Blackball

Date: 2003
Director: Mel Smith
Production Company: Midfield Films, Icon Entertainment Intl., Isle of Man Film

Stars: Paul Kaye, James Cromwell, Alice Evans, Bernard Cribbins, Johnny Vegas, Vince Vaughn, Imelda Staunton
Location(s): Devon, Isle of Man, London

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

A rebellious young British bowls player who prefers to play by his own rules teams up with an older and more traditional player to challenge the Australian bowls team. Before long the young rebel is upsetting the sedate English sport with comedic results.

Additional Information:

Screen captures and uncredited now shots by Dave Wilson and uploaded by Richard Lovejoy

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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.

Torbay Road, Torquay sea front.

And now, should there be lines on a bowling green?

King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man.

A newer building has been inserted into the road. (PW)

King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man.

Modern play equipment in now in place. (PW)

King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man.

The background buildings have all been replaced. (PW)

Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay sea front.

On a quieter day.

The Chippenham Hotel, 207 Shirland Road, London W9.

Hard times for the place now. SJ

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Unknown location.

Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay sea front.

Roll on Summer.

Torquay Pavilion.

In daylight 13 years on.

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Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay sea front.

Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay sea front.

Not such free access these days.

Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay sea front.

I am sure it will be busier in the Summer.

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Central Promenade in Douglas. The promenade was also seen in 'No Limit' and, from a distance, 'Holidays with Pay'.

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Possibly The Kings Drive, Torquay.

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Peter Brown identifies this as King William's College, Castletown, Isle of Man and advises that it is famous for the "impossible" annual quiz in 'The Guardian'. (RL)

Torbay Road, Torquay.

Captured with the tide out.

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King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man.

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King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man. (Houses now demolished).

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King Williams Way, Castletown, Isle of Man.

Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man. Again seen in 'No Limit' from 1935.

The whole of the sea front in Douglas is in the process of being refurbished. (PW)

Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man.

With much else obscured, the War Memorial to the right confirms the location. (PW)

The Sefton Hotel, Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man.

Access was through a side door at the time of my visit. (PW)

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Martin Grindrod helps us finally identify the location of this shot. This is Clifton Road in Port St Mary, a village district in the south-west of the Isle of Man. This shot was tricky to find as it is part of a sequence where the next shot of the car is on a road in Torquay, 626km away!

The same coastal formation appears in the background in Lon Pinkerton's shot.

Torbay Road, Torquay.

Now with less traffic.

Torbay Road, Torquay

13 years on.

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Torquay sea front.

The River Thames as it flows through London with the Hungerford and Golden Jubilee bridges in the foreground.

John Harwood launched his drone for this tasty shot. (SJ)

Savoy Hotel, London WC2

Peter recreates the shot.

Torquay Harbour.

Few available moorings it would seem.

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Unknown location.

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Unknown location.

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Unknown location.

Torbay Road, Torquay.

A similar comparative shot, slightly earlier in the day.

Torbay Road, Torquay sea front.

So has that seat been taken away?

Torbay Road, Torquay sea front.

The keep left sign is not as white and bright.

Torbay Road, Torquay sea front.

He must have been hiding that palm tree!

Torbay Road, Torquay sea front.

No, it is not as white.

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Dolphin Court Road, Paignton.

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Dolphin Court Road, Paignton.

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Central Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man (same as blkball016)

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Torbay Bowls Club, with Torbay Road in the background.

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Unknown location.

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Unknown location.