Keep, The
Date: 1983
Director: Michael Mann
Production Company: Paramount Pictures, Associated Capital, Capital Equipment Leasing
Storyline:
Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.
Additional Information:
Original screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson, replaced by HD 720p copies kindly provided by Stewart Buck who is currently working on a documentary about this, Michael Mann’s lost epic. (June 2020).
William G has done considerable work concerning the location filming prompted by the possibility of a new hydo electric scheme being built perilously close by. The quarry, near Llanberis, North Wales, in which it was filmed can be found on Google Earth. The whole quarry is now full of bushes and trees, although the remains of the Bridge where Ian McKellen and his wheel chair went over into the Keep can still be seen. The Google co-ordinates are: 53 deg. 07’29.08 N 4 deg. 08’46.65 W
It is sometimes reported that The Keep was filmed in Glyn Rhonwy quarry but William advises that Glyn Rhonwy refers to several quarries not just one. The Keep quarry is situated 1m to the west of Ffordd Clegir Road crash barrier wall. On top was a fence, then a shear drop into the quarry. William visited the quarry one year before Paramount arrived and two weeks of the three weeks of filming. He has extensive notes and photographs taken at the time.
Over a period of time William has been making his notes and photographs available to ourselves and Stewart Buck to the extent that there is now a comprehensive record of his experiences. He has now kindly agreed that we may make these available. There are two documents, both in pdf format, one entitled My Memories and the other My Photographs.
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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
Sometime during 1941, troops move into the Dinu Pass in the Carpathian Alps, Romania. Detail with regard to the location, provided by William G, can be read in the Header Section. William advises that the rocks seen in this capture are real and that the church was built over a pile of slate, with only enough room for the vicar to go half a step inside. (RL)
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
However, Wikipedia identifies the location as Glyn Rhonwy quarry near Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales. More exact detail regarding the location can be read in the Header Section. With regard to this capture William advises "The pub balcony, was used when there was no filming, by a lady, typing out the Scripts? Only part of the pub still left, are the concrete stairs. Again, all the rocks are real! The wooden grab rails in the foreground belong to the bridge leading into the keep." (RL)
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
Captain Klaus Woermann (Jürgen Prochnow) makes his way into 'The Keep'. "The heavy duty wooden bridge is still there today, over the bottomless ravine……..actually 2 metres deep! says William. (RL)
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
In Greece, Glaeken Trismegestus (Scott Glenn) sets out for 'The Keep'. This is obviously not Wales, it's an unidentified location in Spain. If it is any consolation William doesn't recognise this either. (RL)
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
A detachment of SS and Gestapo troops led by Sturmbannführer Eric Kaempffer arrive in the pass. In many respects this should be 001 says William as it was taken from the lift, the main access into The Keep, quarry. He adds "The lift was located to the far left of the quarry. Entrance to it from the public road Ffordd Clegir. To the rear of the lift, is the shear wall of the quarry. The buildings are REAL. Foundations of which could still be seen many years later till the forest completely obscured them and the rest of the quarry. The rock wall upper left is real as is the square hole, an entrance to another quarry. The church at the back is a total sham!" (RL)
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Sturmbannführer Kaempffer orders his vehicle to be driven towards the citadel. The buildings were all sets built in the Glyn Rhonwy quarry, Gwynedd.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Dr. Theodore Cuza (Ian McKellen) leaves 'The Keep'. The bridge referred to in Capture 2. (RL)