Poison Pen
Date: 1939
Director: Paul L. Stein
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
Stars: Flora Robson, Robert Newton, Ann Todd, Reginald Tate
Location(s): Hertfordshire
Region(s): South East M-Q
Storyline:
Life in a peaceful village is shattered when a series of anonymous letters cause suspicion and hate to spread resulting in suicide and murder before the culprit is unveiled.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
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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
The story opens in the quiet village of Hilldale.
- Capture 2
- 01 Jun 2021
On the main street, the door bell rings as a Young Lad enters Len Griffin's Post Office and Stores to buy a ha'penny gobstopper. Antony Marr identifies this as High Street in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire adding that the large tree to the left was "Milton's Elm" which was removed in 1940.
Antony Blair captures the scene just over eighty years later.
- Capture 3
- 01 Jul 2021
The peal of bells calls the congregation to Sunday prayers. This is the tower of St. John the Baptist church in Aldenham, Hertfordshire.
The steeple appears different in Antony Blair's modern shot.
- Capture 4
- 01 Jul 2021
After many of them have received poison pen letters containing all manner of terrible allegations about the recipients, Villagers gather outside the church. St. John the Baptist church on Radlett Road in Aldenham.
There was no congregation when Antony turned up, just a line of traffic cones leading to the church.
- Capture 5
- 01 Jul 2021
Colonel (Athole Stewart) and Mrs. Cashelton (Mary Hinton) arrive for Reverend Rider's service. Looking from the church yard onto Radlett Road.
The semi-detached properties in the distance still stand but are now obscured in this view by Antony Blair's which also shows newer buildings to the left.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Carrying an alter cloth to church, Connie Fateley (Catherine Lacey) slows her pace when she spots the Villagers. Facing east on Radlett Road, now Church Lane, in Aldenham.
- Capture 7
- 01 Jul 2021
Full of suspicion, Mr. Suggs (Wally Patch), Florrie Reynolds (Eileen Beldon), Mrs. Scaife (Marjorie Rhodes) and the other Villagers stare at Connie. The lych gate of St. John the Baptist church, Aldenham.
Taken from Radlett Road, Antony Blair provides this comparison.
- Capture 8
- 01 Jul 2021
Connie approaches the lych gate where the Villagers close in on her. Looking through the lych gate of St. John the Baptist church towards the corner of still extant buildings on Radlett Road.
Antony Blair also looked through the lych gate.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Miss Mary Rider (Flora Robson) and her niece Ann Rider (Ann Todd) come across the vicious crowd as they verbally attack the seamstress. Facing south-west on Radlett Road in Aldenham, Hertfordshire.
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
After David's proposal of marriage to Ann over the telephone from Australia, she and her Aunt arrive at the station to meet him from the train. Bricket Wood station identified on the British Railway Movie Database. Other views of the station can be seen in 'The Man from Yesterday', 'Night of the Demon', 'Impact', 'Up the Creek', 'Double Confession', 'Murder in Reverse?' and 'She'll Have to Go'.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Following a hug, David (Geoffrey Toone) and Ann leave the platform with Mary. Bricket Wood station on Station Road in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire.
- Capture 12
- 01 Jun 2021
Another view of the main street appears as Mary and her Niece take David home. High Street, Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire located by Antony Marr. The street, along with other views of the village, can be seen in ‘The Black Cat’, 'The Big Job', 'Lost', 'No Smoking', 'Stranger in Town', 'Three Crooked Men' and 1971's 'Dad's Army'.
The same street, revisited by Antony Blair.