No Highway
Date: 1951
Director: Henry Koster
Production Company: Twentieth Century-Fox Productions
Stars: James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns
Location(s): Hampshire, Middlesex, Surrey
Region(s): South East M-Q
Storyline:
James Stewart is an absent minded American aeronautical engineer working on his theory that planes are susceptible to metal fatigue after a specific amount of time in the air. He boards a plane that is approaching that time and begins to enact incidences of sabotage to keep the planes on the ground, regardless of whether he is right or wrong. Eventually he is proved right.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Roy Barnacle
Also known as ‘No Highway in the Sky’ (US Title)
Jimmy Snow worked on special effects at both Pinewood and Denham Studios but a name that often remained uncredited, as with this film. An interesting Biography and her Memories of him has been written for us by his granddaughter Brigitte, all of which can be read here.
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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Royal Aircraft Establishment entrance. Probably the South gate. Script gone by 1960.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Royal Aircraft Establishment hangar.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
Clocking off time at the Royal Aircraft Establishment.
- Capture 4
- 17 May 2011
The workers leaving. This is the South Gate of the Royal Aircraft Establishment on the Farnborough Road.
This is the South Gate in 1960. By 1970, the gatehouse had been demolished. Original copyright is unknown. Found on http://www.historicfarnborough.co.uk/raesouthgate.html. Robin Brooks
- Capture 5
- 17 May 2011
This is the South Gate now. The gatehouse was set back from the road, as can be seen in the picture from 1960. Robin Brooks.
- Capture 6
- 17 May 2011
Another shot of the exit/entrance.
This is where the gatehouse would have stood, close to where the Lightning stands now. The buildings behind form part of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust. Robin Brooks.
- Capture 7
- 17 May 2011
This old piece of paving still exists, the last surviving remnant of the original gatehouse layout. Robin Brooks.
- Capture 8
- 03 May 2020
Jimmy Stewart leaves the Royal Aircraft Establishment, pushes through a bus queue and crosses the road. The suggestion is that this view is directly opposite the South Gate entrance but Alison Dixon advises that it is Church Road in West Drayton, Middlesex with The Old Gatehouse to the right.
And, although off angle, this is Alison's proof.
- Capture 9
- 03 May 2020
A few seconds later, the camera catches James Stewart crossing the road. Facing the wall of Gatehouse Nurseries on Church Road, West Drayton identified by Alison Dixon.
Alterations to the wall are evident in Alison's comparison.
- Capture 10
- 03 May 2020
A Farnham doorway. Farnham Museum says this isn't Farnham . . . but Alison Dixon found the place on Church Road in West Drayton.
Alison captures a close up of the former nursery wall as it looks now.
- Capture 11
- 03 May 2020
A Farnham wall. Not at all. This is Church Road in West Drayton located by Alison.
Alison's view shows how the location has changed with the nursery wall punctured by Beaudesert Mews.
- Capture 12
- 03 May 2020
Further down the road, Hawkins offers Stewart a lift. Looks like a fairly substantial dwelling behind the hedge. Church Road in West Drayton, Middlesex identified by Alison Dixon.
Alison makes a guess that this could be the bottom of a similar gate post as the houses on this side of the street have all been demolished and there is very little of the wall left. Old images of the street show that many of the properties had white topped posts with a white stone at wall height.
- Capture 13
- 03 May 2020
Stewart accepts the lift. Church Road in West Drayton recognised by Alison Dixon who can now prove the local legend that James Stewart did walk the streets of West Drayton.
The same altered section of wall taken by Alison.
- Capture 14
- 09 Mar 2011
Semi-detached and terraced housing.
Lye Copse Avenue, Farnborough. This is about two miles from the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Robin Brooks
- Capture 15
- 09 Mar 2011
Stewart invites Hawkins in.
Lye Copse Avenue again. Robin Brooks
- Capture 16
- 09 Apr 2011
The front door. Initially, Stewart absent-mindedly tries the key in 106. His neighbour opens the door, and he and Hawkins then walk across to 104.
James Stewart's house, Lye Copse Avenue. Both 104 and 106 are the genuine house numbers. Robin Brooks
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
Gander maybe? Paul Atkinson points out that imdb says that this is Blackbushe Airport, Yateley, Hampshire, and a fact Paul found confirmed in Wikipedia and Blackbushe History sites. Also seen in 'The Crooked Sky'. (RL)