I See a Dark Stranger

On Rue de la Gare, the shadow of a Man passes across an advertisement for Byrrh.

Oscar Pryce descends to the street near Café Antoine before a shot is fired.

Following a cut to the oddity of an Isle of Man signpost outside the French town, the story retreats back to an earlier time. 1937, near Ballygarry in the west of Ireland where Bridie Quilty grows up listening to the same old song of the revolution recited night after night.

Terence Delaney (Eddie Golden) watches Bridie leave Ballygarry when she comes of age in the spring of 1944 nursing a bitter hatred of everything British.

Bridie Quilty (Deborah Kerr) waves as Uncle Timothy (Liam Redmond) takes her to the station.

The trap disappears along the road to Glenderry.

At Glenderry, Uncle Timothy carries Bridie's cases as she heads into the station. A village in Ireland? Not so advises Stephen1966, this Main Road, Union Mills on the Isle of Man at the top of the steps leading to Union Mills station with Union Mills Methodist church at the corner of Strang Road in the right of centre background.

Union Mills 75 years later, with the church almost hidden by foliage. (PW)

A lightened view of the station platform as Bridie boards the train for the journey to Dublin. Union Mills station on the between Douglas and Peel closed in May 1961 before being reopened from June 1967 until September 1968.

The route of the railway is now a footpath but the station's down platform survives. (PW)

Travelling in the same compartment as Mr. J. Miller, Bridie arrives in Dublin. Kingsbridge station, renamed Heuston in 1966, on St John's Road West in Dublin 8.

Carrying the young woman's case, J. Miller (Raymond Huntley) walks across the road from the terminus. The exterior of Dublin's Heuston Station, known as Kingsbridge until 1966, which is also featured in 'The First Great Train Robbery' and, inside, 'Taffin'.

Mark O'Neill captures a little altered station notwithstanding the change in name. (RL)

Miller places the case on the pavement explaining to the Cabman that she is to be taken to Beechwood Avenue. King's Bridge with Kingsbridge station to the left and buildings on Parkgate Street and Montpellier Hill in the right distance.

After tipping his hat to Bridie, Miller watches the cab depart. King's Bridge in Dublin with St. James's church steeple visible in the centre distance.

Mark O'Neill advises that the bridge was completed in 1828 and restored in 2003. (RL)

Bridie gives the Cabman an alternative address as her destination. RB advises that King's Bridge, spanning the River Liffey, was built to commemorate the visit of King George IV in 1821.

Mark O'Neill explains that the bridge is now only used for pedestrians and the LUAS tram. (RL)

Bridie looks out at the tall buildings as the cab turns into O'Connell Street. The view north from O'Connell Bridge along O'Connell Street towards Nelson's Pillar identified by RB. The location appears in many productions including 'Tim Driscoll's Donkey', 'Johnny Nobody', 'Girl with Green Eyes', 'The Quare Fellow', 'The March Hare', 'Dead Man's Evidence' and 'Johnny Nobody'.

O'Connell Street in Dublin, as it is in 2015. (PW)

Asking the Cabman to wait, Bridie climbs the steps of the Redmond Portrait Gallery.

Inside the gallery, Birdie asks to see the Deputy Director, Mr. Michael Callaghan to ask him to get her into the Irish Republican Army.

In the fictional Devon village of Wynbridge Vale where German spy Oscar Pryce is in prison awaiting trial, a Workman cleans paint off a statue of Oliver Cromwell. High Street, Dunster in Somerset, identified by Alastair Terry within 24 hours of the film appearing on our site.

It is good to have Lionel and Cynthia Sear 'back on the road'. Here, looking north across the High Street with the Yarn Market in view. They say that they you will never see this area free of parked cars - when a space comes up it is filled within seconds! (RL)

A little way along the street from the statue, Bridie pushes Grandfather Edwards (James Harcourt) in his wheelchair. Having visited, Lionel and Cynthia have been able to detail the location as Church Street, Dunster and is in fact a short narrow stretch of the A396 connecting High Street and West Street. (RL)

On their return visit to Dunster, Lionel and Cynthia not only clarified the location but took this shot of the same spot, revealing not much change in nearly 80 years. (RL)

Bridie and Grandfather continue past the crowd gathered around the statue before entering the George Hotel. Identified by Alastair Terry, this is the Dunster Castle Hotel on High Street in in Dunster, Somerset.

With some cosmetic changes over the last 60 odd years, Alastair took this photograph of the hotel and explains that the statue was a prop.

After checking into The George, Lieutenant David Baynes (Trevor Howard) walks over to the police station . . . watched from the bar by Miller who has arrived in the country travelling on an Argentinian passport. High Street in Dunster, Somerset identified by Alastair Terry.

Alastair found that the cobbled walkway remains in front of the same private house on Dunster High Street.

From his car parked a short distance away, Miller watches Army Officers outside the railway station as they await the arrival of Oscar Pryce for transfer to London. A railway station that is likely to be a set offers RB.

Following an elaborate swap. Oscar Pryce is driven away by Miller.

Followed by two Intelligence Officers, Miller's Rover 14 speeds through the village. Dunster's High Street with Conygar Tower on the distant hill identified by Alastair Terry.

Taking this view, Alastair Terry explains that Dunster Castle is on the hill opposite the Grade II listed Conygar Tower.

Losing the pursuing Amy car which is governed to the regulatory 40 mph, Miller makes a left turn off the main road. Looking along Church Street towards St. George’s church from the junction of West Street, St. George’s Street and Castle Hill in Dunster, Somerset. (PW)

Looking north at Dunster Church. Busy traffic here through the narrow part of the village controlled by traffic lights so some agility was required by Lionel and Cynthia. (RL)

Miller enters a road tunnel to find the other end blocked by an Army truck. Charmouth road tunnel running through Thistle Hill to the north-west of Charmouth in Dorset. The 70 yard long tunnel was closed in 1991 when the Axminster road was diverted and converted into a sports centre after being purchased in 2004. (PW)

Taking this comparison, Richard Winchester explains that the repurposed tunnel includes three shooting ranges along with facilities and was used by the GB Olympic Team leading up to the London 2012 Olympics.

While Miller and Pryce are shot as they try to escape on foot, Bridie and Lieutenant Baynes return to the village from a late walk together. Church Street in Dunster advises Alastair Terry.

Sleuth Alastair tells us that this is round the corner to the left of the Hotel seen earlier.

The camera follows the pair as they turn the corner. The corner of Church Street and High Street in Dunster, Somerset.

Lionel and Cynthia completed their visit with this shot looking north with the Dunster Castle Hotel on the left. (RL)

Having received Miller's orders to search for a book hidden by Pryce in the Tynwald Court on the Isle of Man, Bridie leaves The George the next morning. The strange looking building in the right distance is Dunster Yarn Market advises Alastair Terry.

Alastair captured the location including the Medieval Yarn Market which dates from 1590 and is now the only one left in the UK.

At Wynbridge station, Bridie makes her way towards the first class non-smoker of the 7.45 departure. Jonathan Horswell's research came up with the Down Fast platform at St. Albans City station in St. Albans, Hertfordshire where the bridge just visible to the top carries Victoria Street over the railway.

Lieutenant Baynes arrives at the station as the engine whistle blows. Looking out from St. Albans City station onto Ridgmont Road, located by Jonathan Horswell. The building in the left background stands at the junction of Oswald Road and Ridgmont Road.

Hurrying to catch up with Bridie, the Lieutenant produces his ticket for the Collector. The gate from Ridgmont Road onto the Down Fast line platform at St. Albans City station.

Watched by a Man in Straw Hat, (Norman Shelley) an Elderly Woman (Katie Johnson) is taken from the train by a Plain-clothes Detective (Clifford Buckton) when the train calls at an intermediate station.

The train pulls into the station where Bridie tries to stop the Lieutenant from pursuing her before she catches the onward connection to Holyhead. Bristol Temple Meads station off Temple Gate in Bristol. Similar views of the station appear in ‘A Day in the Death of Joe Egg’ and ‘The Halfway House’ while the roof of the trainshed can be seen in ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt’.

Somewhere about here, though the renovation doesn't help. SJ

Travelling via Liverpool and Fleetwood, Bridie arrives in Douglas and is inadvertently spotted by Lieutenant Spanswick and Captain Goodhusband as she enters the Tynwald Court. The Isle of Man Government Building on Prospect Hill in Douglas, Isle of Man located by Ron Smith.

Ron took this picture of a doorway of the Isle of Man Government Building.

Leaving the Court after finding the book, Bridie crosses the road watched by the Man in a Straw Hat. Ron Smith identifies this as Prospect Hill, Douglas.

Ron found that the large semis at the top of the hill are still there although the right hand side of the street has been re-developed.

Bridie finds a seat and settles down to read the book in which a description of Rue de la Gare, Café Antoine and a Byrrh advertisement on a three storey building are described. Ron Smith advises that this is Douglas Promenade with Derby Castle and Onchan Head beyond the sea in the distance. The model boat lake had gone but otherwise the scene is the same today.

The site of the boating lake. (PW)

Following directions contained in the book, Bridie arrives at a gate next to a signpost four miles north of Ramsey.

Returning to the station, Bridie catches a tram back to Douglas. Ron Smith advises that this is Laxey station with Manx Electric Railway car number 26 reading to depart towards Douglas, both of which still exist today.

A wider view of the station. (PW)

On the journey back to the Manx capital, Bridie realises that behind the gates is the reconstruction of a French town built as part of the preparations for the invasion of France.

After Bridie is taken by the Man in the Straw Hat whilst she attempts to give herself up to Captain Goodhusband, Lieutenant Baynes finds a clue to her whereabouts. The Breakwater in Peel Bay, Isle of Man with Peel Castle on St. Patrick's Isle to the top.

Taken from the end of the breakwater on a blowy day. (PW)

With the Lieutenant captured by the enemy when he investigates their boat, the Agents' set sail for Eire. David Taylor identifies this as looking towards St. German's Cathedral with Peel Harbour in the left background and Peel Hill beyond.

David also provides this shot of the previously unidentified location.

Landing at Rocklin Bay and stealing Sean Murphy's cab to get to the Derry coast, the four Spies and their hostages are held up by a funeral procession heading to Downpatrick. Pat Cleary tells us that this is deep in the Wicklow Mountains on the road above Lough Tay where the television series 'The Vikings' was shot.

Pat provides this capture of the previously unidentified location.

At the border, papers are checked before Murphy's cab is quickly turned around when Officials discover that the cortège is being used for smuggling. Pat Cleary discovered Rocky Valley, to the west of Kilmacanogue in County Wicklow, close to a location seen in 'The Gentle Gunman'.

The road is too narrow and dangerous to stop on so Pat cropped this comparison from his dashcam video.

After escaping from the Enemy Agents and reaching a remote town, Lieutenant Baynes tells Bridie that they must cross the border. Pat Cleary identifies this view as overlooking the village of Enniskerry in County Wicklow with the Great Sugar Loaf in the background. A great many films have been shot in Enniskerry including 'Johnny Nobody', 'The Vengeance of Fu Manchu', 'Country Dance', 'The Gentle Gunman', ‘Flight of the Doves’, ‘Into the West’, ‘P.S. I Love You’ and ‘Leap Year’ and was also transformed during the summer of 2021 for the Disney sequel 'Disenchanted'.

Realising that they are in Northern Ireland, Bridie escapes over a fence and heads for Eire.

With the war over, David and Birdie are reunited. T. Walton Ltd. was fruit and vegetable merchant who had shops at many London Underground stations and RB points out that this one is on the Metropolitan Line which Geoff Fairbairn recognised the as Uxbridge station on High Street, Uxbridge in Middlesex.

Antony Blair found himself outside the station 74 years later.