War Game, The
Date: 1966
Director: Peter Watkins
Production Company: BBC
Stars: Michael Aspel, Dick Graham (commentators)
Location(s): Kent
Region(s): South East R-Z
Storyline:
Powerful and disturbing documentary-style recreation of the effects of a nuclear attack on towns in Kent.
Additional Information:
Screen captures and uncredited now shots by Phil B.
Shot in Tonbridge, Gravesend, Chatham and Dover, using a cast recruited from the local population, and originally intended for screening on BBC television, The War Game was judged to be “too horrifying” for broadcast. It was eventually shown on television in 1985. Peter Watkins’ own account of the events can be read here: http://pwatkins.mnsi.net/warGame.htm
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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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As a police motorcycle courier proceeds in a northwesterly direction along The Brook in Chatham, Kent, we hear a radio announcer reading a news item. "London, Friday the 16th of September"
- Capture 2
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The courier approaches Chatham Town Hall. "It's just been confirmed that late last night, to show collective Communist support for the Chinese invasion of South Vietnam..."
- Capture 3
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He pulls up outside the town hall, with what is now the Armed Forces Recruitment Centre visible behind. "...the Russian and East German authorities have sealed off all access to the city of Berlin".
- Capture 4
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A Civil Defence worker marshalls a crowd of evacuees from London. Vale Road, Tonbridge, Kent.
- Capture 5
- 19 May 2024
Civil Defence and Fire Brigade outside number 123, Vale Road.
The houses have all gone now, and the road is much wider. The fronts of the houses would be roughly where the centre line now runs.
- Capture 6
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A view in the opposite direction, as Civil Defence prepare to requisition number 122.
- Capture 7
- 19 May 2024
The door of number 119, Vale Road.
About here.
- Capture 8
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A police patrol tours streets broadcasting a message. "All citizens resident within this area are requested to proceed immediately to the municipal offices for the collection of emergency identification papers and ration cards".
- Capture 9
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Trouble flares in Berlin. Other parts of the film were shot at the Grand Shaft Barracks in Dover, Kent, and this looks likely to be the barracks too.
- Capture 10
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A West German protester is manhandled by East German police.
- Capture 11
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Further along the same road as in capture 8? Sirens sound, and the police message is of a test of the emergency warning system.
- Capture 12
- 19 May 2024
A builders merchant. Residents have been given instructions for the preparation of their homes and the building of shelters. This is at the corner of Priory Road and Strawberry Vale in Tonbridge.
Still a builders merchant. Thanks to Parker Building Supplies for permission to photograph on their property.
- Capture 13
- 19 May 2024
Queues build up. The price of sand has soared to twenty-four shillings per cubic yard.
The original windows are still there, but covered by this extension. That cubic yard of sand would cost you around £75 today.
- Capture 14
- 19 May 2024
At number 118 Vale Road, one man has built a shelter in his garden, and intends to keep it to himself. The gasholders in the background belong to Tonbridge gasworks.
Where there was open land behind the houses, there is now an industrial estate. The gasholder visible here is the one on the right in the screen grab.
- Capture 15
- 19 May 2024
A GP from an Emergency Medical Aid Unit arrives outside 119 Vale Road -- here representing the fictional Berwick Street, Canterbury.
Looking east on Vale Road. The white building in the distance, just behind the triangular road sign, is one of a small number of houses that remain from before 1966, and gives an indication of the original building line.
- Capture 16
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As the doctor is leaving, sirens sound. A two-minute warning. He hurries his driver and his nurse back into the house.
- Capture 17
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Elsewhere in Kent, a small boy has been blinded by the flash of an explosion miles away.
- Capture 18
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Victims in the street. Is this Vale Road again? Actually, I think it is; the street lamp base is a good match, and it's closer to the edge of the pavement than I initially estimated.
- Capture 19
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Police warn off a photographer, but he manages to film anayway. The Grand Shaft Barracks in Dover, Kent, already partially demolished at the time of filming. This is a view south across the former parade ground, between the Officers' accommodation block on the left and the smaller of the two soldiers' accommodation blocks (Range A) on the right. The top of the Grand Shaft itself is to the right of the centre of the shot, where the larger tree is, but not visible as it lies below the level of the surrounding ground.
- Capture 20
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A consignment of firearms arrives for the police. The Grand Shaft Barracks again. From contemporary photos and the Google Earth view from 1960, this appears to be at the easternmost corner of the larger of the two soldiers' accommodation blocks.
- Capture 21
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Bodies are laid out awaiting disposal. A policeman sprinkles lime from a bucket. Grand Shaft Barracks, at the western end of soldiers' accommodation range A, with the larger block, range B, behind.
- Capture 22
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An emergency consignment of food is dropped off in an unidentified street.
- Capture 23
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Three months later, and food supplies are growing scarce.
- Capture 24
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Food riots break out.
- Capture 25
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The riots become more violent. Shots are fired, and a rioter is killed.
- Capture 26
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A police ammunition truck is hijacked and robbed, and the mob attack its driver.
- Capture 27
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Food supplies are looted. In the background stands the building that housed the Canteen and Regimental Institute at the Grand Shaft Barracks, on the southwestern side of the parade ground.
- Capture 28
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A policeman is shot.
- Capture 29
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Summary justice is administered. Two men have been arrested for looting.
- Capture 30
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The men are marched along a street.
- Capture 31
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A firing squad awaits.