Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Date: 1974
Director: Roy Boulting
Production Company: The Rank Organisation, Charter Film Productions
Stars: Peter Sellers, Lila Kedrova, Curd Jurgens, Beatrice Romand, Rex Stallings, Patricia Burke
Location(s): Hampshire, Paris, Surrey, Wallonia (Belgium)
Region(s): France, Rest Of The World, South East R-Z
Storyline:
Assisting the resistance in Nazi occupied France, a British Major is hidden in a Parisian brothel, right under the noses of the enemy.
Additional Information:
Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson
Also known as ‘Undercovers Hero’ (US Title)
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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
A montage of Parisian locations are accompanied by the North American accented voice of the Narrator (Peter Sellers) . . . "My fellow Americans, let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am not too familiar with the works of Voltaire." Hôtel de Crillon stands to the left and Hôtel de la Marine to the right in la Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
- Capture 2
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"I am all too familiar with the workings of Europe." Looking past the Maritime Fountain towards one of the Luxor Obelisks in la place de la Concorde.
- Capture 3
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"It's history, as I see, is a tape no true American would wish to erase or tamper with." The Eiffel Tower standing on Avenue Anatole France in the 7th arrondissement.
- Capture 4
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"We are anxious only to subpoena it's truths to learn it's lessons . . . And let me say this . . . " Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier, on Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.
- Capture 5
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"Before on way of the New World commit ourselves for the Europe support . . . We must with unavoidable honest . . . " Looking from Pont de la Tournelle towards Notre-Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement.
- Capture 6
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"Ask ourselves: why it takes war . . . rather then peace, to restore the greatness and renew the vigour of the Old World." Seen from Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf links L'Ile De La Cite to the left and right the banks of the Seine in Paris
- Capture 7
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As the ageing Général Latour gets into his car following a visit to Michèlle, Major Robinson (Peter Sellers) leaves the Parisian brothel run by Madame Grenier.
- Capture 8
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After Madame Grenier's cousins Jacques and Berthe bring their daughter Marie-Claude to stay with her, the young woman looks out over the city from her room in the brothel. with Saint-Eustache church in the left background, the Sacré-C?ur Basilica on Montmartre in the centre distance and Tour Saint-Jacques to the right.
- Capture 9
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The sound of marching boots drifts up from the streets.
- Capture 10
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Led by General von Grotjahn, occupying Soldiers enter Madame Grenier's premises. The Statue of Joan of Arc on Place des Pyramides in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.
- Capture 11
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At Special Operations Headquarters somewhere in England, a Brigadier (Basil Dignam) meets with Major Robinson. Outside Littleton House at Shepperton Studios in Littleton, Surrey.
- Capture 12
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A Padre (Vernon Dobtcheff) leads a funeral service as the Narrator explains "In war, as in peace, exactly where and how bodies are buried must remain a secret."
- Capture 13
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General von Grotjahn (Curd Jürgens) salutes as he prepares to leave Paris. The background has the appearance of several buildings to be found at Shepperton Studios.
- Capture 14
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The General and his Men walk towards a waiting plane as the killer flatulence pills administered to them in Madame Grenier's brothel begin to take effect.
- Capture 15
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With one of their vehicles suffering engine trouble, Kapitan Kneff and General the Prince Kyoto arrive at the remote convent where Madame Grenier, her Girls and US reporter Alan Cassidy have moved to from Paris. The Grade II listed Hawkley Hurst at Hawkley near Liss in Hampshire.
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
The bell sounds for evening meal while Cassidy sends a morse code message containing information learnt from their visitors. This is Église Saint-Éleuthère at Blandain to the east of Tournai in Wallonia, Belgium located by Richard Lovejoy.