Celia
Date: 1949
Director: Francis Searle
Production Company: Hammer Films
Stars: Hy Hazell, Bruce Lester, Elsie Wagstaff, John Bailey, Lockwood West, John Sharp, Joan Hickson, James Raglan, Jasmine Dee, June Elvin, Charles Paton, Grace Denbeigh-Russell, Olive Walter, Ferdy Mayne
Location(s): Berkshire, London
Region(s): London C-D, South East A-D
Storyline:
An actress, urged by her detective boyfriend, takes a job as housekeeper for a wealthy elderly woman. The woman’s new young husband claims she’s ill and refuses entry, raising suspicions about her whereabouts.
Additional Information:
Screen captures and text uploaded by Richard Lovejoy
This film is also available from the BFI shop by clicking here Celia
Picturegoer 21st May 1949 reported:
“……It would be difficult to imagine anything less like a film studio than the one which houses their production unit at Cookham in Berkshire. …..the studio perches on the highest point in the county, overlooking an impressive sweep of the Thames Valley……it is rented to them at just over £25 a week, whereas the weekly rent of some of the far-famed studios around London would be in the region of £3,000, with services extra…….”We take advantage of this house in every possible way. Soon there won’t be a corner left which has not been put to use in one production or another””.
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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
- 21 Nov 2024
The establishment of the connection to wealth is set by looking up Old Bond Street, London W1 from Piccadilly.
From ground level. SJ
- Capture 2
- 21 Nov 2024
Concentrating on a parade of shops as we watch Celia (Hy Hazell) cross the road. 28-38 New Bond Street, W1
The upper storeys remain recognisable. SJ
- Capture 3
- 21 Nov 2024
She stops to look into the window of a milliners. 'Gertrude Harris' 30 New Bond Street, W1
A change to no30's frontage, now housing Panerai. SJ
- Capture 4
- 21 Nov 2024
Something has caught her eye and whilst in the shop she is approached by her detective boyfriend Larry Peters (Bruce Lester) who talks her into assisting him with a case. 30 New Bond Street looking across to 144-5-6 New Bond Street.
Home to Gucci. SJ
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
He starts to relay events to her, commencing with the arrival of a north country couple, Mr (John Sharp) and Mrs Haldane (Joan Hickson) came to see him in his office. They had a very rich Aunt Nora (Elsie Wagstaff) who had just married a young man Lester Martin (John Bailey), young enough to be her son. The view would suggest that this entrance gate could have been on Gibraltar Lane, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berks.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
She had gone to live with him in a house called, in the film, ‘The Laurels’ and one day they paid a surprise visit, but were refused to see her. Dial Close Court, Winter Hill, Cookham, Berkshire
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
In ‘The Laurels’ tension is building between Martin and Doctor Cresswell (Lockwood West) regarding the administration of tablets to Aunt Nora. In order to find out more, Celia gains the position of temporary house keeper passing the Doctor as she arrives. Dial Close Court, Winter Hill, Cookham, Berkshire
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
Saying that he is going out for an hour Martin hurriedly returns to trap Celia disobeying his instruction not to venture near to his wife. Dial Close Court, Winter Hill, Cookham, Berkshire
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Having collected his raincoat Celia checks that he is actually leaving this time.
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
Lester Martin returns from shopping. The gates look similar to those in the previous capture but the background here appears to show either an unusually high and heavy balustrade and perhaps a viaduct. Closer inspection reveals this to be the gate to Dial Close Court at the junction with Startins Lane, which has now been replaced with a shorter version in a similar style. The viaduct feature appears in the boundary wall of the property across the road, which has been replaced with clear sky in the processing. (SR)
- Capture 11
- 21 Nov 2024
After meeting Nora, arranging her escape and feigning a fall Celia makes a run for it. Winter Hill looking west with ‘Dovecote’ to the left. Opposite Dial Close Court.
The view today in the winter sunshine. Wheelie bins add a splash of modern colour. (SR)
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
The plan to establish the truth gets underway. Dial Close Court, Winter Hill, Cookham, Berkshire
- Capture 13
- 21 Nov 2024
Having earned £50 from her work for Peters and a further £100 from Aunt Nora, Celia soon returns to New Bond Street looking north……
Hard to achieve the elevation to make this comparison meaningful. SJ
- Capture 14
- 21 Nov 2024
…….and the milliners. 31 New Bond Street looking north.
The east side of the street. Pomellato currently occupies 31. SJ