Sound Barrier, The
Date: 1952
Director: David Lean
Production Company: London Film Productions
Stars: Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, Nigel Patrick, Leslie Phillips, Dinah Sheridan
Location(s): Hampshire, Surrey
Region(s): South East R-Z
Storyline:
Man’s efforts to fly even faster. A gripping yarn.
Additional Information:
Also known as ‘Breaking the Sound Barrier’ (US Title)
Jimmy Snow worked on special effects at both Pinewood and Denham Studios but a name that often remained uncredited, as with this film. An interesting Biography and her Memories of him has been written for us by his granddaughter Brigitte, all of which can be read here.
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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
- 21 Sep 2024
Pending an update to this film's page, this is the home of John Ridgefield where Tony and Susan Garthwaite return to after their wedding. Bertrum Muffet identifies this as Farnborough Hill on Farnborough Road, Farnborough in Hampshire.
The location now, revisited by Mark Dakin.
- Capture 2
- 21 Sep 2024
Tony carries Susan from the car. Farnborough Hill in Hampshire located by Bertrum Muffet and confirmed by Duncan Hill.
Mark Dakin admits that the angle isn't as good as he wanted due to the amount of mature vegetation that now dominates the view from the wall looking out across the car park.
- Capture 3
- 06 Oct 2021
Brendan Bruce advises that this is outside the Regal cinema in New Zealand Avenue, Walton on Thames. Russ Williamson adds that the cinema and buildings to the left were demolished in the 1970s to make way for a shopping centre but they, in turn, were redeveloped in the 90s. The location was also seen in 'The Price of Silence', 'Rag Doll', 'Mother Riley Meets the Vampire' and 'The Third Alibi'. (RL)
A pity about the scaffolding and distant trees which obscure the view taken by Nick Boorman.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Your guess . . .
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
. . . is as good as mine.
- Capture 6
- 29 Sep 2024
David Green tells us that the building in the centre background is the National Provincial Bank on High Street, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. The former bank is currently occupied by an Estate Agent and also appears in 'You Pay Your Money'.
Taken from across the street to get a view of the surviving building, Nick Boorman replaces David Green's earlier Google image with this original.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Finally, this photograph has been sent to us from Paul Harris who advises that it ". . . was taken at Chilbolton Airfield, north east of Stockbridge, Hampshire in 1951, a year before the film’s release. The location was used for some of the flying sequences and at the time was operated by Vickers Armstrong (Supermarine). My father, George Harris, worked for Vickers Armstrong and was at the airfield when filming took place and here he can be seen sitting in the cockpit of the Swift aircraft which was used in the film. Ann Todd is in the centre of the shot, towards the back holding a dog, and David Lean is 11th from the right, in the front row. Other people appearing in the picture are film crew members and Airfield employee’s."