Back Room Boy

Date: 1942
Director: Herbert Mason
Production Company: Gainsborough Pictures

Stars: Arthur Askey, Googie Withers, Joyce Howard, Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott
Location(s): Cornwall

Region(s):

Storyline:

A lowly BBC employee pulls a prank at the studio and finds himself transferred to an isolated island where he is to set up a weather station in a lighthouse.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded 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
  • 18 Jul 2014

The BBC offices in war torn London where Arthur Pilbeam carries out work of national importance, sending out the time signal every hour. Broadcasting House on Portland Place W1 which is seen in many other productions including ‘You Made Me Love You’, ‘Death at Broadcasting House’, 'Helter Skelter', ‘Once a Jolly Swagman’, ‘The Day the Earth Caught Fire’, ‘Band Wagon’, ‘No Trace’, ‘The Happy Family’, ‘Mother Riley Meets the Vampire’, ‘The Oracle’, ‘The Last Man to Hang’ and ‘Give My Regards To Broad Street’.

I am still not sure how they managed that angle but maybe without traffic I could have experimented further. (RL)

  • Capture 2
  • 14 Feb 2016

The port in the Orrey Islands, forty miles off the coast of Scotland, where Arthur has been transferred to a weather station after playing a tune with the 'pips' when jilted by his girlfriend. St. Ives in Cornwall.

Lionel and Cynthia Sear provide this shot taken from Malakoff Bus Station with a similar sky. (RL)

  • Capture 3
  • 14 Feb 2016

A car takes the 'back room boy' to an inn where he hears tales of mermaids and kelpies. Looking towards The Wharf from Fore Street in St. Ives, confirmed by Jeremy Matthews.

Lionel and Cynthia used the same location to take this shot for us. (RL)

  • Capture 4
  • 14 Feb 2016

Arthur Pilbeam (Arthur Askey) is taken across to the remote lighthouse where he will be the only resident. A back projection of Godrevy lighthouse off Gwithian in Cornwall. Location identified by Jeremy Matthews.

Lionel and Cynthia provide this shot of the lighthouse taken from Carbis Bay at extreme range on a dull day to prove the identification and are happy to have it overwritten by someone on a boat trip to Seal Island . . . . . or by whoever has a drone!

  • Capture 5
  • 'Now' required

After the enemy arrive on the island, Arthur, Jerry, Albert and a bevvy of girls that have ended up on the remote rock set out to sea in the foreigners launch.