Mr. Quilp

Date: 1975
Director: Michael Tuchner
Production Company: Reader's Digest

Stars: Anthony Newley, David Hemmings, Sarah-Jane Varley, Peter Duncan, Michael Hordern, David Warner, Jill Bennett
Location(s): Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, London, Wiltshire

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

A lost film in its original form, this musical is based on Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop.

Additional Information:

Screen captures and uncredited ‘now’ images uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

The film was heavily edited, with characters and songs cut, and released as ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ in the US.

Many locations are currently UNIDENTIFIED and some may be sets. Ardmore Studios in Bray, Co. Wicklow is mentioned on IMDb but this may be confused with another version of the story made in 1995 for television.

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.

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The first musical number has Little Nell (Sarah-Jane Varley) and Richard Swiveller (David Hemmings) singing and dancing in the street.

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Nell and Swiveller dance away in this musical that failed to make an impact.

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More dancing . . . .

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Even more dancing . . .

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  • 26 Nov 2012

And singing. Kings Bench Walk, London EC4.

The same location now . . . . . without music.

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  • 26 Nov 2012

Dancing and singing outside a rather distinctive doorway. 3 North on Kings Bench Walk, London EC4.

3 North now,

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  • 26 Nov 2012

The song ends at the bottom of a flight of steps. Kings Bench Walk in London EC4 as seen in 'School for Scoundrels', 'The Tyburn Case', ‘The Blind Goddess’, 'My Learned Friend', ‘The Halfway House’ and ‘Brothers in Law’.

The same steps now.

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  • 26 Nov 2012

Swiveller walks Little Nell home.

Still on Kings Bench Walk.

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Little Nell crosses what appears to be a tidal basin or dock to visit Mr Quilp. Paul Roy Goodhead of the Anthony Newley Society has assisted in confirming that this scene was shot at Tidal Basin in the London Borough of Newham E16.

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Nell walks towards Quilp's hideaway. Tidal Basin, Royal Victoria Dock in London E16. The area has been redeveloped. With thanks to Paul Roy Goodhead.

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Daniel Quilp (Anthony Newley) walks along the street towards home.

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Quilp and his attorney, Sampson Brass (David Warner), outside the office.

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Quilp and Sampson walk away from the attorney's office. Kentish buildings? Not quite, it's a set at Shepperton.

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After leaving their home, Little Nell and her Grandfather, Edward Trent (Michael Hordern), rest at Hampstead outside London. In the background mist is the silhouette of St Paul's Cathedral.

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Edward Trent looks on as his Granddaughter asks for charity.

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Nell and her Grandfather come across Harris (Ronald Lacey) and Codlin (David Battley), the Punch and Judy men, in an Aylesbury churchyard.

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Nell and Edward Trent watch the Punch and Judy show.

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Henry Trent (Paul Rogers) asks Christopher 'Kit' Nubbles (Peter Duncan) about his brother Edward and his niece.

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Quilp leaves his house to go to 'The Sport of Kings'.

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Quilp sings his way along the street. Again, Shepperton Studios on part of the set bult for 'Oliver!' which also appears in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', 'The Creeping Flesh', 'I, Monster', 'The Looking Glass War' and 'The Best House in London'.

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Quilp is in good spirits for his day at the races.

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Nice London lamp post . . . . . and nice Rupert the Bear trousers!

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Edward and Nell follow the Punch and Judy men to Banbury races. Tony Kent was an Extra in this production and tells us that the fairground scenes were filmed in the village of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, along with this scene in which the tower of St. Mary's church can be made out above the background roof tops.

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Bevis Marks is a street in London EC3 but it doesn't look like this one. That's because we're back on set at Shepperton.

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Outside the Brass's office on the films Bevis Mark's. The set was also seen in 'I, Monster' and 'The Creeping Flesh'.

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Richard Swiveller walks towards the Brass's attorney's office.

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Swiveller meets Kit in the street. Similar lamp posts can be seen in Soho in 'The Small World of Sammy Lee' as a set at Shepperton was also used for that production.

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Passers by turn to watch as Kit is accused of theft by Sampson and Sally Brass.

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  • 16 Mar 2020

After taking up with Jarley's Travelling Wax Works in Warwickshire, Nell distributes flyers. Church Street in Lacock, Wiltshire. The location was also seen in 'Kipps'.

And also seen in "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

George (Windsor Davies), Mrs Jarley's assistant, bangs his drum to advertise the show in Warwick. Church Street, Lacock near Chippenham confirmed by Michael Cooke who recalls filming taking place.

A bit more of Church Street here. SJ

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  • 29 Jul 2018

Whilst taking a day off from helping Mrs Jarley, Nell and her Grandfather run towards an inn to shelter from the rain. The Jolly Woodman on Littleworth Road, Burnham, Berkshire as seen in 'The Man in the Road', 'Carry On Dick', 'The Man in the Moon' and 'Genevieve'.

The Jolly Woodman on Littleworth Road, Burnham, Berkshire

Chris Blackburn provides a more colourful scene on a dry day. (RL)

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  • 29 Jul 2018

Nell and Edward Trent run through the inn's doorway. The Jolly Woodman, Littleworth Road, Burnham Beeches.

The Jolly Woodman on Littleworth Road, Burnham, Berkshire

A further shot from Chris showing the Jolly Woodman as it was during his visit. (RL)

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  • 16 Mar 2020

Daniel Quilp begins to sing 'Every Dog Has His Day' in a scene cut from the US version. Heading out of the village on High Street, Lacock.

Just east of East Street. SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

The lane as seen from inside the carriage. Looking towards the junction of High Street with East Street, Lacock.

A shot of the Manger Barn. SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

Quilp gets off the wagon. Mons Lane and the bridge over the River Avon in Reybridge north of Lacock, Wiltshire.

A higher river. SJ

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Quilp sings on about secret gambler Edward Trent stealing his gold . . . .

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. . . and grabs a shovel from a worker.

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Quilp sings to a bull.

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  • 16 Mar 2020

Quilp storms through a churchyard . . . . . the Church of St. Cyriac on Church Street, Lacock, Wiltshire, also seen in 'The Magic Box'.

Very welcoming. SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

. . . and marches up a street. Church Street, Lacock.

Now. SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

Further along the street.

High Street, the next one south of Church Street. SJ

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  • 16 Mar 2020

Quilp shouts his song at a man in the stocks. Outside the primary school on High Street in Lacock.

How disappointing: no stocks. SJ

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Quilp heads for The Nags Head.

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Henry Trent and Kit arrive at the Shropshire sanctuary that Edward Trent has brought his ailing Granddaughter to. Following on from Tony Kent's identification of the village, this is facing northward on the lane leading to Pheasant's Hill off the main street in Hambleden, Buckinghamshire.

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The carriage passes the graveyard. The road to Pheasant's Hill in Hambleden with the Kenrick Family mausoleum in St. Mary's churchyard in the background. Other views of the village can be seen in 'Another Country', 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Child's Play', 'The Christmas Tree', 'Murder is Easy', ‘The Blue Geranium’, ‘Hampstead’, ‘The Legacy’, ‘Death on the Nile’, 'Diamonds on Wheels' and 'Dance with a Stranger'

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The carriage draws up outside the fictional St Edmund's Sanctuary in Little Crank, Shropshire where Little Nell lies dying. Looking towards St. Mary's church in Hambleden, found with help from Tony Kent.

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  • 25 Mar 2015

Kit Nubbles sings the finale outside The Old Curiosity Shop. Now this is a set and it's included for the sake of completeness. The 'real' Old Curiosity Shop stands on Portsmouth Street in London WC2.

And this the "real" thing, huddled amongst the buildings of the LSE. Some of it is quite similar to the set. SJ