Temptation Harbour

Date: 1947
Director: Lance Comfort
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Stars: Robert Newton, William Hartnell, Simone Simon
Location(s): Kent, Sussex

Region(s):

Storyline:

Witnessing the death of a man during a fight on a quayside, a Signalman recovers a suitcase full of banknotes from the water and decides to keep it.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

Also known as ‘Temptation Harbor’ (US Title)

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Watched by railway signalman Bert Mallison, Jim Brown (William Hartnell) disembarks from a ferry after being seen to throw a suitcase to his accomplice Teddy on the quayside. Folkestone Harbour in Kent advises the Hawkinge Gazette.

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Having witnessed Teddy being thrown into the harbour during a fight with Jim on the quayside, Bert Mallison (Robert Newton) heads home after his night shift.

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Bert hides the suitcase full of banknotes that was thrown to Teddy as he walks between stabled railway wagons. Looking landward on Folkestone Harbour Pier, now known as Folkestone Harbour Arm.

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Glancing around, Bert notices Jim peering down into the water. Folkestone Harbour Pier in Kent.

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  • 08 Jun 2019

Bert makes his way to the police station intent on handing over the case full of money. Facing south on East Cliff in Rye, Sussex.

Parked cars line the curving roadway now. (PW)

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  • 08 Jun 2019

A Friend passes on his cart and asks Bert if he would like a lift. East Cliff in Rye with Tower Place to the top right.

I wonder if those are the same net curtains in the left window! (PW)

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  • 08 Jun 2019

Still holding the suitcase, Bert jumps up onto the cart and is driven home. East Cliff with the junction of Tower Street and Landgate seen through Landgate Arch.

A not so sunny day when I arrived on the scene. (PW)

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Jim books a room at the Bedford Hotel. More than likely a set.

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Bert heads to Frost's butchers shop where his daughter Betty works. Surely this looks a little too medieval to be a real street.

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After being treated to a visit to the fairground, Betty Mallinson (Margaret Barton) agrees to wait outside a pub whist her father goes inside.

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Inside the bar, Bert meets Camelia, one of the sideshow acts from the fair. This could be a set, then again . . . . .

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  • 21 Jun 2021

Police patrol the station outside Bert's signal box. This is facing south at Folkestone Harbour station with the break in the pier platform that gave access to the marshalling yard to the west.

Howard Baker this shot of a rather more colourful scenario. (RL)

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At low tide, Jim attempts to find the missing suitcase in the harbour.

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Camelia (Simone Simon) and Betty run along the beach. IMDB locates this as St. Margarets Bay near Dover in Kent.

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Betty heads for her father's shed where she finds Jim hiding inside. The shore of St. Margarets Bay.

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Back at the harbour, a Workman repairs a railway wagon. Looking landward on Folkestone Harbour Pier in Kent.

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Behind the Workman, a crowd gathers to watch Teddy's body being recovered from the water. Folkestone Harbour Pier with East Cliff in the distance.

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  • 08 Jun 2019

Bert leaves the police station after being asked to identify Teddy. Looking south through Landgate in Rye.

The same location just over 72 years later. (PW)

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  • 08 Jun 2019

At the end of the film, Bert carries the suitcase containing £5000 to the police station. Facing the Landgate Arch on East Cliff in Rye, Sussex.

From a similar viewpoint. (PW)

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  • 21 Jun 2021

As a post-script, here's a picture from Maurice Speed's Film Review featuring Margaret Barton and Simone Simon in Folkestone.

Howard provides his own 'post-script' shot. (RL)