Long Rope, The (aka Large Rope, The)
Date: 1953
Director: Wolf Rilla
Production Company: Victor Hanbury Productions as Insignia
Stars: Donald Houston, Susan Shaw, Robert Brown
Location(s): Turville, Buckinghamshire
Region(s): South East E-L
Storyline:
Having been framed for a crime Tom Penney returns to his home village having served his time in prison. There he is considered to be a crook and is treated like an outcast, particularly when a murder occurs in the town and everyone accuses him. Even the police believe he is guilty and a hunt is initiated but by a small piece of fortune he finds evidence that incriminates the real killer and it is a race against time for him to confront them before he is caught.
Additional Information:
Screen captures and uncredited now shots uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
Can you help:
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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
- 'Now' required
Tom (Donald Houston) is given a lift home after being discharged from prison. Supposedly the northern side of Cobstone windmill and he clambers up a bank to it. (RL)
- Capture 2
- 05 Dec 2015
After he is dropped off he is shown climbing the steep embankment. There is no such steep climb from the road.Cobstone Mill, Turville Hill, Buckinghamshire.
I CAN confirm that the steep climb is actually on the opposite side of the mill.
- Capture 3
- 05 Dec 2015
And looks down on his home village of Turville.
On my way back down.
- Capture 4
- 05 Dec 2015
The village copper Alfred Hamble (Carl Bernard) starts his round of upsetting the locals.
I wonder when they last had a village copper?
- Capture 5
- 05 Dec 2015
He moves on.
And so did I.
- Capture 6
- 05 Dec 2015
Gets a disdainful look from the village shopkeeper as he passes.
That door is now a window.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Arriving at the village police house. I never found this and wonder if it was demolished for new development, perhaps a "local" can help on this one.
- Capture 8
- 05 Dec 2015
Having registered with the local police Tom walks back through the village.
Pity about all the parking.
- Capture 9
- 05 Dec 2015
Tom heads off through the village to visit his mother.
About to enter School Lane.
- Capture 10
- 05 Dec 2015
Passing the house of Jeff Stribling (Peter Byrne) on the way.
A reverse POV from School Lane.
- Capture 11
- 05 Dec 2015
He arrives at his mother’s.
Even that end top window was kept open for me to match the screen shot.
- Capture 12
- 05 Dec 2015
Having seen Tom as he walked through the village a villager rushes off to the pub to spread the news.
I didn't see anyone rushing when I was there.
- Capture 13
- 05 Dec 2015
Amy Jordan who was the cause of Tom’s wrongful imprisonment visits the pub.
Difficult to replicate that "High Noon" feel these days.
- Capture 14
- 05 Dec 2015
Amy Jordan sends a note to Jeff who is about to marry Susan Hamble (Susan Shaw) who was Tom’s girlfriend before he “went inside”.
The properties all remain very much the same.
- Capture 15
- 05 Dec 2015
Mick Jordan (Robert Brown) provokes Tom who hits him and is then followed out of the pub by him. The pub, along with other views of Turville, can be seen in 'A Yank in Ermine', 'Calendar Girls', 'Father Came Too', 'The Long Rope', 'Dead of Night', 'The Pumpkin Eaters' as well as many other productions.
"The Bull & Butcher" renamed for the film.
- Capture 16
- 05 Dec 2015
Jeff who went for his rendezvous with Amy is late returning for his wedding to Susan.
I could only muster a crowd of two.
- Capture 17
- 05 Dec 2015
Susan and her father, Alfred Hamble (Carl Bernard) arrive at the church.
That old gate obviously went eventually.
- Capture 18
- 05 Dec 2015
News comes quickly that Amy has been found dead.
That's the footpath up to the mill if you are ready for it.
- Capture 19
- 05 Dec 2015
Having heard the news Susan rushes from the church before the service has even started.
A very quaint church is St. Mary's.
- Capture 20
- 05 Dec 2015
Whilst the police disperse the angry villagers Tom makes a run for it followed by all and sundry.
I am sure that police house must have been around here somewhere.
- Capture 21
- 05 Dec 2015
Tom finds a convenient cart to block his escape path.
That bay window is behind the hedge....honest!
- Capture 22
- 05 Dec 2015
Seeking refuge in an house, the lady screams so he makes an hasty exit closely followed by the villagers and the police.
I cannot believe that I missed this shot so Google has agreed to kindly stand in for the time being. Mine would, of course, have been a better angle.
- Capture 23
- 05 Dec 2015
Once again Tom seeks refuge but this time in the old mill where Mick Jordan is waiting for him and in conversation admits to killing his wife. Shortly after the police arrive.
The windmill is now on private land and this is the best "landscape" shot that I could get through the only hole in the fence.