Reel Streets

Films with Irish Locations

2010-03-11T10:36:00.003Z

Some Irish films for our lists sent in by Michael Hill:

Film: The Blue Max
Year: 1965
Stars: George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Anton Diffring, Derren Nesbit
Locations: Dublin, Fermoy, Wicklow, Western Aerodrome, Leixlip, Co Kildare

Film: Captain Lightfoot
Year: 1954
Stars: Rock Hudson, Finlay Currie, Kathleen Ryan
Locations: Clogherhead, County Louth, Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Film: Face of Fu Manchu
Year: 1964
Stars: Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, James Roberson Justice, Howard Marion-Crawford
Locations: Dublin, Ireland

Film: The First Great Train Robbery
Year: 1979
Stars: Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Leslie-Anne Down, Michael Elphick, Wayne Sleep
Locations: Heuston Station, Dublin ( formerly named Kingsbridge Station ) Bray, Cork, Moate, Dublin, Trinity College

Film: The Gentle Gunman
Year: 1952
Stars: John Mills, Dirk Bogard, Robert Beatty, Elizabeth Sellars, Barbara Mullen, Joseph Tomelty, Gilbert Harding
Locations: Ireland

Film: Gorgo
Year: 1960
Stars: Bill Travers, Bruce Seaton
Locations: Coliemore Harbour, Dublin, Ireland

Film: Of Human Bondage
Year: 1964
Stars: Kim Novak, Robert Morley, Nanette Newman, Lawrence Harvey, Siobhan McKenna, Roger Livesey
Locations: Ireland

Film: Sally’s Irish Rogue
Year: 1958
Stars: Julie Harris
Locations: Ireland

Film: The Siege of Sidney Street
Year: 1960
Stars: Donald Sinden, Kieron Moore
Locations: Dublin, Ireland

Film: Ten Little Indians
Year: 1965
Stars: Shirley Eaton, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Dennis Price
Locations: Austria, and Dublin, Ireland

Recently received DVDs

2010-02-15T12:49:00.000Z

Some more DVDs which have been added to our collection:

Cast a Dark Shadow
Deep End
No Love For Johnny
Private Potter
Pygmalion

NEW FILM ONLINE: "One Wish Too Many"

2010-01-29T17:08:00.002Z

Year: 1956

Stars: Anthony Richmond, Rodalind Gourgey, John Pike, Terry Cooke, Arthur Howard, Sam Costa

Director: John Durst

Locations: East London

Plot: A young boy finds a magic marble that grants him any wish he wants. One day he wishes for a giant steam-roller, and it starts to trash London.

Number of Stills: 11

Number of 'Now' Shots: 5

Film re-make suggestions - Sequels, Sons of..., xxx II, III and IV

2010-01-27T17:12:00.001Z

Scotland:
The Heather Boys
Life begins at Fortrie
It's a wonderful Fife

England:
Dr Eccles and Mr Ryde
Invasion of the Bodmin Snatchers
Hythe spirit
Yeovil in Miss Jones

Devon Can Wait, or in Wales...

Wales:
Bevan Can Wait
Look Back in Bangor
Organ-Morgan, a suitable case for treatment
April in Powys
Evans Above
Bar-man Jones
Merthyr She Said
The Lost Leek-end

Ireland:
(Quick we need some Irish ideas).

London:
Bow-up
The Cruel Lee

I suppose it's too late for Mould Diggers of 1933?
Better stick with The Mould Curiosity Shop...

No ideas for Brighton, but what about
Hove on the Dole
Hove in Bloom
or
Hove finds Andy Hardy?

I am going to go and lay down now.
LBB.

ps, But before I do:
This one is for all the government jobs-worth's, that constantly annoy us with forms and fines at Reel Streets:
The Curse of the VAT People.

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Blue Blood"

2010-01-27T17:07:00.000Z

Year: 1973

Stars: Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Meg Wynn Owen, Fiona Lewis, Anna Gael

Director: Andrew Sinclair

Locations: Wiltshire

Plot: Nasty butler with extraordinary accent uses dark arts to take over stately home and dominate the master of the house.

Number of Stills: 10
Number of 'Now' Shots: 0

NEW TITLES RECEIVED

2010-01-27T09:10:00.001Z

Here are some more movies that have recently been sent to us:

Sons and Lovers
Night of the Demon
The Entertainer
Nuns on the Run
McVicar
Eye of the Devil
Another Man's Poison
A Touch of Class
The Pumpkin Eater

Genevieve

2010-01-25T12:08:00.000Z

Thoroughly enjoyed Maitland's your "Movie Memories" on Reel Street. They parallel mine, I think.

I wanted to comment on the Genevieve Picture No. 51. You are right about the Route 223 bus, which it was in 1951 around the time that Genevieve was being made. It ran then, between Ruislip and West Drayton. But what puzzles me, is that the route shows, (I think) East Acton, which is way off the 223 route, even for an odd working. The other puzzlement is that the road traveled by Genevieve looked at though it was having the tram lines removed. I don't know of any that were being removed in West London around that that time particularly on the 223 Route. Of course, it could have been lines from one of the United Tramsways lines being removed, but I believe they were removed at the time of replacement during the 1030s. It makes me wonder if the bus wasn't used as a set piece, a real bus, but put there for "atmosphere." Again, thanks for the "memories."

Regards
Roy Barnacle
WAYLAND MA USA

Associate Research Assistants - (Free Films pt.2)

2010-01-25T10:47:00.002Z

WOW............such response!!! So, be quick and complete the application form now.

Too many applications, and too little time to process them all. So the offer, which only opened Thursday, will now only run for 30 days, until 20th February 2010.

Associate Research Assistant status will be freely granted to anyone who makes a significant contribution to this site. Maybe pulling some 20 or more stills from a favourite film or films, maybe snapping a dozen or so locations that we can use, maybe researching into the films and locations, and providing information that is of use, or maybe sending in copies of films we wish to use, either as a gift or as a swap. We are not ungenerous with our largesse, but it seems that we will be unable to afford to accommodate and continue to support all those of you who have written in, and have made no worthwhile contribution, sorry but the costs of processing all the applications, and supplying all the films is going to be beyond the resources that I have set aside for supporting the site.

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Jigsaw"

2010-01-24T10:59:00.000Z

Year: 1962

Stars: Jack Warner, Ronald Lewis, Yolande Donlan, Michael Goodliffe, John Barron, Brian Oulton

Director: Val Guest

Locations: Brighton, Lewes, East Sussex, London

Plot: Local cops use tried and tested methods to hunt down a murderer.

Number of Stills: 25
Number of 'Now' Shots: 0

FREE FILMS

2010-01-20T17:03:00.001Z

Due to the ever increasing powers given to the entertainment industry under the various provisions contained in numerous recent Copyright Acts which have been enacted and ratified throughout the world, and the draconian methods that parts of the industry are now using to coerce, frighten, fine and imprison those persons who now fall within the scope of these Laws, it has been decided that ReelStreets will no longer be able to offer redundant films, either on VHS or on DVD, for sale.

It is to be regretted that ordinary people, the free viewers of this site, as well as hundreds of people who have used some pop music as background to a home video of a child’s birthday party should become subject to this new legislation and face criminal charges for their unauthorised use of copyright material.

Therefore to avoid the possibility of conflict regarding our “sale” of single, redundant copies of our films that appear, or are due to appear on site we have now decided to give them all away, free, and, what is more we are prepared to copy and give away any more films for which we receive requests.

The Empire Strikes Back! But in my case it was only the Wood Green Empire!

The snag here is that we can only do this, unhappily, not to the public at large, but only to those persons who have a genuine interest in film research. We would argue that wishing to view a film would indicate a “genuine” interest, but apparently this is not the case. Therefore we need to enrol everyone who requires a copy of any, or all of the several hundred films that we have in stock, as associate film location research assistants, or some such fancy title. And if you don’t like this title I’m sure, within reason, that you can invent your own.

So, those who want to enrol should complete the application form, and, once registered, will be able to have free access to all the films in our library.

We are not sure how many assistants we can have, so until we find we have to have a cut-off point, there is no limit, but, be quick or you may leave it too late.

Contributors, those kind people who send in "now" pics or "then" grabs, will be automatically enrolled and will enjoy all the privileges of established research assistants.

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Dracula"

2010-01-17T12:06:00.001Z

Year: 1979

Stars: Frank Langella, Trevor Eve, Kate Nelligan, Donald Pleasance, Laurence Olivier, Jan Francis

Director: John Badham

Locations: Cornwall

Plot: Lots of darkness and fog but not many fangs as Dracula plies his trade.

Number of Stills: 10
Number of 'Now' Shots: 3

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Someone Behind the Door"

2010-01-17T12:04:00.001Z

Year: 1971

Stars: Charles Bronson, Anthony Perkins, Jill Ireland

Director: Nicolas Gessner

Locations: Folkestone, Kent

Plot: Neurosurgeon sets up an amnesiac into believing that his wife is his own and needs drastic correction for her infidelity.

Number of Stills: 5
Number of 'Now' Shots: 0

Hell Drivers - 1957

2010-01-01T11:17:00.000Z

The country scenes featured in the opening titles are the lanes around Langley and Iver in Bucks, the Quarry at the end is Probably Rickmansworth, and on speaking to David McCallum in the 80's he confirmed the location for the exteriors of the sweet shop is indeed Brentford as a previous subscriber said.

Jeremy Coote

The Medusa Touch - 1978

2010-01-01T11:16:00.000Z

The scenes where Richard Burton 'wills' the car to knock his parents over the cliff were shot by the Rotunda ruins in Herne Bay, Kent.

The aircraft engine and general gathering of wreckage from the plane crash were in Acton.

The Cathedral is St. Pauls, Bristol.

The Lawyer scenes with Derek Jacobi were shot in Lincolns Inn Fields, London,

The car scenes featuring Lino Ventura and Michael Byrne were shot in Covent Garden.

................on site we have only 7 shots. Are we missing a lot more? Can you pull them for us to add?

For the moment, we'll blog your excellent information and hope to receive some "thens" from you, as well as, possibly, some nows.

Thanks and best wishes for the new year

John

New Movies Received

2009-12-18T17:30:00.000Z

Some titles recently received from an admirer

The Caretaker
The Dark Man
Bond Street
Blackout
Bond of Fear
Account Rendered
The Diplomatic Corpse
Suspended Alibi

How very kind some people are. Thank you John.

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Innocent Sinners"

2009-12-18T17:27:00.002Z

Year: 1958

Stars: June Archer, Flora Robson, David Kossoff, Catherine Lacey

Director: Philip Leacock

Locations: London

Plot: Girl plants a garden in a bombed out churchyard.

Number of Stills: 39
Number of 'Now' Shots: 27

Richard Todd Dies

2009-12-07T16:59:00.000Z

Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd, actor, born 11 June 1919; died 3 December 2009 of cancer, aged 90, will be best remembered for the films in which he played a wide assortment of clean-cut British heroes. His most famous performance was as Wing Commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters (1955), although he also played Robin Hood and Sir Walter Raleigh.

As dour and stiff upper-lipped as any of the characters he portrayed in his highly successful film career in the 1940s and 1950s, he was one of the first members of the Parachute Regiment to jump on D-day – a real-life role he later echoed, albeit at a higher rank, in The Longest Day (1962), the reconstruction of the invasion of Normandy 17 years after the event (another actor posed as Todd himself).

As Gibson, Todd starred as the leader of the daring airborne mission in May 1943 to smash German industry in the Ruhr valley by strategic bombing of its dams, causing massive flooding. The movie retold the story of Barnes Wallis's invention of a bouncing bomb that skimmed the surface of the reservoirs before colliding with the three targets – two of which were destroyed.

Born in Dublin, Todd was the son of an army major of Scots and Irish descent. His early life in England was one of private schools, including Shrewsbury, genteel poverty and family squabbles, usually over his father's drinking and extravagances that included buying a large Chrysler roadster behind his wife's back.

His tear-jerking portrayal of a dying and bitter Scots corporal in his second contract film, The Hasty Heart (1949), made him an instant hot property. Ronald Reagan was in a supporting role, his only appearance in a film made in Britain. The two men stayed in touch and once dined together at 10 Downing Street with a woman they both admired, Margaret Thatcher. Hitchcock used him in Stage Fright (1950), Walt Disney used him in Robin Hood (1952). Todd appeared as Raleigh, alongside Bette Davis, in The Virgin Queen in 1955, made The Sword and the Rose (1953) for Disney and Saint Joan (1957) for Otto Preminger. But he was happiest while filming in England, Never Let Go, although he refused the lead in The Guns of Navarone (1961) and was also unable to accept the role of James Bond – despite being Ian Fleming's first choice – because of other commitments. Sean Connery took the role instead.

Todd, the star of 50 films over 20 year, physically small but sturdy, Todd was more of a realist than many actors, was married twice, in 1949 to Catherine Grant-Bogle, by whom he had a son and daughter, and in 1970 to Virginia Mailer, by whom he had two sons. Both marriages ended in divorce. His son from his first marriage and one of his sons from his second marriage killed themselves. He is survived by his other two children.

Copyright Guardian Newspapers

The 39 Steps

2009-12-07T09:53:00.001Z

I believe that part of Hannay's chase through the Scottish Highlands was filmed at "Rest and be Thankful" - the A83 road to Inveraray.

I have anecdotal evidence and am currently backing this up with pictures to compare with the film.

Richard Reeve

If

2009-12-07T09:52:00.001Z

A bit of information about the film IF.

When McDowell and his mate steal the BSA [?] motorcycle from the showroom they are seen to ride off. The next shot is them riding north along the A5 road just north of Redbourne, Herts. They slow down and pull into the J&H Cafe, a shot of the sign is clear in the film. I knew this location well, because from 1967 to early 1968 I worked for J&H Transport at the garage next door. The Cafe was owned by the Transport Company. The site was to the west of the A5 Road, about 100 mtrs south of what is still the Packhorse Public House on the road that goes to Whipsnade Zoo. Not a good place to eat, but seemed OK for a naked romp.

The site has now been cleared of the old cafe and bungalow used as the area office. A chain-operated petrol station now occupies the site.

If I remember right, J&H was June and Headley Transport.

Yours, John Morgan

The Square Peg - Location Enquiry (part 2)

2009-12-07T09:35:00.001Z

In answer to your question, a 'militia camp' was a hutted camp built during the the run-up to or during WW2. The buildings within were generally of the wooden "spider" variety as well as 'wriggly tin' Nissen huts. Some buildings such as gymnasia, camp cinemas etc were of a more substantial brick or block structure. They were built as a temporary measure intended only for the duration of the war. However, due to the additional accommodation requirements of post-war National Service as well as the utilisation of several as Displaced Persons (very often Polish) camps, many survived for some considerable period after the war.

Some militia-type camps were sited within or near to existing permanent camps, others were sited remotely.

For your information, the Carry On Sergeant location work was filmed at Stoughton Barracks, Guildford, Surrey.

This was a permanent barracks site and was the regimental depot of the the Queens Royal Surrey Regiment. It was vacated by the MoD some years ago. The fort-like structure you allude to is a "Cardwell Keep". It is typical of the type incorporated in most of the county regimental barracks built in 1870s as a result of the Cardwell reforms.

Although most of Stoughton Barracks has been entirely redeveloped for housing, Stoughton Barracks' Cardwell Keep exists yet, having been converted into residential flats. Other examples of the type exist at York, Hounslow, Lincoln, Kingston, Taunton and elsewhere.

I'm not sure about Private's Progress. I don't know if I've ever seen it.

However, "Tunes of Glory" starring Alec Guinness, John Mills and Dennis Price was filmed at Stirling Castle, which until about 1968 served as the regimental depot of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Evocative stuff!

Jan A Flaszynski

The Square Peg - Location Enquiry (part 1)

2009-12-07T09:30:00.002Z

Hi,

Firstly, may I congratulate you on a very interesting site.

............thank you

I am trying to find the location used for "Battersby Camp" - the barracks used in the Norman Wisdom comedy, "The Square Peg". It was filmed at Pinewood Studios in about 1958.

.............many military camps of the period have long since been torn down or turned into industrial estates. Cardington I remember well, Wilmslow, and wherever it was, near Stratford Upon Avon, where I did my RAF photographic course, are now industrial estates.

It has the appearance of a militia-type camp of WW2 vintage. This type of camp was common of the era and many survived until the end of National Service (c1961). What was a militia camp as opposed to a military camp?

.........almost half a century ago! How about the camp in Private's Progress, or the other one, with a fort-like structure in Carry on Sergeant. Where are they now?

Most Pinewood location work of this era was undertaken within striking distance of Pinewood / Iver, Bucks. As far as I am aware, there were no militia camps still extant in this area at the time of shooting. I suspect that the location was a little further afield.

Any ideas, please?

Regards,

J A Flaszynski

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Battle of Britain"

2009-11-29T12:37:00.000Z

Year: 1969

Stars: Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, Edward Fox, Kenneth More, Robert Shaw, Ian McShane, Laurence Olivier, Trevor Howard

Director: Guy Hamilton

Locations: South eastern England, France, Spain

Plot: The heroic “few” save Britain from the threat of the Luftwaffe.

Number of Stills: 29
Number of 'Now' Shots: 3

NEW FILM ONLINE: "Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!"

2009-11-18T16:29:00.002Z

Year: 1973

Stars: Brian Rix, Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims, Joanna Lumley

Director: Bob Kellett

Locations: London

Plot: Any film that has a title that is more than two words, give or take a definite, or even indefinite article should be viewed with suspicion. This film is no exception. Brian Rix participates, and, as with all his other Whithall farces, this one concerns mistaken identity, people losing their trousers and other items of hysterically funny British humour that kept the audiences rolling in the isles. If only the whole cast had been shipped out to one of the outer Isles of the Hebrides we'd have all been spared.
However, we are not here to view the artistic merits, or otherwise, of the films that we add to the site but to investigate and identify the locations used, and here we have a considerable number diligently sleuthed by Adrian Grepnold and Simon James, two of our consistent and stalwart research assistant.

Number of Stills: 14
Number of 'Now' Shots: 9

Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79

2009-11-18T16:19:00.002Z

pa.press.net

Edward Woodward, who was known for his roles in The Wicker Man and The Equalizer, has died aged 79.

The veteran actor had been suffering from various illnesses, including pneumonia, and died in hospital, his agent said.

Janet Glass released a statement praising Woodward's "brave spirit and wonderful humour".

It said: "Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions such as Breaker Morant, The Wicker Man, Callan, The Equalizer and many more, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness.

"He was further sustained by the love of his wife, Michele, children, Tim, Peter, Sarah and Emily, his grandchildren and numerous friends. His passing will leave a huge gap in many lives."

Woodward rose to fame in the 1960s and early 1970s in spy series Callan. Cult film The Wicker Man saw him play a devout Christian police officer drawn to investigating the disappearance of a young girl in a sinister community.

In the 1980s he gained international attention in hit US TV series The Equalizer, playing a former spy turned gun-for-hire.

Woodward recently joined EastEnders for a short stint as Tommy Clifford. Speaking about the role to What's On TV earlier this year, he said: "I was very pleased. I only like to do a few jobs each year and I pick the ones I can't turn down. I liked the character and six episodes suited me."

He said that as well as working on an autobiography, he'd been spending time painting watercolours.

Woodward lived in Cornwall with his wife, actress Michele Dotrice, who's known for playing Frank Spencer's long-suffering wife Betty in the classic sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

The man who used to write the Callan series was a great lead-soldier collector and used many of my figures in various TV episodes. He also provided photos of Edward Woodward with the military figurines to be used in my wargaming magazine, Miniature Warfare. www.soldierssoldiers.com

Recent Additions

2009-11-18T16:15:00.002Z

Here are the latest additions to our library, taking their place in the queue for uploading to the site:

Big Job, The (1965), Sid James and Joan Sims, Chalfont St giles, Buckinghamshire (imdb)
Gelignite Gang, The (1956), Eric Pohlmann and robberies in Kemp Town, Brighton
Hindle Wakes, trouble at t'mill (1931), Llandudno
Rockets Galore (1957), Donald Sinden & Gordon Jackson, in the Outer Isles
Terror By Night (1946), Sherlock Holmes, aka Basil Rathbone, on set. No location work.
Von Ryan's Express (1965), Frank Sinatra, locations in Italy and Switzerland.
What's good For The Goose (1969), Southport, Norman Wisdom, a bank in the City? A seaside.