Magnificent Six and ½, The (Children’s Film Foundation) – Peewee Had a Little Ape

Date: 1969
Director: Harry Booth
Production Company: Century Film Productions, Children's Film Foundation (CFF)

Stars: Robin Davies, Ian Ellis, Brinsley Forde, Suzanne Togni, Lionel Hawkes, Kim Tallmadge, Michael Audreson
Location(s): Gwent (Wales), Middlesex, Surrey

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

More misadventures of a group of seven children.

Additional Information:

This listing features an episode from the second series of ‘The Magnificent Six and 1/2’ which were British short films made for the Children’s Film Foundation.

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

 

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Toby (Brinsley Forde), Stodger (Lionel Hawkes) and Peewee (Kim Tallmadge) arrive at the Reverend A.J. Mathews' jumble sale with a barrow load of clothing. Outside the church of Saint Mary Magdalene Littleton on Squire's Bridge Road in Shepperton, Surrey.

OK, so I totally overlooked this longer shot so if someone would like to replace it please do so, meanwhile I will use 2128. (RL)

The three youngsters head back to the streets with the empty barrow. The corner of Laleham Road and Watersplash Road in Shepperton.

Dennis Hammond provides this modern view of the location.

The children stop as a circus passes through the town. What good eyesight the kids have . . . this is High Street in Newport, Monmouthshire!

David Harvey sent this modern view of the location. Image copyright Google.

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Announcing the arrival of the circus, a Clown stands on top of a Land Rover. The Castle Hotel stood on Shaftesbury Street in Newport but was demolished in the early 1970s for the Old Green Interchange to be built.

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This is Shaftesbury Street in Newport, facing the junction of Kingsway, Dock Street and High Street.

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Ridden by their trainers, the elephants amble past. Another view of High Street in Newport. The town was made a city in 2002 and has resided in Gwent since 1974.

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The circus parade is possibly stock footage.

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After watching the parade pass, Peewee reminds the boys that they have important work to do to make the Reverend Mathews' jumble sale a success. The corner of Laleham Road and Watersplash Road again.

Toby dresses in an gorilla costume that has been donated. Hogarth Avenue in Ashford, Middlesex.

A few changes are apparent in Dennis Hammond's view.

The friends wheel their barrow along the street before a peckish Stodger darts into a sweet shop. Woodlands Parade at the corner of Feltham Hill Road and Hogarth Avenue, Ashford.

The same parade of shops captured by Dennis.

An escaped Gorilla from the circus sits on top of a wall as Peewee and Toby walk away, leaving Stodger in the shop. Burbidge Road in Shepperton.

John Harwood finds anAudi rather than ape. (SJ)

The Gorilla jumps down in front of Peewee who runs off, followed by Toby. The corner of Burbidge Road and Watersplash Road.

Not much has changed in the view today. (SR)

A Policeman (George Roderick) stands at a corner as the circus Ape approaches. Burbidge Road with Watersplash Road in the distance.

Minus one house, plus one tree. (SR)

When mistaken for Toby, the Gorilla knocks out the Policeman before heading to the shops. The corner of Woodlands Parade with Feltham Hill Road in the background.

Dennis Hammond's shot shows a change of use for the corner shop.

After frightening a Window Dresser, the Ape scares people as they come out of the shops. Facing Feltham Hill Road from Woodlands Parade in Ashford.

Dennis provides this comparison of the location.

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A Woman leaves the grocers before running away when the Gorilla appears. Woodlands Parade, Ashford now in Surrey.

Peewee and Toby search for a phone box to call 999. More of Burbidge Road, Shepperton.

Space now for cars on this driveway. (SR)

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With the Gorilla now in the handcart, Stodger sets off to find his pals. Woodlands Parade in Ashford.

Peewee tries to help Toby out of the costume but it's stuck. Burbidge Road was obviously the star of this production.

Today's comparison adds solar panels, and the view of distant houses is obscured by greenery (SR)

Searching for the escaped ape, the circus Animal Trainer (Sam Kydd) and a Clown (Melvyn Hayes) scout the estate. The junction of Wood Road and Petts Lane in Shepperton.

John H at the junction. (SJ)

Stodger pulls the cart with the Gorilla aboard. Yes, it's Burbidge Road again and an almost identical shot was seen in 'A Good Deed in Time', also part of the 'The Magnificent Six and ½' series.

The view from the corner today. (SR)

Whilst Stodger struggles to eat his chocolate, the Ape munches on a bag of nuts. The shot pans to reveal more of Burbidge Road.

A mass of hedge nowadays. (SR)

Toby and Peewee find a call box as Stodger turns into the road. Looking into the, then newly built, Barley Mow Way from Petts Lane, Shepperton.

Well bedded in now. John H. (SJ)

Peewee runs to meet Stodger before telling him that Toby is stuck in the costume and that there's a real ape on the loose. Looking from Petts Lane towards Wood Road.

Looks like a lower fence on the right. John H. (SJ)

When she sees the Gorilla in the back of the cart, Peewee again takes flight. Facing eastward along Petts Lane.

John also took one for 'The Magnificent Six and ½: A Good Deed in Time' here as well. (SJ)

The pair from the circus spot Toby in the phone box. Petts Lane, Shepperton with bungalows on Wood Road in the distance. The green building on the left is a Scout Hall and the location also appears in 'Heavens Above!'.

Not much visible to the left nowadays. John H. (SJ)

Whilst the Animal Trainer captures Toby, Stodger brings the real Ape to the jumble sale. Looking south-west on Squire's Bridge Road in Shepperton.

The wall bordering St. Saint Mary Magdalene Church. (SR)

Stodger turns into the church yard as the primate finishes the nuts. The church of Saint Mary Magdalene was also seen in 'Dad's Army (1971)', 'Adventures of a Private Eye', 'Craze' and 'The Jigsaw Man'.

Thankfully, only the one ladder to be seen when I took this shot. (RL)

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Having been released from captivity by the circus Strongman, Toby is apprehended by the Policeman. Watersplash Road, Shepperton.

The Animal Trainer begins his search once more. Wood Road at the corner of Petts Lane.

An overgrown corner now. John H. (SJ)

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At the Reverend's garage, the real Ape knocks out the Policeman again before Toby and Stodger appear on the scene. In the background stands Littleton Park House on Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey.

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The Reverend A.J. Mathews (Timothy Bateson) trips over as he's pursued by the Gorilla. A fairly familiar shot of Littleton Park House.

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Mayhem ensues before the Ape is recaptured. Littleton Park House was used in many production including 'Three Men in a Boat', The Constant Husband', 'The Earth Dies Screaming', 'Joey Boy' and 'Left, Right and Centre'.