Knock on Wood

A thief working for a spy ring is stealing secret files at a Paris address. Hôtel de Crillon, 10 Place de la Concorde, also seen in 'Term of Trial' and 'The Man on the Eiffel Tower'.

Ventriloquist Jerry Morgan (Danny Kaye) arrives in Switzerland for psychiatric help unaware that the plans have been hidden in his dummies. Zurich Airport.

A second spy ring has heard about the theft. The ring's leader Godfrey Langston (Torin Thatcher) and his secretary (Johnstone White) discuss in front of a back-projection of Zurich's river Limmat. Manuel Gurtner adds that the view upstream is meant to show that they are on the terrace of the Hotel zum Storchen, located by the so-called Wühre embankment, while the Münsterbrücke can be seen behind and the Quaibrücke in the far background.

Manuel provides the comparison shot which was taken at ground level beneath the terrace of the Hotel Storchen. The terrace, still closed in April, can be also seen in 'The Swiss Conspiracy' (see Capture 70 and 71). The Quaibrücke upstream is therefore obscured from this angle by the Münsterbrücke, while the Helmhaus, a historical extension of the Wasserkirche, can be seen on the left.

Jerry is sent to London for specialist treatment. A view of the Houses of Parliament establishes the location.

Taken an hour and three quarters earlier in the morning. SJ

A member of the rival gang awaits at the Royalton, ("a non-descript hotel in the Soho district").

Langston arrives at the Kensington Park Hotel. In reality Chelsea House, Lowndes Street, London SW1, seen also in 'Dead Lucky', 'Escape Route', 'Yield to the Night' and 'The Servant'.

Taken at dusk rather than nighttime. SJ

For his treatment Jerry is assigned to Dr. Ilse Nordstrom (Mai Zetterling). He pursues her as she boards a bus. Russell Square, WC1

This is the south corner looking down Montague Street on the right. SJ

He just manages to board, as more of Russell Square is shown.

The 'phone box has gone. This replaces my shot from the previous month to show a bit more of the southern side of Russell Square. SJ

Jerry continues his pursuit as she reaches the station. Victoria Station, London SW1.

Not quite as busy (a strike day). The building to the right, which initially housed the National Provincial Bank and was still a NatWest in the 70s, remains. SJ

He follows her onto the platform. Victoria Station.

Panning left from the previous shot. SJ

Ilse reaches her destination, still chased by Jerry who wants a heart-to-heart with her. Duck Lane House, St. Peter Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Not a lot has changed in 70 years.

In their new-found relationship Jerry and Ilse, visit Marlow Lock, Buckinghamshire. A double for Danny Kaye contrives to have his back to the camera at all times since the star didn't make the trip to England for the location filming.

Changes on the ground make it impossible to stand in the same spot nowadays, but the view across the Thames is similar, with a newer extension appearing to the right. (SR)

In this reversed shot, they walk past All Saints Church towards Marlow Bridge. The area is also seen in 'Sailing Along', 'Sinister Man' and 'Three Men in a Boat (1933).

Only shot I could get from the river bank today because of the flooding.

Now we're the right way round again, with the couple walking through the grounds of The Compleat Angler, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Still a pleasant spot. (SR)

Meanwhile Langston realises that he only has half of the secret plans and directs one his henchmen to get the rest. Islet Park House, Maidenhead, Berkshire, which can also be seen in 'Stranger in Town'.

The henchman is murdered by a rival gang member who is in turn murdered. Jerry calls the police after discovering the body. Many of the London scenes in this film were produced in the LA studio, where London bobbies are all sergeants and pillar boxes are purple, as demonstrated by this set included for completeness.

After a second body is discovered in his hotel room. Jerry is suspected. He goes on the run down a London street. Dave W's has rewarded his years of frustration by finding, at last, St Alban's Grove London W8 looking towards Ansdell Street. (RL)

It turns out that Phil Richards equally had years of frustration in trying to identify this one so he just had to go and see it for himself and take a comparative shot. In so doing, he found that the 'church like' building on the left is in fact St Mary Abbot's Mission Hall and houses an infants school. (RL)

He passes a pub on the corner. From the previous capture Dave finds 'The Builder's Arms' on the corner of St Alban's Grove and Kensington Court Place, London W8. (RL)

We thank Phil Richards for taking this shot for us, at £9 per pint he will not be rushing back. (RL)

The pub can now be identified, courtesy of Dave W, as 'The Builder's Arms' on the corner of St. Alban's Grove, W8 as we look down Kensington Court Place. (RL)

This daylight shot from Phil reveals that the pub has claimed some of the immediate pavement area to provide outdoor tables and chairs. (RL)

Next morning, after being branded "The Ripper" on the front pages, Jerry is on the run again. The junction of Brompton Road and Brompton Place SW3. This corner is also seen in 'Game for Three Losers'

Taken in the morning rather afternoon. SJ

Ilse emerges from a police car outside the building. Brompton Road SW3. A similar view can also be seen in 'There Was a Young Lady'.

Princes Court, in the centre on the north-west side, is recognisable. SJ

Jerry hides in the back of a van in a narrow street. Poppin's Court EC4.

A clearer view, albeit temporary, of buidlings on Fleet Street as the west side is being redeveloped. SJ

The van emerges into Fleet Street EC4, with a view of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the old Ludgate Hill railway bridge, which was demolished in 1990 for the building of Thameslink which runs underground.

The east side of Poppins Court survives. SJ

Emerging from the van, Jerry continues his escape down a London street. New Row at the junction with St. Martin's Lane WC2.

Looking east. SJ

A constable is in pursuit. New Row WC2.

Unfortunately the contrast in lighting fails to pick up the new rotunda on top of Tesco's in the distance, replacing the spire. SJ

Jerry gets boxed in by taxis. Following observations from Richard Lovejoy, this can now be located as St. Martin's Lane facing south. with the door of the Friends Meeting House at number 52 on the extreme left.

Taken at the same time of day, by sheer coincidence, with a shaft of sunlight more or less highlighting the afore-mentioned doorway. SJ

He passes a lingerie shop. 20 Sicilian Avenue, London WC1.

Paul Lincoln decided to continue where Simon left off. (RL)

The bobby approaches. 20 Sicilian Avenue, which now contains a Spaghetti House restaurant.

A stickler for detail, Paul waited for a bus. (RL)

Jerry continues into an arcade. Sicilian Avenue, Bloomsbury WC1.

Paul did well here, he could see what was coming next. (RL)

Jerry emerges at the other end of Sicilian Avenue into Southampton Row WC1.

Yep, Paul was clearly left to his own devices here, he did well! (RL)

The chase continues. Looking northwest on Cannon Street with the entrance to Mansion House tube station on the extreme right.

Buildings have changed right and left. SJ

He doesn't look much like Danny Kaye does he? In fact it is Jon Pertwee, who acted as a double for the UK scenes. St. Martin's Lane facing north, close to the junction with New Row.

I should perhaps have been a little further left but life is not always that easy in London despite the fact that traffic is penalised for being there. (RL)

Jerry obtains a red car (a Woodill Wildfire) and the chase continues. The eastern end of Lambeth Bridge SE1.

A greyer day, taken from the redesigned roundabout. SJ

Panning right the Houses of Parliament come into view.

Taken from a closer point, as the roundabout redesign has led to a proliferation of traffic clutter, which even from here I've been unable to completely moderate. SJ

We see Jerry's car approaching as we face St Saviour's Church in Warwick Avenue W9 from the junction of Clifton Villas with Blomfield Road. The church was replaced by a smaller brick structure in 1972. The old church is also seen in 'Baxter', 'Separation', 'Licensed to Kill' and 'Innocent Meeting'.

The road appears wider now. SJ

Now Jerry heads down Maida Avenue W2 by the side of Regent's Canal.

He is seen speeding along by the side of the Thames. Tony Winzar places this as Ray Mead Road, just south of Boulters Lock in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Jerry passes a distinctive-looking house. Tony Winzar advises that the house is no more, but the start of Boulters Lock masonry is just visible at the bottom RHS of the capture. He thinks that this and the previous capture were probably taken whilst standing on the bridge onto Ray Mill Island. (Tony's wife used to work at The Thames Authority office on Ray Mill Island so he knows it quite well). A similar view is seen in 'The Stud'.

...and arrives at Langston's place. Islet Park House, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Looking much the same, apart from the topiary.

He is captured but manages to escape. Islet Park House.

Jerry drives through the gates. Islet Park House.

Now the lodge is a private residence.

Now chased by the gang, Jerry drives away. Tony Winzar locates this as 2 Lower Cookham Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Today's view has more trees alongside the road.

He drives past some town houses. Phil Richards advises that this location, is also seen in the following two captures, has been significantly changed to control traffic. There is now only the main road (A308) going under the Gringer Hill Railway bridge, Maidenhead, the other roads have been either realigned or blocked off. Here looking down Cordwallis Road, Maidenhead. (RL)

As it appears now, all the hedges appear to have been replaced by wheelie bins. Thanks Phil.

Passing under a bridge he takes a right fork while the pursuers branch left. See also previous capture. Phil Richards advises that this is the view up Gringer Hill with Belmont Road (to the left) now blocked off / rerouted. (RL)

Phil's shot clarifies the changes he describes.

Here they catch up with him again, but he shakes them off and heads for a London theatre where the remaining action takes place in the studio. See also Capture 43. Phil Richards advises that this is the view down Norfolk Road to the left and Marlow Road (to the right). (RL)

Phil's comparative shot shows the effect of the road changes. (RL)