of repeating himself Dave says, Brunswick Place NW1 facing east, with York Terrace East behind the camera. The property in view is marked on OS 1953 as 4 Upper Harley Street. (RL)

Whatever the street name Paul captured the same No 4. (RL)

The Taxi Driver continues to help with the search. Dave W continued the taxi drivers search and found a side of Hanover House, Greenberry Street, London NW8 that matches exactly. (RL)

From the comfort of his home Dave provided in Nov '20 a GEV view now replaced by SJ from the comfort of a mild autumnal day.

Another street brings more unrecognisable buildings. But recognisable to Dave W who identifies this as York Terrace East, London NW1 looking towards Brunswick Place, formerly Upper Harley Street. Also seen in 'The Avengers'. (RL)

Once again, aided by an unrestricted view Paul captured this shot for us. (RL)

More streets are driven along. Dave W recognises this as County Hall (South West corner) seen from the corner of Westminster Bridge Road and the now extinct Stangate, with the distinctive railings of the old St Thomas' Hospital building. The railings are also seen in Genevieve C102 et seq. (RL)

A match to the right of the old County Hall, taken earlier in the day and slighty off-angle. SJ

The cab approaches another hotel. Whether or not it is an hotel, it is certainly Sussex Place, London NW1 Dave W tells us, adding that it was also recently seen in 'Derby Day'. (RL)

The Driver pulls up outside the seventh hotel to be checked. There is every reason to believe that this is also Sussex Place but a few queries remain with regard to the middle ground wall and other aspects. (RL)

When he finds that his passenger doesn't have enough money to pay the fare, the Taxi Driver suggests that she continue her search on foot. Dave W soon finds his way to Brunswick Place, London NW1, formerly Upper Harley Street, looking south towards Marylebone Road. (RL)

As Paul found, they were the days for parking, or has ULEZ made the differenece? (RL)

Finally reaching the Mason Nasier Clinic in Beauvais where her injured husband is supposed to be recovering, Judy enters the driveway as crook Philip (Marne Maitland) stands innocently at the gate.

After being captured by the gang of crooks, Ray escapes from the house where he's being held.

Ray reports everything he knows to the Police and a general alert is sent out.

Two Police Motorcyclists join the hunt for the crooks. Batchworth Lane on Batchworth Heath, Hertfordshire with the arched entrance to the Moor Park Golf Club in the left background. The location also appears in 'Genevieve'.

The same location sixty-five years later by Antony Blair.

Spotting the crooks heading towards the Belgian border, a Policeman cycles to call in the sighting. James Russell found The Mop & Brooms public house on Rowley Lane at the junction with Well End Road in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Denis Hoare happened to be in the area and took this comparative shot for us. He admits that he didn't get the right aspect but he wanted to get the tree in, and of course, there just had to be car in his way. (RL)

The Officer leans his bike against . . . . wait a minute! That appears to be a British Police Call Box! . . . . which stood at the corner of Rowley Lane and Well End Road in Borehamwood as confirmed by James Russell.

Denis did his best to stand exactly where the police box was. He noted more plants these days helping to keep the atmosphere cleaner. (RL)

With André and Marcelle as passengers, Philip crashes the car at a road block. Is that the studio in the distance?

The gang's Chief speeds away with Judy followed closely by the Inspector and Ray.