Secret Tunnel, The (Children’s Entertainment Films)
Date: 1948
Director: William C. Hammond
Production Company: Merton Park Studios, Children's Entertainment Film, Film Producers Guild
Stars: Tony Wager, Ivor Bowyer, Murray Matheson, Gerald Pring, Thelma Rea, Frank Henderson, John H. Sullivan, Michael Kelly
Location(s): Norfolk, Suffolk
Region(s): South East R-Z
Storyline:
Two boys thwart the efforts of antique thieves at a British estate.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Richard Lovejoy
A short film made for Cinema Clubs for Boys and Girls that was a precursor to the Children’s Film Foundation.
Flixton Hall where much of the filming took place was allowed to fall into disrepair after being sold for Death Duties but elements of the ground floor remain and are now used to store farm machinery.
The Rembrandt painting ‘Girl at a Window’ that features in the film is actually hung in the Dulwich Picture Gallery.
Sally Davies of harleston-norfolk.org.uk has brought to our attention a YouTube presentation comparing ‘then’ and ‘now’ views of Harleston that is particularly interesting given our own objectives and comparisons. The link can be viewed here.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
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The film opens with a 'Canadair Four' aircraft arriving followed by the meeting of Andrew Henderson (Murray Matheson) and his son Roger (Anthony Wager) meeting a friend Inspector Victor Bell (John H. Sullivan).
- Capture 2
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Having established that the Inspector is there to meet with Andrew Henderson concerning a spate of antique thefts and their subsequent ‘export’, we cut to a country residence. Flixton Hall, Bungay, Suffolk.
- Capture 3
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A messenger boy pulls up on his motorcycle to deliver a message to the caretaker Mr Wilson (Gerald Pring) telling him that the Henderson’s are on their way home and asking to be collected at the station.
- Capture 4
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The train pulls into Homersfield station. With sincere thanks to Andrew of the Norfolk Railway Society for his immediate and helpful response to my enquiry and to Richard Adderson for his subsequent prompt identification with detailed support material. The station was part of the Waveney Valley Line, closing to passengers in 1953 and freight in 1960.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
A shot of the Henderson’s leaving the station for identification and historic record purposes.
- Capture 6
- 11 Mar 2021
There to meet them with the trap is John Wilson (Ivor Bowyer). Richard Adderson identifies this as what would have been opposite the station and what was the Dove Inn to the left and the Smithy to the right. The corner of Station Road and what is now the A143.
Richard provides this Google Earth View of the same location now revealing very little change. The current name of the Dove Inn is 'Farmers Kitchen at the Dove'.
- Capture 7
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Roger elects to drive it back. As the previous capture, the Dove Inn.
- Capture 8
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We follow them on their journey back home. Here going over the Homersfield Bridge. The first concrete bridge in Great Britain and Grade ll* listed, built in 1869.
- Capture 9
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Here they drive through the village now known as a town. The Thoroughfare, Harleston, Norfolk with Swan Lane off to the left by the side of the 'Swan Hotel'.
- Capture 10
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They pull up so that Andrew can pop into a shop.
- Capture 11
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Mean while Roger sees ‘old Harvey’ (Frank Henderson), and there is Mrs Mathews (Thelma Rea), the new housekeeper. I believe this to be No 3 The Thoroughfare, confirmed by Ken Palmer.
- Capture 12
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As they drive off they wonder how ‘old Harvey’ makes a living. Passing what was the Midland Bank as they enter Market Place.
- Capture 13
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Their journey continues. Homersfield looking at, Ken Palmer tells us, 81 (now Stable Cottage), 82 (now Ivy Cottage) and 83 The Green.
- Capture 14
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Andrew asks his son what he thinks of the scene now that he has been living in Egypt. Ken Palmer advises that this is in fact St. George's Church St. Cross South Elmham, Suffolk and that the cottage now has a tiled roof.
- Capture 15
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Eventually they arrive back at the Henderson’s home, Flixton Hall, near Bungay, Suffolk.
- Capture 16
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Discovering that their Rembrandt painting has been stolen from the vaults Andrew responds to a chance call from Scotland Yard and gets the car out to travel to London. Meanwhile Roger has the keys to ‘look around for clues’.
- Capture 17
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Roger and John soon find a secret tunnel that follow, to reveal that ‘it comes up’ in the Tower House.
- Capture 18
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They make a dash for it, back to the house.
- Capture 19
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- Capture 20
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- Capture 21
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Just having a run around they tell Mrs Mathews when she enquires what they are up to.
- Capture 22
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Having found out that the call from Scotland Yard was a ruse to get Henderson out of the way, and the telephone line going dead, the boys go into the village to check on Mrs Mathews movements. Outside what is still a butchers shop at 9 Redenhall Road, Harleston, Norfolk.
- Capture 23
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They go off to see ‘old Harvey’. Exiting London Road into Market Place, Harleston.
- Capture 24
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Strangely, ‘old Harvey’ doesn’t know Mrs Mathews.
- Capture 25
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As they walk away from the shop they glance down the lane beside the shop.
- Capture 26
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They decide to break in to the back of the shop.
- Capture 27
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They are discovered in the shop and make a run for it.
- Capture 28
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They peddle like mad. The Street, Flixton, Suffolk says Ken and the boys are just passing 'The Buck Inn'.
- Capture 29
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They stop to look behind them. The Green, Homersfield says Ken, facing camera 77 (now St. Mary's Cottage), beyond it are 78 (now Waveney Cottage) and 79 (now Green View).
- Capture 30
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On returning home they see Mrs Mathews assisting two men with a van about to load furniture and are locked into a room. Of course they escape! Returning to the ground they look to see if the coast is clear.
- Capture 31
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As John cycles to get help, he develops yet another flat tyre but fortunately the young motorcycle messenger is close behind. Looking across over The Green, specifically Ken tells us, left to right, the 2 semi-detached cottages partly hidden behind the sycamore are 79 (now Green View) and 80 (now Plumtree Cottage) followed by those in Capture 13.
- Capture 32
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They speed off out of Homersfield passing Barnfield Cottages to their left. Now Grade ll listed.
- Capture 33
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Soon to arrive at the police station, or maybe it is the local policeman’s home. Unidentified location.
- Capture 34
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Andrew Henderson arrives back home with Inspector Bell just as John arrives with the local police. Flixton Hall, Bungay, Suffolk. Circa 1948
- Capture 35
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Roger leaves a trail from the back of the van. Hill Cottage, Fox Hill, St. Cross South Elmham partly visible behind the lorry.
- Capture 36
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The chase is on to follow the trail away from Flixton Hall. Looking west from Church Road at the junction with The Street, Flixton advises Ken.
- Capture 37
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Speeding down country lanes. Going north on Fox Hill out of St. Cross South Elmham, Harleston, Suffolk
- Capture 38
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The van makes slow progress with a flat tyre but they arrive at their secluded destination. Unidentified location.