Woman of Mystery, A

When Jane Hayle is found gassed to death in her Paddington flat, magazine writer Ray Savage is tasked with investigating the blonde hat-check girl's apparent suicide. Outside number 101 Fleet Street EC4 in footage which was reused for 1960's 'Identity Unknown' and 1962's 'What Every Woman Wants'.

Simon James provides the comparison.

Panning right, the Punch Tavern and properties at the corner of Bride Lane are brought into view.

The Punch Tavern sign stands out in this view. SJ

The camera settles on a view facing westward on Fleet Street EC4.

With the neighbouring site cleared for new building, more of the east side of the old Daily Express can be seen for the time being. SJ

Inside the offices of FACT Magazine, Ray Savage rips off the previous day's leaf from a wall calendar "Friday 8th March . . . that's when it all began". Facing number 35 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2.

While Nuffield College of Surgical Sciences, now acquired by LSE, is embraced by scaffolding, the gates of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, match the foreground. SJ

After a meeting with Harvey his editor, the reporter arrives for an appointment with Sergeant Miller at Paddington Division police station. This capture prompted Dave W to wax lyrical about Albany Street, London NW1 overall, highlighting No. 104 here in particular. (RL)

Hot off the mark Denis Hoare did an old/new map comparison of the old Police Station in Albany St and found that the station entrance lined up fairly well with the entrance to the flats now built in it’s place. The Police Station can also be seen in “Tread Softly” (1952), Capture 11 for which Denis took a comparison shot back in 2024. (RL)

Ray Savage (Dermot Walsh) gets out of his car to start the assignment that no one else at the magazine wanted. And so, following on from the previous shot we have Albany Street looking north, with Chester Gate just out of shot to the left. (RL)

Panning left from Capture 5, up Albany Street facing north, Denis found that all the old buildings on the left have been demolished and replaced with new build residential. In the distance they have even added a few shops as per what used to be there.

Having learnt from the Sergeant that the body was identified by her boyfriend Mr. Winter, Ray heads for the story's Payne Street.

Parking up, Ray looks for Winter at the trucking company where he is a manager.

Ray heads to the the mean and seedy Flamingo Club on the west side of town. Meard Street W1 with Dean Street in the right background.

The downpipes next to the door have become an artwork! PW

Inside the club where Jane worked, Ray talks to the owner Freddy. The frequently seen Meard Street in Soho, which plays a part in many productions including 'Two Left Feet', 'The Moon Over the Alley', 'All You Need Is Cash', 'King of the Underworld', 'Saturday Night Out', 'Danger by My Side', 'The Six Men', 'The Hippopotamus', 'The Share Out' and 'Don't Open till Christmas'.

More doors to choose from now. PW

Discovering that someone from Jane's past had approached her at the club, the Journalist moves on to Paddington for a look at the flat where she met her end.

Finding an expensive hat with the label André in Jane's otherwise cheap belongings, Ray makes his way back to the office to write up his report.

Inside the building, Joy Grant researches the milliner as well as Firston Hotel after Ray had found a label for the establishment of the dead girl's suitcase.

When Joy discovers that the hotel is in Southampton, Ray heads to Waterloo station. The concourse at Waterloo station in SE1.

The Reporter travels to the south coast sea port. Bushey water troughs on the West Coast Main Line at Bushey in Hertfordshire. The location features in 'Beat Girl', 'Escapade', 'Hide and Seek', 'Train of Events', 'Night Mail' and 'One Wild Oat'.

Arriving at Southampton that afternoon, Ray hails a taxi. Watford Junction station on Station Road in Watford, Hertfordshire. The buildings were demolished in 1984 as part of the station's redevelopment.

Getting into the cab, Ray is driven from the station to the Firston Hotel. Facing the junction of Woodford Road and Clarendon Road from the car park outside Watford Junction station.

The camera moves with the taxi.. Outside Watford Junction station in Watford, Hertfordshire with the corner of Woodford Road and Clarendon Road to the right.

Ray found the hotel in character with the narrow dirty street on which it stood.

Inside, Charlie the Desk Clerk becomes obstructive before Barstow the manager appears and happily answers questions.

Learning that someone had taken a shot at Jane in the hotel, Ray visits the Toledo, a clip joint in town mentioned by Barstow. No, there is no explanation as to how the Ford Zodiac got to Southampton!

Speaking with the floor show Dancers at the Toledo, Ray is directed to 204 Park Street where Jane's friend Ruby Ames lives in a basement apartment. Riverside Drive on Golders Green Road NW11 which also features in 'The Secret Place' and 'The Pursuers'.

In this comparison shot from Denis Hoare it looks like it’s only the cars that have changed since the film was shot. (RL)

After reporting back to Harvey, Ray pays a visit to Jane's Mother at the Weybridge Sanatorium where she resides. Caldecote Towers on Elstree Road, in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Ray leaves the sanatorium for the wealthy after speaking with the mentally disturbed Mrs. Hayle. The Grade II listed Caldecote Towers also appears in 'The Abominable Dr. Phibes', 'Dr. Phibes Rises Again', ‘Subterfuge’, ‘High Road to China’ and ‘So Evil, So Young'.

Across the road, Ray sees a Thin Man get into a van after being caught watching him. Looking north on Outer Circle NW1 with Chester Road leading off to the left.

The junction today. SJ

Getting into his car, Ray drives to Rexworth where the Sanatorium Administrator had told him that Jane used to live. Facing southward on Outer Circle with properties on Chester Gate beyond numbers 1 and 2 Chester Terrace to the right.

Turning around brings in at the centre 1-2 Chester Terrace on the corner of Chester Gate, and Cambridge Terrace off to the right. SJ

Ray calls the office from a telephone kiosk after arriving in Rexworth, a small village that had grown into a city of over 30,000 people following the construction of a large paper mill. The Royal Festival Hall on Belvedere Road SE1.

From Hungerford Bridge. The major change to the frontage dates from 1964. (SR)

After Joy tells Ray that the milliner named André is based in Rexworth, a Thin Man watches him leave the call box. The corner of Longford Street and Osnaburgh Street NW1, facing the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Munster Square. (SR)

Denis Hoare visited the location and besides taking this shot, tells us that the buildings housing the corner shop on the left have all been demolished and new residential buildings now occupy he space. Also the zebra crossing has gone too. (RL)

As he gets into his Zodiac, Ray stops, turns and notices the Man, recognising him from earlier.

Checking his order book, André gives Ray the address of Mr. Lloyd who purchased the hat found in Jane's room. Townshend Road NW8 with Townshend Court at the corner of Mackennal Street to the left and the New Inn at the corner of Allitsen Road in the right distance.

Denis did not expect to find a Zodiac Mk2 parked there, and was therefore not disappointed, but the 'The New Inn' pub mentioned in the caption didn't escape his attention. (RL)

Ray looks up at Hampshire Court, the block were Lloyd lives. Viceroy Court at the corner of Prince Albert Road and Townsend Road.

The only change that Denis found was the addition of a tree to soften the scene. (RL)

Crossing the road, Ray enters the building. Facing Viceroy Court from Townshend Road. Other views of the apartment block appear in 'What Every Woman Wants' from 1962 and 'One Way Out'.

This entrance seems to be just a fire exit now. The hedge has grown, the scooter has also grown … into a car, and the lampost has vanished. And Denis Hoare captured the changed scene for us. (RL)

Not believing anything that he'd been told, Ray waits in his car across the road until Charles Lloyd (Gordon Tanner) leaves the apartment block 10 minutes later. Viceroy Court on Townshend Road NW8.

A further shot from Denis to confirm in greater detail the changes seen in the previous capture. (RL)

Scared into going to see someone, Lloyd gets into his car. Looking south-east towards Prince Albert Road from Townshend Road.

The wall on the left is now a hedge, and there’s a new sign on Prince Albert Road. It was clearly a day for Denis to record changes. (RL)

Ray follows Lloyd's Austin A40. Dave W apparently used his topography skills to ascertain this one and found Aldridge Road Villas W11. The cars are about to turn right into Tavistock Road. (RL)

Not realising that he's being tailed, Lloyd continues his drive. And Dave continues his location spotting:- Tavistock Road W11 heading towards Great Western Road with Westbourne Park Station just out of shot to the left. The chimney stack belonged to Paddington Hospital. (RL)

Lloyd pulls over and parks up outside the Rexworth Escort Bureau.

From the opposite kerb, Ray watches Lloyd enter the building.

As Ray begins the drive back to London, the Thin Man standing at a nearby corner turns away. Denis Hoare recognised this location immediately, the corner of Royal College St and Wilmot Place, in Kentish Town NW1. Looking across to the trees in College Gardens and the houses in St Pancras Way in the background. (RL)

To support his identification Denis paid a personal visit to take this shot for us. (RL)

After being attacked by three Men in his apartment, Ray returns to the Escort Bureau with Joy believing it to be a front.

As Ray drives Ruby to a place of safety, Lloyd's boss Mr. Gillard appears from the darkness in the back of the car. The road outside the Battle Axes public house at the corner of Aldenham Road and Butterfly Lane in Aldenham, Hertfordshire.

Denis Hoare felt obliged to visit the location in daylight, or did he mean 'opening hours'? Looking up Butterfly Lane from Aldenham Road he took this wider shot to include the road name. (RL)

The Zodiac corners as Gillard's real identity is revealed. The Battle Axes can also be seen in 'Man Accused', 'A doppia faccia', 'Wings of Mystery', 'Not Now Comrade' and 'Where the Spies Are'.

Panning left the front of the pub on Aldenham Denis took this shot. It was difficult for him, and all of us, to make out from the dark screen grab what was in the shadows, but there is a large extension built since the film was made, or maybe an existing building enlarged. Don't worry Denis, we are reassured that there’s still plenty of car parking space. Denis subsequently points out that a lightened Capture 3 of 'A Doppia Faccia' (1969) reveals that it is an existing single story building that has been extended. (RL)