Something to Hide

Date: 1972
Director: Alastair Reid
Production Company: Avton Films

Stars: Peter Finch, Linda Hayden, John Stride, Colin Blakeley, Shelley Winters, Jack Shepherd
Location(s): Hampshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

Beleaguered and bored council officer is run down by nagging wife, picks up a young pregnant hjtch-hiker and finds real trouble.

Additional Information:

Stills by SJ.

 

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
  • 30 Oct 2011

A mean and moody beach. Is that a pill box? There's one at Bembridge Beach on the Isle of Wight, part of Hampshire at the time of filming.

Shingle beach at entrance to Bembridge harbour on the Isle of Wight, behind the site of the Spithead Hotel. No bin, but plenty of chain-link fencing still around. The white house is visible in the background of later captures. Loz Park did the sleuthing and took the shots.

  • Capture 2
  • 30 Oct 2011

Finch's house as seen from the beach.

Looking to the right from the previous capture, a splendid, modernised and extended beach-front property. Loz Park on the case.

  • Capture 3
  • 30 Oct 2011

Looks like the Ryde ferry at Fishbourne.

Entrance ramp onto ferry at Fishbourne looking across to the opposite headland, taken from inside vehicle. Loz again.

  • Capture 4
  • 30 Oct 2011

Finch outside his council offices.

The large building is the Halland Hotel at Seaview, Isle of Wight (now demolished) Whoops! Much of the filming was done in close proximity to this building. Roger Hurst. Now the Coastal Visitors' Centre on Dudley Road, Ventnor. Loz Park 2011.

  • Capture 5
  • 30 Oct 2011

And he walks to this main road with the offices behind him. Found by Loz this is Ventnor again, just downhill from the previous view, at the bottom of Pier Street, looking towards the site of the now demolished pier.

Loz captured the location.

  • Capture 6
  • 30 Oct 2011

The Spithead Hotel. Demolished in 1989 but it used to stand at the corner of Embankment Road and Beach Road.

. . . and what's there now as proven by Loz Parks. The site of the Spithead Hotel, now luxury apartments. The public drinking fountain shown here used to stand in front of the hotel and the two large stone blocks to the left are reportedly from the original hotel building.

  • Capture 7
  • 30 Oct 2011

The front of Finch's house next to the hotel so it's Bembridge.

A side view of the house seen earlier. At the extreme right of this view by Los Park, the house still has that white drainpipe! Just as well we've enthusiastic location hunters braving the British weather whilst SJ is off sunning himself!

  • Capture 8
  • 30 Oct 2011

Finch and Shepherd and the view inland from the house. A view across the harbour entrance at Bembridge, to the opposite headland.

Despite extensive building development, the low, flat-roofed building in the centre is still identifiable. The sandy beach, at low tide, is the location of the following captures, looking back over the water to the point from which this photo was taken.

  • Capture 9
  • 27 Jul 2020

Roger Hurst. advises that this shot was filmed on the beach immediately adjacent to the Halland Hotel at Seaview adding "I was one of the Police Officers pursuing Peter Finch."

With the tide, bus timetables and redevelopment not coinciding in my favour, this is the best comparison possible. (PW)

  • Capture 10
  • 27 Jul 2020

A messy end. The beach at Seaview with the Halland Hotel in the background identified by Roger Hurst.

Sunbathers make the most of a high tide beach in front of the former site of the Halland Hotel. (PW)