Next of Kin
Date: 1942
Director: Thorold Dickinson
Production Company: Ealing
Stars: Mervyn Johns, Jack Hawkins, Nova Pilbeam, Geoffrey Hibbert
Location(s): Cornwall, London
Region(s): London M-N, South West
Storyline:
Keep quiet, she’s not dumb. Careless talk costs lives. Off chance remarks lead to the failure of a British raid on a French town.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by SJ
In their efforts to establish the locations used in this film, Lionel and Cynthia Sear came across a superb video on YouTube by ‘Phil of Cornwall’ that provided all the answers. As they say, it might be described as ReelStreeting with an extra dimension.
This was an important film in its day and Winston Churchill pulled it from the cinemas for a time due to its uncanny parallels with the raid on St Nazaire.
Phil’s excellent video can be viewed by clicking here.
And Alison Catt adds, “At 1hr 15 into the film there are a couple of shots of a house with 2 army cars outside and 3 army personnel. Heligan House now stands in the middle of Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan.” So perhaps we shall capture that scene too.
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Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
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
Lionel and Cynthia advise that this is Penrice House which is just to the west of Porthpean. Penrice House is a private care home approached by a private drive but perhaps they might be amenable to a polite approach. (From threads elsewhere we know that they are concerned about their security/privacy and staff/residents are told to warn people off.) (RL)
- Capture 2
- 26 Jul 2015
A town/big village centre... now found and can be seen by clicking the date.
Dave Wilson replaces Howard Berry's Google shot with one of his own. St Austell, Cornwall, taken from the churchyard of holy Trinity Church, looking up to the junction of East Hill and South Street. Left hand building originally The St Austell Bank, then the NatWest. (RL)
- Capture 3
- 26 Jul 2015
Panning left to Whitehaven.
The White Hart Inn, Church Street, St Austell (immediately behind the cameraman in Nxk002 above). Howard also found this one, and Dave Wilson replaces the Google image with one of his own. (RL)
- Capture 4
- 04 Jul 2019
Not a very clear bit of wall and a sign Western something. No clue on the location, but the board is a timetable board for The Western National Omnibus Company. Howard Berry. Pentewan Square, Mevagissey.
Lionel and Cynthia acknowledge that they would never have found this without help of Phil's Cornwall's video, for which they give grateful thanks. (See Header Section for further details) Pentewan Square where the couple are about to go up Pentewan Hill. The bus timetable would have been attached to the pole extant there at the time.
- Capture 5
- 04 Jul 2019
Pilbeam and Hibbert overlooking a headland, possibly the Polkerris/Menabilly area. Coastal footpath at Trenarren looking over St. Austell Bay at Gribben Head.
Lionel and Cynthia's feelings for this location was confirmed by Phil's video that this is on the coastal footpath at Trenarren looking over St. Austell Bay at Gribben Head. (RL)
- Capture 6
- 06 Sep 2010
Kingsway. The next cut is the sign Adastral House, the Air Ministry HQ, OK no actors but a nice bit of WWII history and some good Latin (per ardua ad astra). It then became Television House and then St Catherine's House (the General Register Office before it moved) which featured in Secrets and Lies.
Still looks exactly the same today. image copyright Google Maps. Terry Guntrip.
- Capture 7
- 16 Jun 2010
Mevagissey dressed as the "harbour of Norville in occupied France".
Now. SJ.
- Capture 8
- 16 Jun 2010
Mevagissey.
Jetty wall obscured with harbour paraphernalia. SJ.
- Capture 9
- 16 Jun 2010
Mevagissey.
Much loved easy quay pathway also seen in Johnny Frenchman and Never Let Me Go. SJ.
- Capture 10
- 16 Jun 2010
Mevagissey maybe.
Definitely so, but there's no arch. SJ.
- Capture 11
- 04 Jul 2019
Howard Berry identifies this as Valley Road in Mevagissey, the church is just visible behind the white building on the right.
The soldiers were on the roof of Driftwoods and Lionel and Cynthia Sear provide the "now" shot to replace the Google Earth View provided by Howard back in 2012. They tell us that this is River Street leading north west out of Mevagissey before it becomes the B3273. It had to be taken from ground level as we didn't think Digby's would welcome us climbing on the roof. For once you are not risking life and limb for us. (RL)
- Capture 12
- 04 Jul 2019
River Street near the junction with Fore Street and Church Street, Mevagissey.
Lionel and Cynthia replace the Google Earth View provided by Dean that has out stood since 2012. River Street near the junction with Fore Street and Church Street (RL)