Hannibal Brooks

Stephen 'Hannibal' Brooks (Oliver Reed) is captured by the enemy, somewhere in northern Italy. The church in the background is only a prop.

With other prisoners of war, Brooks is loaded onto a train. Christoph Gogg identifies this as Munich Isartalbahnhof at Schäftlarnstraße 9 in the Sendling district of Munich, Bavaria. The station closed in 1964 and lay derelict for over 25 years the late 1980s when it was taken over by the aid organisation Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe.

The train sets off through the Italian countryside. The name on the fictitious station building is Anzoll, perhaps located in South Tyrol. But Manuel Gurtner advises that we are in fact in northern Bavaria, more precisely on the main line Ingolstadt to Treuchtlingen through the Altmühl Valley.

The journey continues, taking the prisoners to Stalag VII-A. Manuel recognised that the train of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) is just passing Hagenacker, a small village in the municipality Dollnstein, Bavaria.

The journey to Munich is depicted by three additional screen captures from Manuel Gurtner. We see the DB-loco 051 405-9 from the engine shed Ulm, built 1941 in Vienna, for the movie signed with her former number 50 1405 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The Decapod type engine is heading at full steam toward the Esslingerberg Tunnel on the stretch along the river Altmühl between Dollnstein in the district of Eichstätt, Upper Bavaria and Solnhofen in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Middle Franconia.

The view on the western entrance of the Esslingerberg Tunnel, only seconds before the German POW transport leaves the 633 meter long tunnel in direction of Treuchtlingen. Capture and location identification by Manuel Gurtner.

During a stopover Packy tries to escape and fails miserably when he is spotted by the German guards. In the background presumly the then goods shed of Nannhofen station on the main line Munich – Augsburg is visible. Meanwhile renamed as Mammendorf, the station was completely modernized, so the goods shed has disappeared. The following scenes, setting in the Stalag, were filmed at the barracks of Ludwigsfeld, located in the municipality Karlsfeld outside of Munich, in fact a former sub-camp of the Dachau concentration camp.

Brooks volunteers for a work detail and is escorted by Kurt (Peter Carsten) to Munich Zoo along with Bernard (John Alderton), Twilight (Terence Sewards) and Geordie (John Porter-Davison). Looking from the junction of Prinzregentenstraße and Widenmayerstraße over the River Isar towards the Angel of Peace monument in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

With the POWs settled into life at the zoo, Lucy (Aida) the elephant enjoys a game of football with Brooks. The elephant house in Tierpark Hellabrunn (Hellabrunn Zoo), Tierparkstraße, München 81543.

Packy (Michael J. Pollard), an American prisoner, approaches Brooks. Das elefantenhaus im Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn.

An air-raid strikes the zoo and Lucy's keeper is killed. Hellabrunn Zoo on Tierparkstraße, Munich.

The Zoo Director decides that it is too dangerous for Lucy and arrangements are made for her to be transported by train to Innsbruck Zoo. Manuel explains that this is "Certainly not at the marshalling yard München-Ost (Munich East). Actually we see the sidings of Bregenz station, located at the southern end nearby the then Bahnbetriebswerk (locomotive depot). Presumably in the late 1970s, the unused depot and the entire facilities were demolished. In 1989, the old station building and the goods sheds also disappeared as Bregenz station was completely modernized."

SS-Standartenführer von Haller (Wolfgang Preiss) arrives in his 1938 Horch Sport Cabriolet at München Ost station and commandeers the train. Manuel advises that this was filmed on the, then tracks, around the turntable of Bw Bregenz adding that there is now a large parking lot for the casino and the Mercure Hotel.

Lucy, Brooks and Kurt set off for Innsbruck on foot accompanied by Vronia (Karin Baal) and Willi. We see them passing by Munich's St. Anna-Platz, a market square next to the Roman Catholic parish church St. Anna, located in the district Lehel. Identification by Manuel.

The group head away from the city much to the amazement of passers by. Manuel Gurtner found Birschingweg on the outskirts of Lochen, a village in the municipality of Dietramszell, about 30 kilometres south of Munich.

Small villages are passed through. Dietramszeller Straße 19 in Linden, Bavaria found by Steve Randall.

The local population come to see the elephant. The pond in the centre of Lochen is not only used by the fire brigade, but also as a drinking trough for trunked animals and Manuel Gurtner points out St. Magdalena church, built around 1520, which stands in the background.

Another day dawns and Brooks wakes up moments before Kurt returns from a drunken night out. Manuel's research found that the camp is below the Parish Church St. Georg, located on a hilltop at Leiblfing in the municipality Pettnau, Tirol.

Kurt wins a teddy as Lucy gives rides during a small town's fair. Manuel tells us that this was filmed in the municipality of Tulfes in the district of Innsbruck-Land, Tirol.

War is forgotten as dancing fills the square. This is still in Tulfes, at the junction of Milchgasse and Goargasse. In the background the Roman Catholic parish church St. Thomas is visible. Location found by Manuel Gurtner.

Willi (Helmut Lohner) watches as Brooks faces Kurt. They stand in front of the inn 'Gasthof Reifen', Tulfes identified by Manuel.

As evening falls, Kurt heads out for another night of drinking. Manuel locates this as the view south from the outskirts of Tulfes with the bell tower of the parish church in the background.

The following morning sees Lucy and her companions crossing a river bridge. The view from the north to the then iron construction across the Bregenzer Ach at Egg, Vorarlberg identified by Manuel.

As they pass over the ravine towards the village . . .

. . . SS-Standartenführer von Haller approaches from the other direction in a staff car. In the background the clocktower of the Parish Church Hl. Nikolaus, first mentioned in 1275, can be seen. Location found by Manuel Gurtner.

Brooks explains to Von Haller that elephants can't back up.

After killing Kurt and burying the body in a quarry, Brooks decides to leave Willi and Vronia and head for Switzerland with Lucy.

In a nearby town, a wedding takes place as the enemy recives news of Brooks and Lucy going missing.

A soldier listens as his Captain orders that Brooks is captured alive.

Brooks leaves Lucy in the mountains as he descends toward a village. Having travelled to the location many times, Iain Carr recognised the village of Schröcken, some 40 miles west of Innsbruck in the north-west of Austria.

The place appears deserted. Schröcken in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.

At the quarry, Kurt's body is discovered whilst Brooks explores the Alpine village. Schröcken confirmed by Iain Carr.

Brooks approaches the boarded up Hotel Mohnenfluh. Iain Carr explains that the hotel stands behind the church in Schröcken.

When Brooks finds that Lucy is ill, he makes his way to the nearest village. This house named "Beim Mühlpaula" with the so-called "Lüftlmalerei" (wall-paintings) was built around 1800 and is located at Gasse 163 in the municipality of Leutasch, North Tyrol. Right next to it the chapel "Marienkapelle Obere Gasse", built around 1790, can be seen. Location identified by Manuel Gurtner.

Children lead the way to the Doctor's house. Manuel advises "For the "Doctor's house" served the farmhouse "Itzlhof", built 1775 and located at Unterkirchen 254 in the municipality of Leutasch."

The Doctor diagnoses mumps and Lucy is left in his care whilst Brooks goes to visit Willi. Manuel Gurtner identifies this view as looking west in the village of Hirschau, located in the municipality of Schnepfau, with Lourdes chapel on the right.

The following day, Brooks is captured and taken to Colonel Von Haller before being thrown into a cell where Willi is being held. The view from the north to Friedberg Castle, first mentioned in 1275 and located above the municipality Volders in the district of Innsbruck-Land, Tirol. Location discovered by Manuel.

Brooks and Willi make their escape aided by Packy and his partisan fighters.

Dr. Mendel (Ralf Wolter) takes Brooks and Willi to the now recovered Lucy. They leave Oberleutasch in the municipality of Leutasch with the Parish Church Hl. Maria Magdalena, while in the background the mountain range of the Hohe Munde can be recognized. Identification by Manuel.

As they continue the journey to Switzerland, Willi checks out another village. One of the farmhouses in Schnepfau, Bregenz district, Vorarlberg state located by Manuel Gurtner.

The coast appears to be clear. Manuel explains that we're still in Schnepfau, at the corner of the streets called Hag and Mitteldorf, looking across the graveyard of the Parish Church of St. Wolfgang, consecrated in 1459, towards the former Parish House in the centre background.

Willi is spotted and soldiers take chase. The corner of Bizauer Straße and Alte Bundesstraße found by Manuel Gurtner who adds that the new elementary school building now stands in the place of the building on the left.

Willi returns to Brooks and the two lead Lucy to a hiding place behind a waterfall.

The soldiers mount their motorcycles and chase Willi but fail to hind him or Lucy and Brooks. The background building is the dairy in Schnepfau in Vorarlberg, Austria.

Packy is encountered just before he and his partisans blow up and derail a train conveying tanks. Manuel Gurtner advises that this scene was filmed on 25th May 1968 on the Montafon Railway by the river Ill near St. Anton. For the derailment sequence the privately owned railway purchased the withdrawn ÖBB tank loco 93.1340. The five German tanks were only wooden mock-ups.

Enemy troops arrive at a cable car station as Brooks and Lucy make their way up the mountain. Manuel advises "We see the lower station of the Lünerseebahn, an aerial cableway at the end of the valley in the municipality of Brand, Vorarlberg. The upper station is located directly on the dam of Lake Lüner in the municipality of Vandans at 1983 m above sea level. The empty square next to the lower station is used as a parking lot between May and October.

Willi watches before being shot whilst killing the soldiers and disabling the cable car. The lower station of the Lünerseebahn located by Manuel.

Kurt Meyer provides this snowy view of the Lünerseebahn station taken in 2005 during his expedition to locations seen in the film.

Brooks reaches the top station with Lucy where, inside, he finds SS-Standartenführer von Haller with Vronia who are also heading for Switzerland. Manuel adds "Of course not the upper station on Lake Lüner, but the unused old top station Grabs of the then single-seat ropeway, coming up from the village Tschagguns in the district Bludenz, Vorarlberg. The nearby inn 'Alpengasthof Grabs' still exists, but meanwhile the ropeway was abandoned and dismantled."

The Austrian side of the border is reached after the group encounter Packy and his makeshift army once more. The wooden guard tower was built at the Laternser Strasse between Batschuns and Laterns, Vorarlberg, and was located high above the gorge "Üble Schlucht". Nowadays, at this area the road runs through two tunnels. Location found by Manuel Gurtner.

Risking life and limb, James De Ath found the location much more overgrown as well as discovering that the narrow road that once led to the tower has, at some point, been buried or swept away by a landslide.

The Swiss border comes into view as Brooks and Lucy continue onward with their comrades. Manuel Gurtner advises that this was filmed in the outskirts of Gurtis, a small village in the municipality Nenzing, Vorarlberg. Bottom left is the Walgau valley with the river Ill while in the background the mountain range called Walserkamm can be recognised.