Zeta One

Completing his latest mission, James Word drives home from Scotland. The eastbound carriageway of Great West Road in W6 with North Verbena Gardens in the right background.

The eastbound traffic was relentless so I opted for the refuge of the pavement alongside the underpass which runs underneath the Great West Road to South Black Lion Lane. SJ

Overtaking everything on the road, the Secret Agent working for W in Department 5 speeds towards London. The Great West Road as it passes through Hammersmith with Chisholm Court on Standish Road to the right.

Taken from the safety of the pavement by Eamonn C and Ray K. (SJ)

The Monteverdi High Speed nears the apartment on fictional Pelham Mews where, inside, Word is surprised to find his boss’s secretary, Ann Olsen, cleaning up whilst coq au vin cooks in the oven. Manuel Gurtner adds that the exclusive 1971 Monteverdi High Speed 375 L 'Fissore' used for filming was a Swiss-registered, plate number BL 9026, car loaned by Automobile Monteverdi AG at Binningen, canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland.

In flashback, Word tells Ann about his mission starting with the criminal Major Bourdon (James Robertson Justice) making his way to a rendezvous with Swyne. That’s a Wallace Heaton camera shop to the left with a branch of Radio Rentals next door and this is Cheapside in London EC2 with the entrance to Crown Court on the left.

To the right of Crown Court, a branch of Nationwide resides in Cheyne House, 62-63 Cheapside. SJ

Swyne (Charles Hawtrey) walks to meet his superior. Dave W finds Swyne going in the wrong direction for Paternoster Square because he is just a step away from 4 Camden High Street, NW1 with the pedestal (magnolia/black) of the former Hippodrome / BBC Camden Theatre, extreme right. (RL)

Watched by a Sleuth from Department 5, the two crooks discuss their plans. Paternoster Square in London EC4 with Courtenay House to the left, Sudbury House on the right and the Central Criminal Court’s statue of Lady Justice in the top centre distance.

This current view is aimed towards the direction of Old Bailey. SJ

Having passed on his instructions to Swyne, Major Bourdon leaves his assistant. The pathway running between Paternoster Square and St. Paul’s Churchyard with Bancroft House filling the background.

This is too far south-east really but I couldn't find a better place unless I gained entry to the building to my left and took a shot of wall. SJ

The camera pans to follow. In front of Bancroft House with St. Paul’s Cathedral coming into view on the right.

Again I'm a little further east of the original. The gateway columns and Chapter House would be concealed by the 60s structure. SJ

Major Bourdon gets into a waiting taxi. St. Paul’s Churchyard EC4, now Paternoster Row, with St. Paul’s Cathedral providing the backcloth.

Trickier for taxis to pick up here now. SJ

Following the kidnapping of a Young Woman in broad daylight, two Agents from Angvia drive her away in the pantechnicon that serves as an inter-dimensional travel machine.

Alighting from a number 133 bus, Swyne turns to get back on when he sees two Angvian’s board.

Denis Hoare confirms that this is the real bus stop in Clifton Gardens, looking towards Maida Vale and just about 20 feet away from where Capture 13 is taken. Denis dutifully waited for an old Routemaster with the open back but it was starting to rain so he settled for this modern bus. We will forgive you....this time! (RL)

The Clippie (Rita Webb) attempts to get the fare from Swyne before the two Angvian Girl’s alight at the next stop.

The Angvian’s spot the club where their next target works. The corner of Clifton Gardens and Warwick Avenue in W9 with the entrance to Warwick Road Underground station in the right background.

Having given up waiting for the open back Routemaster Denis didn't tell us whether he gave up waiting for the Angvian’s as well. (RL)

From a telephone box across the road, Swyne watches the two Angvian’s as they head towards the Tease for Two Club on the film’s Frith Street. Prompted by the resolution of the following capture, Dave W sees the railings of the door now numbered 87 Arlington Road, London NW1. The telephone box however is no more. (RL)

No. 87 Arlington Road is scaffolded in this shot taken just north of Mary Terrace. SJ

Carrying a bouquet, Swyne approaches stripper Edwina Strain as she leaves work and persuades her to help the Major. Denis Hoare has been told by people who live nearby that this is in the Cromer St/Harrison St. Kings Cross area, particularly as it is believed Hawtrey lived not far away. Does anyone have any further thoughts information? Dave W had further thoughts that included flipping the capture and as a result came up with the background being 'Foxfield' apartment block in Mary Terrace, London NW1. (RL)

Looking from Arlington Road, this is Mary Terrace, also flipped to match the capture. SJ

After Word is assigned to the case, Edwina Strain (Wendy Lingham) sets off for Pelham Mews when she receives a telegram from the agent. "It all started with street lamp" says Dave W, that led him to St. Anne's Court looking across to Dean Street W1. The building can also be seen in 'A Cock and Bull Story', 'The Small World of Sammy Lee' and 'The Sandwich Man'. (RL)

Currently just another empty property. PW

A pair of blonde Angvian Girls follow the stripper. Berwick Street in Soho W1.

The action moves to Camden, nearer to Euroscan’s Camden Studios, and this is facing west on Inverness Street in NW1 with properties on Gloucester Crescent in the distance. The location is seen in 'Radio On' and the far end of the street features in ‘The Lady in the Van’.

Denis Hoare provides the comparison shot, not much changed except for the kind of things for sale. (RL)

Alerted to Edwina’s whereabouts, two Angvian Girls head towards her in their Reliant Scimitar.

Denis risked life and limb for us, Camden High Street at the junction with Delancey Street (on left), looking north towards Camden Town tube station in the distance

The stripper is spotted as she continues her journey to Word’s apartment.

Denis again, this time on Delancey Street NW1, looking north/west, just past the junction with Arlington Road. (RL)

Edwina makes her way along another North London street. Denis advises that this is Albert Street, Camden Town, just around the corner from Delancey Street, looking south towards Mornington Crescent. (RL)

Together with the location identification Denis provides the current comparative shot advising that the screenshot shows cars parked in the middle of the road, something which was stopped by 1971. No doubt providing the space for the now alternative parking format. (RL)

The Scimitar draws up alongside their target and the occupants ask directions before pulling her inside the car and drugging her.

This is taken by Denis from virtually the same point as Capture 21, with the camera swung around to almost directly across the road, and shows the junction with Delancey Street. (RL)

Now unconscious, Edwina is carried away. Facing south-east on Chalcot Square, London NW1 with Chalcot Road and the corner of Fitzroy Road in the left distance.

A further comparative shot from Denis. (RL)

The Scimitar is driven into the pantechnicon for the transfer to Angvia. Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill, which is also seen in ‘Rattle of a Simple Man’.

A somewhat smarter Chalcot Square is revealed by Denis. (RL)

From another dimension, Zeta the Angvian leader monitors Bourdon’s Scottish house where security has been stepped up.

Zara (Carol Hawkins) is sent to Bourdon’s estate to investigate but is soon captured and interrogated.

James Word arrives at Department 5 headquarters after being summoned by W. Sudbury House which stood at 15 Newgate Street EC1 until being demolished in 1998. The building features in ‘Crossplot’ and ‘Darling’.

Clotho arrives in Scotland and makes her way to Bourdon’s house. Grim’s Dyke House became a hotel in 1970 and is currently styled as the Best Western Plus Grim's Dyke Hotel.

The south side of the house. SJ

Bourdon looks down at Zara’s body after she falls from the roof whilst trying to escape. Grim's Dyke House on Old Redding, Harrow Weald in Greater London.

The north main entrance of the house. SJ

As Word heads to Scotland on W’s orders, the pantechnicon's progress is watched by Bourdon’s Henchmen from their helicopter.

Clotho is sent running across the estate before Bourdon’s armed Henchmen and their dogs prepare to chase her. Grim’s Dyke House appears in many other productions including ‘The Cherry Picker’, ‘The Haunted House of Horror’, ‘Cry of the Banshee’, 'Metro-Land', ‘Curse of the Crimson Altar’, ‘Endless Night’ and ‘Futtock's End’ .

And the west wing. SJ

Word’s journey to the north continues. The junction of the A412 Uxbridge Road and Coronation Avenue in George Green to the north east of Slough in Berkshire.

As Angvian warriors are dispatched to help Clotho, Word negotiates a roundabout. Antony Blair identifies this as under the M4 at Junction 3 on The Parkway in Cranford, Greater London.

Antony provides this capture to prove the previously unidentified location. Image copyright Google.

The shot pans to follow the Monteverdi High Speed. Again, this is beneath the M4 motorway at Cranford located by Antony.

Cut to a view southward on the A412 Uxbridge Road as it passes through George Green.

And from the other direction. Facing north on the A412 Uxbridge Road from the corner of Coronation Avenue with Pinewood, now the Pinewood Hotel, in the centre distance.

While Bourdon’s Men begin to pursue their Angvian prey, Word speeds through a ford. This is the Alder Bourne crossing Hawkswood Lane to the south of Gerrards Cross near Fulmer in Buckinghamshire which is also seen in ‘Hell Drivers’, ‘Don’t Talk to Strange Men’, ‘Genevieve’, 'The Ballad of Tam Lin' and ‘Poet’s Pub’.

Directed by our description, this is the same location today captured by Antony Blair.

Word parks near to Bourdon’s house before entering the grounds.