Man in the Sky, The

In the garden of their house, John Mitchell explains the layout of a castle to his two boys, Philip (Gerard Lohan) and Nicholas (Jeremy Bodkin).

Opening an upstairs window, Mary Mitchell (Elizabeth Sellars) calls to her husband John (Jack Hawkins) and the children.

Nicholas gets up as his father rushes inside when the phone rings.

John carries a basket of laundry to the car. Number 1 Derwent Road, Palmers Cross in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

I can make no apology for the bright sun playing havoc with the shot. After all, it doesn't come out that often. (PW)

Mary locks up while John places the laundry on the back seat. Looking south on Derwent Road, Palmers Cross.

The same, rather pleasant road. (PW)

Setting off to work, John takes the family to the launderette on the way. Derwent Road with Windermere Road in the left distance.

The house used as the main residence seems to move around! (PW)

As the car is brought to a halt at red traffic lights, Philip and Nicholas pester their parents to buy a flying saucer they've have seen in a toy shop. The junction of Moreton Road and Wood Lane in Elston Hall, Wolverhampton.

Were there ever traffic lights at this quiet junction? (PW)

When the traffic lights change to green, John accelerates away. Wood Lane with the Woodbine Inn on the right and properties on Fordhouse Road beyond Elston Hall Lane in the left distance.

The poor Woodbine Inn appears to have been closed for some time. (PW)

The Mitchells arrive at the launderette. Facing south on Fordhouse Road, Elston Hall.

Taken from the safety of the footpath to avoid the occasional heavy lorry. (PW)

Following the car, the camera finds a parade of shops. This is Whetstone Green at the junction of Fordhouse Road and Elston Hall Lane with the embankment carrying the railway between Wolverhampton and Stafford in the left background.

The parade of shops survive with most as eateries. (PW)

Mary lifts the laundry basket from the car as the children get out with the 3/6d that their father has given them. Outside Whetstone Green on Fordhouse Road in Wolverhampton.

Facing in the same direction. (PW)

Telling his wife that he'll pick up the laundry on the way home, the test pilot drives on to work. Whetstone Green on Fordhouse Road.

An off licence could provide a drink to go with a take-away purchased at the other businesses. (PW)

The shot moves with the car around the corner of Fordhouse Road and Three Tuns Lane to where the bridge carrying the railway line can be seen in the background.

The narrow railway bridge has been replaced. (PW)

John reaches the airfield of the Conway Aero Manufacturing Company. The entrance to Wolverhampton Municipal Aerodrome on Pendeford Mill Lane in Pendeford, Staffordshire.

PW notes that the lane has been renamed Wobaston Road and the route into what was the airport is now called Overstrand. David Rawsthorn adds that "Overstrand is a nod to the aircraft manufacturer Boulton Paul who were based at Wolverhampton Airport and built a biplane bomber called the Overstrand in 1933. Overstrand is taken the name of a village in Norfolk close to Boulton Paul's origins in Norwich."

Having put on his overalls, John makes his way to Conway's new freighter. Opened in 1938, this is Wolverhampton Airport on Pendeford Mill Lane.

I wonder if the residents of Coombe Croft know that they live in the middle of what was their city's airport? (PW)

Reginald Conway (Walter Fitzgerald) watches John taxi the freighter towards the runway. The view from Wolverhampton Control Tower with the administrative block in the left distance.

Now Aster Walk. (PW)

Outside the toy shop, Philip and Nicholas look up as the plane which their father is piloting flies over. Whetstone Green on Fordhouse Road in Elston Hall, Wolverhampton.

Maybe not too safe for children now. (PW)

After the aircraft's port engine catches fire during a test, workers run outside when they hear the Control Tower alarm bell ringing. Wolverhampton Airport on Pendeford Mill Lane, Pendeford.

Looking towards properties on Coombe Croft. (PW)

With an ambulance and fire appliances in position, all eyes turn skyward as the plane is heard approaching. Wolverhampton Airport in Staffordshire.

Aster Walk once again. (PW)

Outside the airfield, Cyclists come to a stand when they see the Crew and Company Representatives parachute from the plane. Pendeford Lane to the east of the airport.

This is Pendeford Lane now. (PW)

The Cyclists ride to join the other spectators. Wolverhampton Airport on Pendeford Mill Lane.

Coombe Croft now occupies the site. (PW)

Staying in the cockpit in the hope of proving that the plane is a good design, John attempts to extinguish the engine fire by heading into a dive. Gregor Baddley explains that, to the bottom left, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal passes through the Fordhouses area of Wolverhampton with Marsh Lane running from left to right and Patshull Avenue branching off towards the top of the capture. Rod Grealish informs us that homes have since taken place to the bottom left of the view and that the green area in the middle of the capture is now filled with three tower blocks and a number of apartment buildings.

After landing safely, Crabtree (Donald Pleasence) and Joe Biggs (Victor Maddern) arrive back at the airfield. Wolverhampton Airport closed at the end of 1970 and a trading estate now occupies the site.

Facing west on Armstead Road with Jasmine Close to the right. (PW)

Philip and Nicholas watch their father's plane through the trolleybus wires above the road. Three Tuns Parade at the corner of Three Tuns Lane and Stafford Road in Oxley, Wolverhampton.

A matching view of the parade now. (PW)

Having lost aileron control, John circles the freighter to use up fuel in order to balance the aircraft. This appears to be looking west from the airport with the chimneys of the works adjacent to the Shropshire Union Canal, south of Pendeford Bridge, in the distance.

Getting out of her car, Mary's Mother (Catherine Lacey) arrives to visit her daughter and spots the plane in the sky. Derwent Road in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

Facing south from a similar position. (PW)

Receiving a call from Mrs. Snowden at Conway's about her husband's situation, Mary runs from the house and attempts to get a lift to the airfield. Facing north-west on Coniston Road, Palmers Cross in Wolverhampton.

The sun makes itself known again. (PW)

Suffering from his ordeal, John continues to circle. Gregor Baddley recognised West Park in Wolverhampton looking in a north-westerly direction with the bandstand prominent to the left of centre.

After Mary returns home from the aerodrome, the Mitchell's car approaches their house. Looking towards Barnhurst Lane from the junction of Windermere Road and Derwent Road with Coniston Road to the left.

The greenery has certainly taken hold. (PW)

Having collected the laundry as promised, John takes the basket into the house. Derwent Road, Palmers Cross in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

A final comparison of the street. (PW)