Channel Crossing

Date: 1933
Director: Milton Rosmer
Production Company: Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Stars: Matheson Lang, Constance Cummings, Anthony Bushell, Nigel Bruce
Location(s): Kent, Pas-de-Calais (France)

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A financier carrying forged stock crosses the English Channel by steamer to avoid being discovered.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

 

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The feature opens with a grainy view of Dover in Kent as seen from the White Cliffs above the Strait of Dover.

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Nautical goings on are depicted in the Channel port. This is looking across the Outer Harbour with Dover Marine railway station in the left background.

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TS Canterbury waits at the quayside. The ship was launched in 1928 and served as a cross channel ferry and troop ship throughout its life until being sold for scrapping in 1965.

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A train heads towards the channel port with the character of Jacob Van Eeden on board. This appears to be the railway between Abbotscliffe and Shakespeare Tunnel. If so, the train is heading away from Dover.

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On Admiralty Pier, railway freight vans are emptied and their cargo loaded onto the ship.

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The train reaches Dover Marine railway station. The station opened to passengers in 1919 and was renamed Dover Western Docks in 1979.

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Another character arrives at the port by motor car.

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The locomotive brings the train into Platform 4 at the station. After the station closed towards the end of 1994, the trainshed was converted for use as a Cruise Liner Terminal.

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Passengers make for the ferry. This may be a set as the platforms at Dover Marine station were islands, thus there would be no access to the quayside without crossing tracks.

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The whistle sounds as TS Canterbury prepares to set sail.

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The ship heads out into the English Channel. The end of the Prince of Wales Pier in Dover Harbour.

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The ferry lands at its Continental destination. Filling the view is La Gare Maritime in Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France. The first station opened with the ferry terminal in 1849 to be replaced forty years later.

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La Gare Maritime on the north side of the tidal harbour. The station was destroyed during World War II and passenger services were eventually withdrawn in 1995.

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Looking back at Calais-Maritime Station, Calais, Pas-de-Calais as the ferry departs.

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It seems that the crew and cast took a non landing trip as TS Canterbury leaves Calais with the only shots of France having been taken from deck. This appears to be the lighthouse at the end of the East Pier at Calais.

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Home shores are reached as the ferry passes the lighthouse at the end of Dover’s Admiralty Pier Extension. I wonder if the stars bought any duty free goods on board!