Cherry Picker, The

Date: 1974
Director: Peter Curran
Production Company: Elsinore Productions

Stars: Lulu, Bob Sherman, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Spike Milligan, Fiona Curzon
Location(s): Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

To the disappointment of his father, an ambassador’s son would rather live a life free from responsibility and work.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

This film is listed as one of the British Film Institute’s “75 Most Wanted” lost films

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Hired to make him find work, Nancy Dobson (Lulu) finds James Burn III (Bob Sherman) busking on the streets of Windsor.

Bells chime as dawn breaks on the empty streets around the castle. Thames Street in Windsor, Berkshire with Windsor Castle to the left.

Thames Street in Windsor, Berkshire with Windsor Castle to the left.

Somewhat busier. (RL)

Failing to persuade James back to work by asking him to her flat on the previous evening, Nancy seeks him out once again. The Abbey Gateway, Abbey Mill Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, part of my old school. (Steve Randall)

Taken from a higher perspective, as the foreground was choc-a-bloc with cars (SR)

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Even after a kiss, James still objects to getting a job. St. Albans Abbey Gateway. (SR)

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Fellow sleep-in Protestors against the modern world look on as Nancy begins to cry.

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James Burn II (Robert Hutton) tells Nancy that she can choose any car in the showroom after successfully tempting his son into an undemanding job.

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Nancy takes James to meet her eccentric father Mr. Dobson (Wilfrid Hyde White). Abbots Hill School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, found by Steve Randall

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The camera follows the three as they make for the front door of the family home. Abbots Hill School, Hemel Hempstead. (SR)

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Inside the house Dobson explains his peculiar business of providing kits that enable retirees to work without creating an end product. Abbots Hill School. (SR)

Driving away from their wedding, Nancy and James begin to argue. St Mary the Virgin Church on Church Hill in Harefield, Uxbridge. The church also makes an appearance in 'Cry of the Banshee', ‘Carry On Emmannuelle’ and 'Ghost of a Chance'.

Antony Blair took this shot from the best angle available as the road has become fully tree lined in the intervening 45 years.

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After James starts a relationship with his father's lover Maureen, Dobson calls him over to make up with his daughter. Abbots Hill School, Hemel Hempstead. (SR)

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James reveals that he has lost his job before Dobson asks if there's any chance of a grandchild. Abbots Hill School. (SR)

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As Mr. Dobson lies on his deathbed, a car makes it's way towards the house.

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The poetic but expensive Dr. Harrison (Patrick Cargill) rings the doorbell. Abbots Hill School, Hemel Hempstead. (SR)

James arrives outside the property that his father has bought for Maureen (Fiona Curzon). Grims Dyke Country Club on Old Redding, Harrow Weald in London.

Antony Blair (AB) captures the scene now showing the Blue Plaque for the dramatist W. S. Gilbert who lived and died here.

Things are looking up for the idler as new furniture is moved into the mansion. Grim's Dyke Hotel off Old Redding, Harrow Weald.

The grand entrance to the house which was built in 1870. (AB)

James smiles at his luck. Grim's Dyke also features in ‘The Haunted House of Horror’, ‘Futtock’s End’, 'Endless Night', 'Sliding Doors', 'Zeta One', 'Metro-Land', 'Cry of the Banshee' and the Magnificent 6 and ½ short 'Ghosts and Ghoulies' amongst others.

The upper levels at the front of the property. (AB)

House keeper and cook Mrs. Lal (Marianne Stone) kills a chicken in the back yard of the house.

The rear of the house now. (PW)

When the money runs out, Maureen watches as everything, including her car, is taken away. Grim's Dyke Hotel, Old Redding in Harrow Weald.

The 'right' hand side of the property. (AB)

The last pieces of furniture are removed from the property. The Grade II listed Grim's Dyke is currently a country house hotel.

The main entrance, looking rather nice. (AB)

James moves on to live a more solitary existence. Pitstone Windmill, Ivinghoe in Buckinghamshire.

A close up of Pitstone windmill with the village of Ivinghoe beyond.

Lionel and Cynthia Sear took this from the west of the windmill with the village of Ivinghoe behind to the north-east. (RL)

Pitstone Windmill, a post-mill thought to date from the early 17th century, also appears in 'The Black Panther'.

Similar to Capture 21 (RL)

Becoming involved with local pub landlady Mrs. Trulove, James relies on her to provide meals, company and more. The windmill is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

A close up of the east side of Pitstone windmill

From the east side of the windmill by Lionel and Cynthia.

Nancy traces her husband and turns up at the windmill. Pitstone Windmill to the south of Ivinghoe near Pitstone, Buckinghamshire.

Another from the east side of the windmill by Lionel and Cynthia This must be the mechanism by which the mill is rotated to face the wind but it would appear not to have moved in a very long time. (RL)

Furious that his wife has returned, Mrs. Trulove (Priscilla Morgan) throws James out of her pub. The Red Lion public house on Waterside in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. The pub closed in the late 1970s.

With two almost identical windows to chose from, I thought it better to include both. (PW)

A Rolls Royce glides through Windsor. Looking southward on High Street in Windsor with the Guildhall on the left.

Swapping the Rolls-Royce for a BMW, the widened pavement allowed me to get almost the correct angle on the busy street. (SR)

Inside the car, Nancy tells James that the agenda for the morning includes a factory inspection and a stock-holders meeting. The junction of Castle Hill, High Street and Peascod Street seen from Thames Street, Windsor.

A bus provides alternative transport through the little-changed town centre. (SR)

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And then there's the production figures to go over and a new campaign to oversee. The corner of Peascod Street and Thames Street. The streets of Windsor appear in many films including 'Yesterday's Hero', ‘The, Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins’, ‘Allez France!’, 'Terror Street', 'The Vulture' and 'Carry On Loving'.

Across the road, the sleep-in continues outside the castle. Abbey Gateway, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, from the south side. (SR)

No protesters today. (SR)

Commenting on the disgraceful behaviour, Nancy tells the Chauffeur to drive on. Outside the White Hart Hotel on Thames Street, Windsor in Berkshire with the castle’s Curfew Tower to the right of centre.

The White Hart is now the Harte and Garter Hotel and Spa. Everything else looks much the same today. (SR)