Vanity Fair
Date: 2004
Director: Mira Nair
Production Company: Focus Features, Tempesta Films, Granada Film Productions
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, James Purefoy, Romola Garai, Gabriel Byrne, Rhys Ifans, Bob Hoskins, Tony Maudsley, Jim Broadbent, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Meg Wynn Owen, Ruth Sheen, Geraldine McEwen, Eileen Atkins, John Woodvine, Sophie Hunter
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Rajasthan (India), Somerset, Surrey
Region(s): London T-Z, Rest Of The World, South East R-Z, South West
Storyline:
Thackeray’s much loved novel about Becky Sharp who climbs the social ladder with cunning. SJ
Additional Information:
Brian Godwin who was ‘on set” during filming has kindly provided some photographs that he took at the time. They can be viewed here.
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

Byrne winds his way through busy streets, probably Chatham, Kent.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required

Witherspoon prepares to depart from her academy.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required

Leaving the academy on the way to adventure.
- Capture 4
- 31 Jul 2020

Purefoy, watched by Ifans, crosses the shallow pond to met Witherspoon and Garai. Chiswick House, London W4.

Unfortunately this area is sealed off for special events only,so this is off-angle as I should be much further round to the left. SJ
- Capture 5
- 31 Jul 2020

Witherspoon charms Maudsley, Garai's brother, next to the obelisk pond at the Orange Tree Garden, Chiswick House.

The Ioninc temple and obelisk. The garden is so called as orange trees used to be there in tubs. SJ
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required

Arriving at Hoskins' front gate. Stanway House in Gloucestershire. the other side can be seen in capture 29.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required

Beyond the gate of Stanway House.
- Capture 8
- 21 Jan 2019

Arriving at "London", or more precisely Bath in Somerset. Great Pulteney Street in Bath, Somerset.

Great Pulteney Street to be precise. This "now" replaces my off-angle shot from January 2019. SJ
- Capture 9
- Pre 2008

Various parts of Bath are being used to represent London. This is Sydney Place just off Pulteney Road, also known as the A36.

- Capture 10
- 16 Jun 2019

Purefoy and Witherspoon alight from their carriage.

The unchanged scene today except for the obligatory RS scaffolding. SJ
- Capture 11
- 16 Jun 2019

A different part of Bath, west across the Avon, Beaufort Square.

I'm not sure when the bollards came in. SJ
- Capture 12
- 19 Jun 2026

The unmistakable topiary in the grounds of Hampton Court in the borough of Richmond upon Thames.

The unmistakable topiary at Hampton Court Palace Festival. (SR)
- Capture 13
- 16 Jun 2019

A crane shot of Hoskins on his way to visit.

Too many cars on the road so I took this one of the pavement to show the lamp and railing base arrangement. SJ
- Capture 14
- 16 Jun 2019

The view from Sydney Place, looking across to the Holburne Museum. which can also be seen in 'Two and Two Make Six' and 'The Duchess'.

Taken from in front of the closed door. SJ
- Capture 15
- 16 Jun 2019

Byrne watches from his house. A close shot of the museum balcony.

Zoom lens very necessary. SJ
- Capture 16
- 16 Jun 2019

Beaufort Square looking west.

Bollards spoil the street now. SJ
- Capture 17
- 16 Jun 2019

A closer shot looking from the square towards Princes Street.

No access to the garden so the camera was lifted freestyle over the railings. SJ
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required

"Brussels": I thought at first the old Royal Naval College but those pillars look too far apart... Adam Wild has come to the rescue. He was working as a guide when filming was taking place at the Ionic Colonnade on the south side of Clock Court in Hampton Court Palace. (SJ)
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required

Tricky one. Hampton Court again perhaps.
- Capture 20
- 28 Oct 2024

Witherspoon meets up with Garai as she tries to find news about Rhys-Meyer and stays with her to find him even though he is a casualty of Waterloo... Steve Randall found the Red Brick Bridge at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire which also appears in 'The Buttercup Chain' and 'Overlord'.

Access is not particularly straightforward, so this is off angle. SJ
- Capture 21
- 16 Jun 2019

Sunderland Street just north off Great Pulteney Street.

Unchanged. SJ
- Capture 22
- 16 Jun 2019

Witherspoon crosses Great Pulteney Street with purposeful intent.

The Holburne Museum to the far left. SJ
- Capture 23
- 16 Jun 2019

Sunderland Street again.

A few more cars. SJ
- Capture 24
- 16 Jun 2019

Back to Beaufort Square.

Now. SJ
- Capture 25
- 15 Feb 2024

A nice shot of India as no expense is spared. Probably near Jodhpur which is coming up later... and indeed Steve Randall confirms Jaswant Thada, a memorial to the 19th-century ruler Jaswant Singh II. (SJ)

Couldn't get to the exact same spot unfortunately, but this is the place. (SR)
- Capture 26
- 16 Jun 2019

The corner of Sunderland Street and Great Pulteney Street.

A victim of window tax perhaps. SJ
- Capture 27
- 16 Jun 2019

Purefoy, Witherspoon and son.

A new door? SJ
- Capture 28
- 16 Jun 2019

The Holburne Museum at night.

The very same spot. SJ
- Capture 29
- 'Now' required

Purefoy and Witherspoon get emotional... Steve Randall found Stanway House, north-east of Cheltenham and adds this is the other side of the gateway seen in capture 6. (SJ)
- Capture 30
- 12 Jun 2025

Hmm: a lying lioness looking left. This is the east facade of West Wycombe Park House, Buckinghamshire, also seen in 'Amazing Grace'. (SR)

The endpoint of an excellent guided tour. (SR)
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required

Back to India; Mehrangarh fort on the hill in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
- Capture 32
- 'Now' required

Witherspoon joins Maudsley on elephant looking above the blue city from Mehrangarh.

