Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines

Richard Mays prepares to land his monoplane 'Antoinette' as Patricia Rawnsley arrives on her motorcycle. The Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire with Windsor Castle in the distance. Similar views were seen in 'Theatre of Blood', 'The Mudlark', 'Purab Aur Paschim', 'No Sex Please, We're British' and 'Carry On Henry'.

Steve Randall took the long walk for this shot.

The aircraft is left with assistant Carter and the army officer follows his girlfriend. Neil Rigby identifies this as the entrance to Fulmer Hall, Windmill Road in Slough, Buckinghamshire.

Antony Blair returned to the gateway 58 years later.

Richard Mays (James Fox) waits in his yellow N.A.G. (Neue Automobil-Gesellschaft) as Patricia changes into more suitable clothes. Fulmer Hall was also seen in 'The Man in the Road'.

The couple head to see Patricia's father, Lord Rawnsley. Located by Neil Rigby, this is Fulmer Hall on Windmill Road, Fulmer in Buckinghamshire. The property can also be seen in 'Doctor at Large', 'The Man in the Road' and 'The Truth About Women'.

Neil Rigby and Google Image. (RL)

After newspaper owner Lord Rawnsley announces a London to Paris air race with a prize of £10,000, interest is shown in France.Having spent many holidays in the area, Keith Langley recognised Camber Sands near Rye in Sussex.

Choosing a view that has something like the three main buildings in the screen capture, Mark Alford isn't entirely sure that this shot is right and wonders whether buildings have been constructed since filming.

In Italy, a Mayor (Eric Pohlmann) races to pass on news of the race to Count Emilio Ponticelli.

A crowd gathers as the Count is rescued after crashing his plane into a telegraph pole.

The Mayor shows Ponticelli the headlines after the airman vows to give up flying.

Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) plays croquet with Patricia (Sarah Miles) and Richard as entrants pour in from around the globe. The grounds of Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire. The location was seen in 'The First Great Train Robbery', 'Carry On Nurse' and 'Nothing But the Night'.

Taken by RJ

Fire Chief Perkins (Benny Hill) keeps an eye on Brookley Motor Racing Track where the participants practice before the race. Booker Airfield near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

A view of the hangars with the motor racing circuit passing behind. All built for the film at Booker Airfield in Buckinghamshire. Formerly RAF Booker, the location is now known as Wycombe Air Park.

On a reconnoiter, the competitors head for the coast by road and cross the railway line to Dover near Tunbridge. James Lumb identifies the location as Compton Crossing on New Farm Road to the south of Compton in Berkshire adding that the cottage remains but the railway, that ran between Didcot and Newbury, closed in 1964.

Without a flying machine of his own, Steve Cannon took this closer view of the former crossing from road level.

Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman), George Gruber (Sam Wanamaker), MacDougal (Gordon Jackson) and Lieutenant Parsons (Jeremy Lloyd) look out over the English Channel. Dover Castle stands in the background.

Courtney (Eric Sykes) attends Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry-Thomas) as he prepares to bathe. The beach at Dover in Kent with the Castle rising beyond buildings on Waterloo Crescent.

Howard Baker provides an excellent comparative shot revealing a much less crowded beach despite, it would seem, similar weather. (RL)

Orvil Newton walks onto the beach to where Lord Rawnsley has provided champagne.

A further shot from Howard and an updated and more colourful access to the beach. (RL)

Colonel Manfred von Holstein (Gert Fröbe) goes bathing. The seafront at Dover with properties on Waterloo Crescent as the backdrop.

Howard reveals that social distancing seems to been taken to extreme in Dover. (RL)

Newton calls on Lord Rawnsley after being scratched from the race for taking Patricia flying.

The storm clouds gather over Fulmer Hall, Windmill Road, Fulmer, Slough SL36HD. Neil Rigby and Google Image. (RL)

The race gets underway. The long closed Arlesey Brickworks in Bedfordshire located by Chris P.

Count Emilio Ponticelli (Alberto Sordi) almost crashes into a wall as he lands after stalling. Neil Rigby advises this is part of there Mapledurham Estate, Mapledurham, Reading RG47TR. (RL)

Nuns and their Mother Superior come out of their convent when they hear the Count's plane.

Neil Rigby identifies this as Mapledurham House, Mapledurham, Reading RG47TR and supports with with Google shot showing how the trees have grown. (RL)

Richard Mays flies over a church. Chris P. identifies this as St. Mary the Virgin church in Henlow, Bedfordshire.

Without the aid of wings, Nigel Matthews settled for a shot of the church from ground level.

Colonel Willy (Fred Emney) and his wife Muriel (Cicely Courtneidge) come to a halt as Richard lands his plane in front of their car. Tim Vass identifies this as Ashridge in Hertfordshire with the Bridgewater Monument visible in the left distance.

The scene taken by Antony Blair 57 years later shows that the trees have encroached but the monument can be made out in the left distance.

After impromptu repairs, 'Antoinette' takes off. Ashridge in Hertfordshire located by Tim Vass.

Antony Blair turned around for this shot taken in the opposite direction.

Pierre Dubois comes in to land at the first check point in Dover.

Spectators wave as the "intrepid birdmen" head to France. Overlooking Dover Harbour in Kent.

After stopping at the Calais checkpoint, Newton races on to Paris.

One by one, engines fail or planes crash, until only four competitors remain.

Sir Percy lands his machine on top of a train. This is on the now closed line from Bedford to Hitchin. In the far distance is Goldington Power Station near Bedford, Bedfordshire.

The plane is destroyed as a tunnel is passed through. Old Warden Tunnel between Cardington and Southill in Bedfordshire.

Showing the long abandoned tunnel mouth, Andrew Long took this shot back in 2012.