Flannelfoot

Berlin, just after the end of the Second World War, where Scotland Yard's Inspector Duggan is working on a case involving a jewel thief.

Leaving a bar after an Informer makes contact, the Inspector arrives at the story's St. Nicholas church on Hönestraße.

Inspector Duggan (Ronald Adam) explores the ruins as Peterson, an American officer, hides in the shadows.

After Peterson is handed a priceless heirloom by a Figure in the shadows, the Inspector investigates an alcove before masonry is pushed and falls onto him.

Years later in England, Lord Wexford gives Captain Frank Mitchell a position as crime reporter on the Comet. Polesden Lacey at Great Bookham, Surrey. The stately home also appears in 'The Tomb of Ligeia', 'The File of the Golden Goose', 'Shooting Fish' and 'The Truth About Women'.

On my previous visit in September 2023 the house exterior was undergoing much needed conservation work. It was necessary to cover the entire front of the house in scaffolding. I have returned now that the work is complete and have replaced my shot with a much more pleasant comparison. (SD)

That night, Ginger Watkins (Graham Stark) lights a cigarette before noticing a familiar car parked in the street.

Inside a nearby apartment, a burglary is in progress. Maitland Court, Gloucester Terrace, London, W2. (SD)

Cinema tends not to use this west side as much as the south side, seen in caps 12 & 13. SJ

Hiding behind a wall, Ginger watches Flannelfoot leave the apartment block before driving away in the Standard Vanguard. Maitland Court, Gloucester Terrace. The entrance for flats 2 to 26. (SD)

With the entrance to Cerney Mews on the left. SJ

Hoping to profit by what he had seen the previous evening, Ginger visits Scotland Yard to speak with Superintendent Carter. Scotland Yard seen from Victoria Embankment in London SW1.

Leaving without payment for his information, Ginger passes Tyrone Fraser (Kim Peacock) who turns to watch the nark walk away. Scotland Yard on Victoria Embankment.

Ginger heads for a telephone kiosk and calls Mitchell at the Comet to sell his story. Dave W had his memory jolted when he caught sight of the capture and recognised the Irving Street WC2 side elevation of the Nat Portrait Gallery. (RL)

If I had been as far back as perhaps I should have been, that tree has grown and ruined the shot. And, the whole area has been substantially changed. (RL)

Kathleen Fraser (Mary Germaine) gets out of a taxi outside the apartment block where she lives with her father. Outside Maitland Court at the corner of Gloucester Terrace and Lancaster Terrace in W2.

The Royal Lancaster Hotel, built in 1966, has replaced the terrace. Looking at what was c. nos. 19 -22. SJ

Paying the Cabbie half a crown, Kathleen enters the building to find her father examining a Luger pistol. Maitland Court can be seen in many productions including 'Three Stops to Murder', 'Mantrap', 'Whispering Smith Hits London', 'Paul Temple Returns', 'Hammer the Toff', 'Salute the Toff', 'The Italian Job', 'The Saint’s Return', 'Operation Diplomat' and 'Song of Paris'.

A much loved entrance. SJ

Outside Dr. Milligan's house, Ginger sees Inspector Duggan leave after questioning the well known fence. The Croft, Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. This is on the south side of the house. (SD)

The Croft was a house in the grounds of Walton Studios. When the studio closed in 1961 the area was redeveloped. On the site is now Wellington Close Estate. This is the first of three blocks of flats which were completed in 1965., This is the entrance to numbers 1-44. (SD)

Returning from driving his employer Dr. Milligan to the station, Ginger heads to the Duke of York where Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald is waiting after a tip off by a phone received by Superintendent Carter. As borne out by the following capture Richard Lovejoy (RL) identifies this as the Duke of York at number 47 Rathbone Street W1.

Paul Lincoln also headed off to the Duke of York to capture a much changed but also much more colourful scene. (RL)

Expecting Flannelfoot to appear, a police car is positioned in the street outside the pub. RL locates Collector's Corner at 36 Rathbone Street.

Paul took this slightly wider shot to show the extent of the redevelopment of this corner. (RL)

Catching a train into London, Dr. Milligan arrives at Piccadilly Circus. Looking towards the corner of Lower Regent Street and Piccadilly in W1.

In the end Paul gave up waiting for a break in the traffic. (RL)

Dr. Milligan (Ronald Leigh-Hunt) leaves the tube station. Lower Regent Street to the south of Piccadilly Circus.

At least for this shot Paul only had to accept a car. (RL)

Also on the trail of Flannelfoot, Andy Fraser drives his father Tyrone, Lord Wexford and Frank Mitchell to the Duke of York. The bollards and corner doorway to the left give this away as Newman Passage W1 with Newman Street in the distance. (PW)

Neil Kenny matches the scene in daylight.

As Lord Wexford enters the Duke of York and recognises Harry Fitzgerald, Dr. Milligan lights a cigarette before moving on.

A Vendor calls out "Star, News and Standard" and a newspaper containing a special stop press message is handed over to the Doctor.

In an alleyway not far from the Duke of York a Figure moves through the shadows towards a doorway. Neil Kenny explains that the lamppost seen at the end of Newman Passage was a well known landmark due to it leaning over and here it seems to be just starting to lean. "In the titles of television's 'Minder' this is the lamppost that Arthur and Terry are seen to be "holding up". I believe this was later repaired before it was sadly removed."

Newman Passage was clearly better lit at the time of Paul's visit. (RL)

Ginger leaves the pub and walks unsteadily towards the alley. The Duke of York at on Rathbone Street in W1, found by RL.

Clearly Paul had a steady hand when taking this shot. (RL)

The Figure makes his escape after jumping out and strangling Ginger. Newman Passage W1 which is also seen in 'It Happened in Soho', 'Das Geheimnis der gelben Narzissen', 'Last Night in Soho', 'Peeping Tom' and 'The Frightened City'.

It was too early for Paul to capure a shadowy figure to complete the scene. (RL)

At Wexford Court, Detective Sergeant Harry Fitzgerald returns from the golf course with Renee, Kathleen and Andy to the house where Superintendent Carter and Inspector Duggan are speaking with Lord Wexford and Bill Neilson who has brought several items of jewellery from his collection as bait for Flannelfoot. Polesden Lacey at Great Bookham near Dorking in Surrey.

The unique colour of the the house comes from the sand which is mixed into the render. (SD)

Andy Fraser (Peter Hammond) stows his clubs before entering the house with Renee Wexford (Gene Anderson), Kathleen Fraser and the Sergeant. The Edwardian Polesden Lacey at Great Bookham.

The colonnade on the south side of the house. (SD)

After Flannelfoot strikes at Wexford Court, Andy escorts Angela Neilson (Vanda Godsell) towards the garage where the crook has hidden the Butler's body in one of the cars. The water tower at Polesden Lacey. The archway leads to the stable courtyard. (SD)

The stable courtyard now includes the visitor reception, cafe and gift shop. This replaces my September 2023 comparison for which I was standing far too near. (SD)

Renee and Lord Wexford (Stuart Lindsell) drive to Dr. Milligan's house after jewels from Neilson's collection are stolen. The Croft, Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames. This is the south side of the house which was also seen in 'Glad Tidings'. (SD)

Wellington Close, with another view of the entrance to flats 1-44. (SD)

Shortly afterward, Inspector Duggan, Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald and Frank Mitchell arrive at the Doctor's house looking for Flannelfoot. The Croft on Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey which was also seen in 'Glad Tidings', 'The Naked Truth', 'Trouble with Eve', 'Operation Diplomat', 'Morning Call', 'Park Plaza 605' and 'The Sleeping Tiger'.

The site of The Croft entrance porch is now a parking area below flats 1-44, Wellington Close. To the left is a car park which was originally the driveway in front of the house. (SD)

Following the arrest of Dr. Milligan, Tyrone Fraser, Inspector Duggan and Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald head back to Wexford Court where Flannelfoot has shot Bill Neilson. Polesden Lacey at Great Bookham in Surrey.

In September 2023, due to the scaffolding problem, I was unable to get anywhere near to this angle. Today, due to unforeseen circumstances, the house was closed. I was therefore able to take all the time I needed to line this up. (SD)