Unused footage of THE SAINT's Volvo

[Anthony McKay]

The first street scene in this footage from the World Backgrounds vault does not appear to have been used in the series. Any ideas where it was shot?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFotSNhFitk

[Mark O]

name='Anthony McKay' timestamp='1285480695' post='477478']

The first street scene in this footage from the World Backgrounds vault does not appear to have been used in the series. Any ideas where it was shot?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFotSNhFitk

It all happens a bit too fast to able to absorb the place, but I don't think it's close to Borehamwood where I assume the major filming for The Saint was done, the countryside bit has look of North or Mid-Wales about it.

[Anthony McKay]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1285488881' post='477488']

It all happens a bit too fast to able to absorb the place, but I don't think it's close to Borehamwood where I assume the major filming for The Saint was done, the countryside bit has look of North or Mid-Wales about it.

The street scene is the only one I can't identify.



The lake is Llyn Efyrnwy, B4393, nr.Bala, Gwynedd



The wood is probably Burnham Beeches (okay I have not confirmed this, or the episode)



The Welsh road is the A5 near Llyn Ogwen

[Mark O]

name='Anthony McKay' timestamp='1285489827' post='477495']

The street scene is the only one I can't identify.



The lake is Llyn Efyrnwy, B4393, nr.Bala, Gwynedd



The wood is probably Burnham Beeches (okay I have not confirmed this, or the episode)



The Welsh road is the A5 near Llyn Ogwen

I thought of the Bala lake lol, the notice board seen by the VW campervan has a home counties/new town feel about it, maybe places like Slough, Maidenhead, Reading are worth a look.

[Anthony McKay]

I've just found the Burnham Beeches sequence in 'Invitation to Danger'. The footage used in the episode is the same as the clip, with the episode title overlaid.

[Wee Sonny MacGregor]

The A5 one is the road between Bettws Y Coed and Capel Curig.

[Anthony McKay]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1285488881' post='477488']

It all happens a bit too fast to able to absorb the place

Here is a composite photo:







This could be the same unidentified town seen in the following:

[Mark O]

The slate roofed building seen behind to the left of Woolworths and the Mountains tell me it's not in the south-east, to me it has a look of South Wales town of Pontypridd, maybe worth a look, the railway there is 'up high' also.

[Anthony McKay]

I've found the same street with a police car, which would confirm that it is the same town as used in the other photos. This clip is much clearer.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzq39WS4-Ts

[Rick C]

I don't think the Saxone shop is going to help us though. They don't have a website of their stores' histories like MacFisheries or Sainsbury's do.



Woolworths however does have a number of 'local area' websites which sprang up owing to the national closure a few years ago. Newtown in Powys has (or HAD) an end property which closed due to the company disolvancy and was about the shape and size of the one in the feature film although renovations with any Woolworths as we know massacred the history features of every store.



Newtown Powys is in the Bala/Capel Curig region though. Videos of the Newtown Woolworths and its position street-wise are on Youtube as an epitaph.



I'm particularly interested in what appears to be a cinema/theatre/music hall in one of the frames which feature the black Police saloon car. That could throw up some info maybe?

[Anthony McKay]

name='Rick C' timestamp='1285749737' post='478462']

I don't think the Saxone shop is going to help us though. They don't have a website of their stores' histories like MacFisheries or Sainsbury's do.



Woolworths however does have a number of 'local area' websites which sprang up owing to the national closure a few years ago. Newtown in Powys has (or HAD) an end property which closed due to the company disolvancy and was about the shape and size of the one in the feature film although renovations with any Woolworths as we know massacred the history features of every store.



Newtown Powys is in the Bala/Capel Curig region though. Videos of the Newtown Woolworths and its position street-wise are on Youtube as an epitaph.



I'm particularly interested in what appears to be a cinema/theatre/music hall in one of the frames which feature the black Police saloon car. That could throw up some info maybe?

I'd be very suprised if this town is in Wales - we should eliminate Watford, Potters Bar, Stevenage etc, first. Other than the ubiquitous White Jaguar, the Volvo and a black limousine, no other cars were taken to Wales this season.

[Mark O]

It all looks very welsh to me, though maybe the west country/cornwall could be worth a look, I'm intrigued by the three strange contraptions situated outside Woolworths, market stalls maybe?

[mariocki]

It's The High Street, Watford. Mostly redeveloped but the building the guy walks past as the police car comes into view is still there, now Linens Direct.



High Street, Watford.

[Mark O]

name='mariocki' timestamp='1285773320' post='478539']

It's The High Street, Watford. Mostly redeveloped but the building the guy walks past as the police car comes into view is still there, now Linens Direct.

Well I never ........though that's definitely a different town where Woolies is, I don't recall any mountains in Watford!

[Anthony McKay]

name='mariocki' timestamp='1285773320' post='478539']

It's The High Street, Watford. Mostly redeveloped but the building the guy walks past as the police car comes into view is still there, now Linens Direct.



High Street, Watford.

Watford Woolworths was at 124 High Street



http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?hl=en&...43.41,,0,-2.85

[Toscana]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1285782700' post='478570']

Well I never ........though that's definitely a different town where Woolies is, I don't recall any mountains in Watford!

I've only been to Watford to watch football. Don't recall any hills etc but when you enter the ground as an away supporter you come straight off the street into the top of the stand. So it must be a bit up and down.

[Anthony McKay]

For casual viewers, the story so far:



The unused footage in the YouTube clips has been positively identified as Watford High Steet.



This footage features a Police Car and The Saint's Volvo, but neither car is using headlights.



We are now looking for the location of the streets seen in the series of photographs from the episode Escape Route (Roger Moore: October 1966).



These also feature a Police Car and the Volvo chasing round a town centre with their lights on (day-for-night filter used).



The 'mountains' in the background may be the roofs of other tall buildings, but there does seem to be a downward slope past Woolies.



The cinema or theatre in the backgroud does not match any of the old cinemas or the theatre in Watford.



Here is the sequence from the episode. The chase starts off in the ABPC backlot town then we see:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09GuwgpizrU

[Anthony McKay]

Here is the same footage enhanced:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcPKJs2Hvjs

[Anthony McKay]

I've just had positive idenification from a local (born and lived in Watford during the 50's & 60's), the Woolworths was in Watford.

"Car chase in Queens Road (now pedestrianised and adjacent to the Harlequin Centre) heading towards Watford High Street with Woolworths (now McDonalds) on the corner of Kings Street. It has now been redeveloped and changed beyond recognition. Queens Road no longer runs into the High Street as it has been pedestrianised as part of the shopping centre. Boots the Chemist can be seen on the corner of Queens Road."

[mariocki]

Good stuff!