Return to Yesterday
Date: 1940
Director: Robert Stevenson
Production Company: CAPAD, Ealing Studios
Stars: Clive Brook, Anna Lee, May Whitty, Hartley Power, Milton Rosmer
Location(s): Devon, London
Region(s): London R-S, South West
Storyline:
Robert Maine is torn between returning to the glamour of Hollywood or working with a small theatre company in England and rekindle his happy carefree days. When she falls in love with Maine, Carol has the same dilemma.
Additional Information:
Screen and “Now” captures 1, 4, 8 and 10 provided by James and Chris Churcher, those and other screen captures uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
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.
- Capture 1
- 27 May 2018
An overview of the town of Teignmouth (Torracombe in the film) to set the location.
A little changed vista.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
A cove appears behind a further credit.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
An entertainment location unidentified.
- Capture 4
- 27 May 2018
The Town and pier from Eastcliff Walk. A similar view was seen in 'Press for Time'.
The jetty to the pier was removed in 1940 during World War II to prevent its use by the Germans, which reduced the pier's length by 75ft.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Robert Maine (Clive Brook) is to travel to the films Torracombe (Teignmouth) and an adoring crowd gathers. Paddington Station.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
A further view of Paddington Station whilst the awaiting crowds are instructed.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Eventually Maine boards unnoticed and the train departs. Bishop’s Road Bridge, London W2 as seen from Platform 4? Views of the station feature in many other productions including 'West 11', The Mind Benders’, ‘Last Night in Soho’, ‘Murder She Said’, ‘The Bank Job’, ‘The Last Journey’, ‘The Long Good Friday’, ‘A Run for Your Money’, 'Layer Cake', ‘A Severed Head’, 'Joanna' and ‘Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery’.
- Capture 8
- 27 May 2018
A King Class (on a Plymouth working) heading along the sea wall section between Parsons Tunnel and Teignmouth station. This footage also appears in 'Ghost Train' (1941) and 'Another Time Another Place'.
An excellent comparison shot of this memorable track location.
- Capture 9
- 04 May 2021
Enjoying a home made Cornish Pasty with the Guard, Robert sees Teignmouth Pier from the carriage.
Enjoying a cheese sandwich without the Guard, I took a view of the pier from almost the same angle. (PW)
- Capture 10
- 27 May 2018
Having realised that he was perhaps happier before he became famous he pulls the communication chord and after the train stops he leaves the train to embark upon a “Return to Yesterday”. This footage also appears in 'Ghost Train' (1941). Andrew tells us that this is specifically Red Rock, Dawlish Warren which precedes the point at which he looks out of the carriage window (previous capture) to Teignmouth pier so those two shots have been ‘reversed’!
Dawlish Warren looking towards Dawlish town by the GWR main line to Devon and Cornwall taken from Langston Rock.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Peter Thropp (David Lee) who’s play is scheduled at the local theatre and his girlfriend Carol Sands (Anna Lee) return to the boarding house at which they are staying.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
Morrison (David Horne) the play producer calls upon Maine’s agent to tell him about the play he was now involved with in Torracombe. To check whether he did leave on the “Nomadic” he calls the shipping lines clerk Fred Glover (Eliot Makeham) at his home. Unknown location.
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
After rehearsal Maine takes Carol on a trip to the local Tuesday Island. Andrew Fiderkieiwcz advises that in reality this is Ore Stone, an island off Hope's Nose, Torquay.
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
They successfully negotiate the small channel but then crash into a rock!
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
They try in vain to attract the attention of a passing DH82A Tiger Moth Regn: G-AFSS (But how they eventually return remains a mystery!). Andrew believes that the biplane is really flying near Ore Stone Rock as the view is of Teignmouth, probably from Marine Drive, Torquay. Haldon Hill is behind Teignmouth and the Ness headland, which is also prominent in the pier shots but from the other direction, is between the camera and the town.
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
Despite Robert being told by his agent that he cannot perform due to his contract he decides to proceed and the first performance is a sell out. Teignmouth pier looking inland toward the apartments in Den Crescent.
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
Robert decides to return to America alone and is seen off by fellow cast member Mrs Truscott (Dame May Whitty). James Churcher advises that this is Ealing Broadway station, looking towards West Ealing, and he believes that the camera position was on the Main Line platforms as opposed to the slower Relief Line platforms.