Cotton Queen
Date: 1937
Director: Bernard Vorhaus, Joe Rock
Production Company: Joe Rock Productions
Stars: Will Fyffe, Stanley Holloway, Mary Lawson, Jimmy Hanley
Location(s): Lancashire
Region(s): North
Storyline:
Set in Lancashire, two rival mill owners join forces to win a contract whilst their respective off-spring fall in love.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Ray Edwards
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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
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Just after the credits disappear, we see a truck backing out from Bill Todcastle's mill. IMDB suggests Manchester as a location . . . big place Manchester.
- Capture 2
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Another lorry, belonging to rival mill owner Sam Owen, approaches the reversing truck.
- Capture 3
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Joan Todcastle (Mary Lawson), daughter of mill owner Bill Todcastle, makes her way to Owen's mill.
- Capture 4
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Joan ducks under railings.
- Capture 5
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Sam Owen's Rolls Royce arrives at his mill. Andy Cadman with his clever observation points out, unlike all other captures with terraced houses featured, the dividing wall between houses extends above the roof line. Houses in the north never have this as it was only a requirement of the 1774 London Building act. So this location is likely to be in London or the South-East.
- Capture 6
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In Jack's car, Joan arrives at the gates to the Owen mill.
- Capture 7
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The camera pans through the local streets.
- Capture 8
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The joint mills work's outing to Blackpool takes place. Andy Cadman identifies this location as Belle Vue Manchester and not Blackpool pleasure beach. 'The Bobs' rollercoaster in the background was once the fastest in the world. Life expired, it was scrapped in 1970.
- Capture 9
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On the rifle range opposite the River Caves, mill owners Bill Todcastle (Will Fyffe) and Sam Owen (Stanley Holloway) aim is off as they are slightly the worst for wear after of a few beers.
- Capture 10
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The mill owners make their way through the fair with their prizes. Andy Cadman points out that this is Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. The curved frame structure is the Gibbon house.
- Capture 11
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Both mill owners end up being taken to the police station.
- Capture 12
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Sam leaves the police station.
- Capture 13
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Having gotten into the wrong car outside the police station, the two mill owners dodge other road users as they race to get back to Blackpool.
- Capture 14
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Turning left from the previous frame, the car continues to race through the streets.
- Capture 15
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A Policeman at a crossroads holds his hand up towards the oncoming traffic.
- Capture 16
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Ignoring the Policeman, the mill owners' car drives unsteadily past.
- Capture 17
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Meanwhile, back in Blackpool. The Lancashire resort features in many films including 'Holidays with Pay', 'They Met in the Dark', ‘Forbidden’, 'The Cuckoo Patrol', 'Dual Alibi', 'The Parole Officer', ‘Dick Barton Strikes Back’, 'A Taste of Honey' and ‘Love on the Dole’. Andy Cadman once again to the rescue. This is outside the Palace Complex in Blackpool unfortunately demolished in 1962.
- Capture 18
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Modern communications for Policemen at the time. No not Dr Who's TARDIS, but a Police Box that housed a telephone which had a direct link to the local police station.
- Capture 19
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Still driving towards Blackpool, the mill owners continue their erratic journey.
- Capture 20
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This a stretch of road is driven along which a couple of times during the race to Blackpool.
- Capture 21
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A sign in the film's Little Pudbury that the mill owners choose to ignore. The fictitious village looks more 'southern' than Lancastrian. Indeed it should, for Dave Buckley tells us that it is Letchmore Heath in Hertfordshire and can similarly be seen in 'Village of the Damned', Capture 28. (RL)
- Capture 22
- 'Now' required
Driving through the village of "Little Pudbury". And once again from Dave, Letchmore Heath, Herts, Back Lane specifically that can also be seen in 'Village of the Damned', Capture 13. (RL)