All downhill for actor in gliding pioneer film

Olivier was not at Dunstable, however. This scene, readily recognisable by those of us who have seen the finished film, is about gliding pioneer Otto Lilienthal who was portrayed by actor Henry Victor, pictured walking with hitched-up trousers near the centre of the photo.

Victor had the hazardous task of sitting on the glider, a faithful replica of Lilienthal’s original, as it was launched down the slope.

The real Lilienthal was killed attempting something similar.

There is a particularly significant Dunstable angle to this scene, which was probably shot by the film’s assistant director Jack Clayton.

The replica glider was constructed by two Germans, Eric P. Zander and Arthur Weyl, who had come to this country in 1934 to escape the Nazis.

They had built a small factory, making sections for self-assembly aircraft, in Luton Road, Dunstable, probably near where the Wickes showroom is now.

Later, calling their firm Dart Aircraft, they moved to premises at 29 High Street North in what was then called the town hall yard.

The building is still there, approached through the Anchor Archway.

> Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.