Road Builder, The

Date: 1971
Director: Alastair Reid
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios, Tacitus Productions, Yongestreet

Stars: Patricia Neal, Pamela Brown, Graham Crowden, Jean Anderson, Peter Salis, Yootha Joyce, Brigit Forsyth, Zoe Alexander, Nicholas Clay
Location(s): Berkshire, Cornwall, Northamptonshire

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

In their decaying mansion, a middle-aged spinster cares for her blind, domineering mother until a young stranger appears looking for work as a handyman.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

Also known as ‘The Night Digger’ (US Title)

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Rain pours down on traffic as it passes below the window of a room where Maura Prince is teaching stroke victim Jane to speak.

Declining the offer of a full time job at the hospital, the spinster heads home to where her domineering mother Edith is waiting. Looking across at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire.

A clearer view of Windsor Castle taken by Steve Randall from. he thinks, the same position.

The rain continues as Maura's bus approaches the stop near home. Looking from Meadow Lane, Windsor with Atherton Court flats in the background.

Atherton Court flats today, in Steve Randall's closer shot.

Alighting from the bus, Maura walks the last few yards to The Towers. The often used Oakley Court on Windsor Road, Water Oakley in Berkshire.

Many changes with the greenhouse long gone. SJ

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With the light failing, Billy Jarvis (Nicholas Clay) rides through the downpour.

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The rain diminishes as the friend of Geoff Bolton approaches The Towers. Meadow Lane, Windsor.

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Riding past a motorway construction sign, Billy enters the driveway of the Prince's home to ask for work after Mr. Bolton's nephew let them down. Looking towards the gateway of Oakley Court on Windsor Road, Water Oakley with the Lodge inside the perimeter to the left. The location also features in 'Ghost of a Chance'.

Edith Prince (Pamela Brown) comes out of the decaying mansion. Oakley Court, Water Oakley in Berkshire.

Best taken a little later when the sun's swung around. SJ

On the roof, Billy Jarvis is already at work making repairs. Oakley Court can be seen in many productions including 'What the Butler Saw', 'The Gambler and the Lady', 'Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly', ‘The Man from Nowhere’, 'Oxford', ‘The Brides of Dracula’ and 'Witchcraft'.

The pots on the chimney stack have gone. SJ

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On Sunday at church, the Congregation sing 'Onward, Christian Soldiers'. Alan Bourke found St. Uny's church in Lelant near St. Ives in Cornwall which is confirmed by Paul Brennan and Duncan Hill discovered that the St. Ives Times & Echo announced on 12 November 1970 that Patricia Neal was scheduled to arrive in the area the following week to commence location shooting.

Following Reverend Palafox's sermon, Mrs. Millicent McMurtrey (Jean Anderson) catches up with Maura Prince (Patricia Neal) and her Mother as they leave. St. Michael’s church in Bray, Berkshire.

Steve Randall revisited the location.

Mr. Bolton (Graham Crowden) wishes the three ladies a "Good Morning". Looking across the grave yard at St. Michael’s church in Bray with the Vicarage in the right distance.

The scene now by Steve Randall.

The Congregation disperses as Edith lies to Mr. Bolton that Billy is a distant relation from Cheshire. Other views of St. Michael’s church can be seen in ‘Four Sided Triangle’, ‘There's a Girl in My Soup’, ‘Paranoiac’, ‘The Man from Nowhere’, ‘Happy is the Bride’ and ‘Death of an Angel’.

Taken later in the day. SJ

Edith asks where Mrs. Palafox is as she wants to discuss the bazaar. St. Michael’s church in Bray, Berkshire.

Antony Blair arrived in the churchyard 51 years later.

Across the churchyard Billy stares as Mary Wingate (Diana Patrick) gets into the Meadowbrook Nursery School minibus. The view from the church yard of St. Michael’s, Bray located by Steve Randall.

Unfortunately, the near headstone has toppled in Steve's proving shot.

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A flashback recalls Billy's youth and a time when he was raped by Gipsy Women on his way home from school.

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Arriving at Meadowbrook School one night, Billy makes his way inside before raping and killing Mary.

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At the nearby motorway construction site, Workmen cover up the evidence of Billy’s crime.

Birds sing as Edith sits reading a Braille book while Billy fixes a derelict arbour. Oakley Court on Windsor Road, Water Oakley.

A tad off-angle but the arbour was not fixed sufficiently to survive. SJ

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Describing what he's planted alongside the pathway, Billy leads Edith through the grounds of the house. Oakley Court in Berkshire.

The District Nurse (Brigit Forsyth) glances across at Billy as she leaves The Towers.

The greenhouses have made way for parking. SJ

Dr. Ronnie Robinson drives Maura home from hospital after her Mother suffers a heart attack while Billy tails the District Nurse following her evening visit to the house. With Burton Tailoring next door to Marks & Spencer, Andrew Price recognised the location as High Street in Slough, Berkshire.

Steve Randall returned to Slough's High Street.

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Frogmen search for the missing Nurse. Recognised by Phil Evans, this is the Temple on the bank of the Round Oval at Althorp Park in Northamptonshire.

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The camera pans right to reveal Police cars and and ambulance. The Round Oval at Althorp Park located by Phil Evans.

Maura crosses the road after a visit to Edith during which the old woman demands that Billy is sent away. High Street in Windsor, Berkshire with Thames Street in the background. Other views of Thames Street and High Street appear in 'The Stranger Left No Card', 'No Sex Please, We’re British', 'The Cherry Picker', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Carry On Loving'.

Steve Randall captures a fair weather view of Windsor High Street.

Leaving her Mother in tears after telling her that if Billy goes she will also go, Maura joins the queue at a bus stop. High Street, Windsor with the wall of St. John the Baptist churchyard to the left.

The bus stop has become a bus shelter in Steve Randall's view.

Maura spots a newspaper headline about the missing Nurse. High Street with St. John the Baptist church in the background.

The same background by Steve Randall.

Leaving the queue, Maura walks slowly away. The corner of High Street and Church Lane in Windsor with the Guildhall to the right.

Steve Randall captured the view on a drier day.

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Withdrawing all of her savings from the bank, Maura and Billy move to Cornwall. Facing north from the B3306, east of Vennor, Cornwall, towards Trevega Cliffs. Viewed from near the 'Eagles Nest', former home of artist Patrick Heron. (SD)

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Billy's motorbike leans against the side of a remote cottage. Veor Cottage, on the Carnelloe Cliff, Vennor, near to St. Ives, Cornwall. (SD)

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Maura comes out of the cottage into the yard where Billy is tending sheep. Veor Cottage, Vennor. (SD)

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After a hard day's work, the couple watch a beautiful sunset. Gurnard's Head, viewed from Carnelloe Cliff. (SD)

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The pair enjoy their blissful new life together. Carnelloe Cliff viewed from Porthglaze Cove. (SD)

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Walking along a cliff top path, Maura comes across Jenny (Jenny McCracken) who has lost her dog. Boswednack Cliff, facing Carnelloe Cliff. (SD)

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Jenny looks across at her house while explaining to Maura that her husband Danny is away at the market. Facing south west from Boswednack Cliff. The cottage is situated at Gurnard's Head, north of the hamlet of Treen. It is now a holiday cottage called Chy Barnett. (SD)

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Finding the cottage empty on her return, Maura walks along the cliffs. Zennor Head and Pendour Cove viewed from Carnelloe Cliff. (SD)