NOWHERE TO GO

GB
1958
1hr 39mins
Dir: Seth Holt
Starring: George Nader and Maggie Smith

An escaped prisoner attempts to recover his loot but is shunned by the criminal community and hunted by the police

This very respectable crime drama was based on the 1956 story Nowhere to Go: A Novel by Donald MacKenzie. It has some excellent opening railway scenes that consist of atmospheric night shots filmed on the disused platforms of Kew Bridge station. The platforms are on the curve between New Kew Junction and Kew East Junction and were closed in 1940, though the station remains open with platforms on the Hounslow Loop. The derelict platforms seen in this film are still extant today, and plans for their reopening are progressing. These opening scenes end with a lengthy mixed freight passing through the station in the hands of BR Ivatt Class 4MT 2-6-0 No.43019 running tender first. In what is a brilliant piece of photography, the entire train plods slowly past as the opening titles role, the scene only ending after the brake van has exited the shot. Later, there is a departure scene filmed at London Marylebone station with what looks to be an ex-LNER B16 Class 4-6-0 lurking amongst the shadows and the coaching stock.

An atmospheric night shot of the deserted eastern curve platforms of Kew Bridge station. The high wall on the right belonged to Brentford Market.
Bernard Lee stands among the shadows of the semi-derelict platform 3
These platforms closed in 1940 but the platforms on the southern curve are still open, out of shot behind the wall to the left.
This view shows that the platform buildings were still largely intact, eighteen years after the last train called
Central to this shot is BR Ivatt Class 4MT 2-6-0 No.43019 running tender first on a mixed freight. The loco was allocated to Cricklewood East at the time of filming and would become one of the final six in service when withdrawn from Lostock Hall depot on 04/05/1968.
Shadows and steam at London Marylebone. The locomotive present on the right might well be an ex-LNER B16 Class 4-6-0.
Bessie Love and George Nader say farewell at Marylebone in what is, quite frankly, a truly stunning shot