Small Back Room, The
Date: 1949
Director: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Production Company: The Archers, London Film Productions
Stars: Jack Hawkins, David Farrar, Kathleen Byron, Leslie Banks
Location(s): Dorset, London, Wiltshire
Region(s): London R-S, South West
Storyline:
As the enemy drops explosive booby-traps on 1943 England, the embittered expert who’ll have to disarm them fights a private battle with alcohol.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson
Also known as ‘Hour of Glory’ (US Title)
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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
- 22 Jun 2025
There aren't many locations in this film but Stonehenge in Wiltshire looks like it may be one of them. The location is also seen in in ‘Naked as Nature Intended’, ‘Night of the Demon’ and ‘The Tomb of Ligeia’.
Celebrating the Summer Solstice, Antony Blair shares his experience with this view taken at dawn.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
Although unconfirmed, Derek Greatrex believes this to be Bala in Merionethshire, now Gwynedd, explaining that, in his autobiography, Michael Powell tells us that they filmed in various places in England and Wales. He was very keen to shoot the bomb disposal scene on Chesil Beach, which is identified in the film, and Stonehenge is pretty unmistakable. Since he was using real named places and locations it is reasonable to assume that this scene was shot in Bala.
- Capture 3
- 23 Aug 2026
Sammy Rice (David Farrar) walks alongside the Thames. Jon Temple identifies this as Chelsea Embankment adding "In the right background stands the temporary bridge erected during the war that ran between Battersea Park and a point adjacent to the junction of the Embankment and Royal Hospital Road. In the centre distance one of the chimneys of Battersea power station can just be made out."
On a trip to London, Neil Kenny took a detour to capture the location as it appears now.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Sammy arrives in Dorset. This is Abbotsbury station.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Abbotsbury station just east of the village. The station closed in November 1952 but some railway relics survive. A new house has occupied the site since the 1960s.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
The approach road of Abbotsbury station which leads to the B3157, Rodden Row, with St. Catherine's Chapel in the top background. The station closed in 1952.
- Capture 7
- 05 Oct 2014
St Catherine's Chapel near Abbotsbury in Dorset.
Clive Rideout found that the chapel is still used for the occasional service despite being empty apart from a few pigeons and a wandering hippie minstrel ! (RL)
- Capture 8
- 05 Oct 2014
The Top Brass gather. St Catherine's Chapel, Dorset.
Clive found that there are a few more houses now and adds that the Tithe Barn in 'Far From The Madding Crowd' is at lower right of the shot. (RL)
- Capture 9
- 07 Aug 2020
Chesil Beach, Dorset looking towards Portland.
To match this Lionel and Cynthia Sear tell us that one really needs to be up a hill to the west looking down and along the Fleet Lagoon but that was inaccessible to them. This was taken south of St Catherine's chapel from where both Fleet Lagoon and the Chesil Bank can be seen. 'Dragon's Teeth' straddling Chesil Bank on the far right can just be seen. This is a WWII tank trap and is the site of the action in the following Capture. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 07 Aug 2020
Sammy sucessfully disarms the device. The north western end of Chesil Beach in Dorset.
A superb walk from Abbotsbury takes one to the Chesil Bank and a quarter of a mile's walk along the bank takes one to the 'Dragon's Teeth'. Here Lionel and Cynthia are looking east with Portland in the distance and the Fleet Lagoon on the left, at the same time asking us not underestimate the effort required to walk on deep shingle! We don't, your efforts are always appreciated. (RL)