Riddle of the Sands, The
Date: 1979
Director: Tony Maylam
Production Company: The Rank Organisation; Worldmark Films Ltd
Stars: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Simon MacCorkindale
Location(s): Greetsiel, Neuharlingersiel (Germany), Medemblik, Twisk, Enkhuizen (Netherlands)
Region(s): Germany, Netherlands
Storyline:
In 1901, Arthur Davies is on a sailing holiday around the East Frisian Islands on his boat, the Dulcibella, when he encounters Herr Dollmann, the owner of a large yacht. Davies becomes suspicious of Dollmann, and invites his old Oxford chum Charles Carruthers, who now works for the Foreign Office, to join him. Together they investigate further, and in spite of attempts to scare them off, they uncover a German plot to invade England. The film is based on the novel by Erskine Childers.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Bailey.
Some scenes were filmed on Frensham Ponds in Surrey, but as they feature only water and fog, they aren’t presented here.
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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
- 03 Jul 2018
The opening scenes show us a map of the area.
Peter provides this modern map showing the same location. Image copyright Google.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Arthur Davies (Simon MacCorkindale) and Clara (Jenny Agutter) row into the harbour. This is Neuharlingersiel in East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany, standing in for Bensersiel, and the view is north west towards Am Hafen West.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
They leave the store after buying supplies. Neuharlingersiel, on Am Hafen West in front of the large building seen in capture 2.
- Capture 4
- 15 Feb 2020
A train pulls into Bensersiel railway station. Twisk station on the Medemblik-Hoorn preserved railway in North Holland.
Frank van den Berg was surprised to see that locations local to him appeared in this film so went to Westeinde 3, Twisk to take this shot for us. He says that this station was opened in 1887 and closed in 1936. Now it's a tourist train station for the local steam train. (RL)
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Davies brings Charles Carruthers (Michael York) to the Dulcibella in the harbour. Greetsiel, the north-western side of the harbour.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
The following morning, Carruthers has abandoned the boat in favour of a hotel; Davies searches for him. He runs down Sielstraße in Greetsiel, with the Hohes Haus just right of centre and Am Neuen Deich crossing the canal left of shot.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
He reaches by the church in Hohe Straße.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
Later, after finding Carruthers, Davies meets Clara. Greetsiel, in front of the Hohes Haus on Sielstraße.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Clara boards a boat to return to her father's yacht. Greetsiel, pan from capture 8
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Davies and Carruthers watch her leave. Hohes Haus on Sielstraße dressed as Bensersiel's Hafenkrug.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
The following day, returning from a trip, the two are hailed by Kommandant Von Brüning (Jurgen Andersen). Greetsiel harbour, view west towards Sielstraße.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
Walking back to the Dulcibella, they see a seaman without boots; they suspect this is the same man who fought with Carruthers earlier. Greetsiel, the north-western side of the harbour, walking down from Sielstraße.
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
Opposite view from capture 12.
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Carruthers and Davies have spotted Clara's father entering a complex of buildings. Davies decides to investigate. Now confirmed as the former brickworks at Pilsum, East Frisia. The works was closed in 1972, and in July 2018, when this film was originally uploaded, it lay derelict and overgrown. An almost identical view of the Pilsum brickworks, taken in the 1950s, features at the top of an article published in July 2024 in Ostfriesen Zeitung, see https://www.oz-online.de/artikel/1484944/Als-die-Ziegelei-in-Pilsum-noch-kein-Lost-Place-war. The exact match confirms that this is a view of the brickworks from the north, with the village of Pilsum behind the camera. In August 2025 it's apparent that the site is finally being cleared for redevelopment.
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
Making a hasty escape after being discovered, Davies runs along the roof of a building. That building has largely disappeared, but the large chimney behind remains.
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
The two track down Dollmann (Alan Badel) aboard the ferry to Juist. Neuharlingersiel again; a view from the harbour looking south west with Janssen's Hotel centre of shot.
- Capture 17
- 15 Feb 2020
Carruthers, on the pretence of returning to England, is shadowing Böehme. His train heads out of Bensersiel. The Medemblik-Hoorn Steam Railway is twinned with the Bluebell Railway, and via the grapevine comes the definitive identification. Mathé, the permanent way manager at Medemblik-Hoorn, immediately recognises this as the Midwoud/Oostwoud curve. We are looking southwest towards the village of Oostwoud. Thanks to Mathé for the info.
A further shot from Frank, here showing the tracks between Twisk and Oostwoud. The small town Oostwoud can be seen in the background. All exactly as Mathé said. (RL)
- Capture 18
- 15 Feb 2020
The train arrives at Emden, and both Böehme and Carruthers disembark. Medemblik station, standing in for Emden.
Frank provides this excellent shot of Medemblik station as it is now. This is the first, or last station depending which way one is travelling on this heritage railway that passes through Twisk in Capture 4. This station also opened in 1887 and closed in 1936. (RL)
- Capture 19
- 15 Feb 2020
Carruthers has learned that Böehme is heading back to Bensersiel. He hurries to reach the harbour ahead of the German party. This time, Bensersiel is represented by Enkhuizen, Noord Holland. We are in Breedstraat, with numbers 153/155 just behind him.
Frank has even found his way to Breedstraat, Enkhuizen for us. (RL)
- Capture 20
- 15 Feb 2020
Bocht, Enkhuizen, at the bend that gives the street its name.
A little changed location as revealed by Frank. (RL)