Red Beret, The
Date: 1953
Director: Terence Young
Production Company: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Warwick Film Productions
Stars: Alan Ladd, Leo Genn, Susan Stephen, Harry Andrews, Donald Houston, Anthony Bushell, Patric Doonan, Stanley Baker
Location(s): Berkshire, Caernarfonshire, Oxfordshire
Region(s): Midlands, South East M-Q, Wales
Storyline:
A fictitious story about an American who enlists in the British Parachute Regiment in 1940, claiming to be a Canadian.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill
Also known as ‘Paratrooper’ (US Title)
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Steve 'Canada' McKendrick (Alan Ladd) leaves the guardroom. IMDB suggests RAF Abingdon Parachute School near Abingdon with is confirmed by Alan Pask who adds that the base was in Berkshire at the time of filming.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
The passing out parade in front of Major General A.B.C. Whiting (Anthony Bushell). RAF Abingdon, now in Oxfordshire.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
The paratroopers leave on their first mission. Alan Pask recognised RAF Abingdon which is now Dalton Barracks, an army base.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
A panning shot from the previous capture. Alan Pask recalls seeing Ray Milland at RAF Abingdon during filming of 'The Safecracker' in 1958. The actor unfortunately hurt his back when dropping from the training tower.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
The first target, the enemy radar station at Bruneval. An unknown location that may be a studio set or model. What is genuine though are Russell Thomas's memories from when he was 6 years old, as he remembers playing football with the film crew and Alan Ladd on the beach at Black Rock sands near Porthmadog in Caernarfonshire during the making of this film. The rocks appeared in a scene where soldiers were climbing up ropes to attack German gun emplacements.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
McKendrick takes Penny Gardner (Susan Stephen) for a ride when his motorcycle and sidecar arrives at the base. RAF Abingdon, Berkshire identified by Alan Pask.
- Capture 7
- 22 Mar 2017
McKendrick and Penny ride into the countryside. A blurred location . . . but Mike Baker is sharper and places this as the village of Wytham, Oxfordshire. (RL)
Mike provides this Google Earth shot of the same corner but the houses are now obscured by greenery. (RL)
- Capture 8
- 22 Mar 2017
The couple arrive in a village. The village of Wytham, Oxfordshire says Mike Baker. (RL)
A Google Earth shot from Mike reveals that yet another telephone box has disappeared. (RL)
- Capture 9
- 22 Mar 2017
The pair visit Penny's home. Malcolm Evans advises that in some scenes Corn Du and Pen y Fan in the Central Brecon Beacons can be clearly seen. Also, the scene after the battle is quite clearly filmed on the road south of the pass between between Cribyn and Fan y Big". Certainly not Wales advises Mike Baker but the village of Wytham, Oxfordshire. (RL)
The Google Earth shot from Mike shows that little has changed. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
The next target, an enemy location in Bône, North Africa - now known as Annaba. Possibly RAF Abingdon.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Smoke obscures the buildings during the attack. Any guesses . . . . . maybe RAF Abingdon.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
Alf (Thomas Heathcote) is injured and taken care of by Major John Snow (Leo Genn). I suspect this is also RAF Abingdon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire.