A Kind Of Loving

Hi,

My parents live near where a lot of the film was shot A Kind Of Loving, Radcliffe, near Manchester.

..............OK

The park scene were shot in Coronation Park, see pics. (Apologies for quality of film ones they were done with a digital camera pointed at the TV.) The shelter used in the film was never actually there, and walking around the park the other day I realised how small it actually is, the film makes is feel so much bigger.

...............often the way, the lenses used often create odd perspectives

I’ve attached a couple of pics with Radcliffe Parish Church in the background; although the today image doesn’t give a good view due to the trees. This is also the case with the Irwell Valley shots. (When the film was shot you would have been able to see the valley from the park, but again too many trees.)

..............but capital E for effort, well done

As for St Mary’s from the opening scenes, this has now been demolished but was a few miles away in a place called Beswick. Most of the area has been flattened and is home to Manchester City’s ground and the velodrome, among others. The nearest pic I could find was a painting by LS Lowry.

............that really is amazing, firt time we've had to turn to an artist to establish a location!!!

According to IMDB, St John’s Church in Radcliffe was used, but I can confirm that it wasn’t that one (which is now demolished), plus my mother would have known. (I can’t remember where I got St Mary’s from, but the painting confirms it for me.)

..........the IMDB are a funny lot. They put up a lot of errors, won't correct them when we tell them about them, won't accept our offering etc etc

The hospital used was Bolton General but this has been completely rebuilt over the years, however, Bolton Town Hall remains and other than pedestrianisation has hardly changed.

.........this was photographed in the summer and is waiting to be loaded on site

There are scenes in the film of Vic with his father walking along a pedestrian railway bridge. Bolton is about five miles from Radcliffe and I remember many years using the bridge as it was a shortcut across the town running on top of Bolton train station, which is in a large cutting. Again, this has gone.

...........but of course Bolton was used to great effect in Spring and Port Wine, almost all the locations are still there

I’ve been struggling to find the pier where they get off the bus for their honeymoon. I thought it was Southport, but it isn’t, and from what I can gather it’s none on the North West coast.

...........and I thought it was New Brighton, where the Magnet was filmed, also waiting to go up on site

I suppose it’s possible that it could be one on the south coast.

..........yes, film-makers duck and dive all over the country. God alone knows why. Violent Playground, made mainly in Liverpool, was finished off in London's East End...........Hey Ho!!

Anyway, hope this info helps.

Richard Hamer.

............it does indeed, and thank you again very much. As an instant "reward" I'm giving you a year's subscription to the site, and when we load the pictures that you have kindly sent in, I'll be paying you £5.00 each for the location addresses, and a fiver for your photos that have some sort of architectural proof that they are accurate.

.............best wishes
..............John Tunstill

Midhurst Station as a Film Set

We are MIDHURST PAGES - MIDHURST TOWN & COMMUNITY We have recently played host to Foyle's War Series 5.

.................congratulations

www.violetdesigns.co.uk/foyles_war_midhurst.htm

With Cowdray Castle opening next year to the public we'd like to have more film companies come here.

Dr Who Location - Terror of the Zygons.
South Ambersham, Midhurst, West Sussex.
Here's a link:
http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/4f.html

Also an old railways film:

http://www.chichestertoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/custompage.aspx?sectionid=4602

www.violetdesigns.couk/midhurst.htm
www.violetdesigns.co.uk/midhurst_links.htm

Cowdray castle is being in part renovated to stop it crumbling away, but with Heritage and Lottery Money the place is having a visitor centre added early next year, the Causeway and other buildings made good so should be a good film set for 'creepy' or murder mystery films. Want more of the Wexford films here. The Tudor Walled Garden now reinstated would make a fine set for period garden parties, etc. Midhurst is especially good for film crews because the public parking is FREE, the sport ground is available for crews cabins/actors changing rooms, there are old 16th century cottages to let on short terms, and the location and fast roads are good for logistics. The Spread Eagle has played host over the years to all sorts of meetings with film directors and writers. This is just chat background for you in case you are not familiar with the area.

Hope the Dr Who film qualifies us for an entry in your system.

The landing of Tardis - Ambersham Common - meant to mention this. Have looked at a lot of Tardis pics. There is only one on Google images which coresponds with sandy Ambersham Common.

CARLTON BROWN OF THE FO -1959.Terry Thomas, Peter Sellers.
Midhurst Station turned into a film set. Info from Branch Lines to Midhurst by Smith & Mitchell. Picture shown. Features a Terrier Tank Engine 32640 which went on to be in Anna Karenina.
This is where the engine is now
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/pages/locos/engines/newport.htm

Regards
John

Railway Children 16

click for details of the Old Gentleman's railway carriage

http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=904

real locations of Blow -up

.................yes, can you believe it, this is a real email

Hi just wondered how I go about getting information regarding the real locations for the film Blow-up.

....................I've not printed my reply because several of you are of a delicate disposition.

Can you help me.

.................I don't belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeve it!

Thanks
(Name withheld, to protect the cinematographically challanged)

The Bulldog Breed

Please tell me, what is the best way of pulling the shots? How do people usually do it?

THANKS
Lemon

...............The film needs to be played via a VHS video player, or, if on DVD, though the CD/DVD player on a computer. Often compuers come bundled with a video processing facility, and often this has the possibility to capture stills from the video.

...........Get them, or change them into JPEG format, attact to an email and send them on.
........Ciao
.........John

GET CARTER – DOES SYLVESTER STALLONE CUT THE MUSTARD?

GET CARTER – DOES SYLVESTER STALLONE CUT THE MUSTARD?

MSN review says the following about the remake of the film:
A re-working devoid of all the original’s charm. Whoever thought that Sly Stallone would make a good stand-in for Michael Caine?
The original film was shot in and around Newcastle. Has anyone seen the 2000 version with Stallone? If so send us some details of locations etc.

Sparrows Can't Sing

I suspect the photos of street market 50 onwards shown on your site, is the old Angel Lane Market in Stratford London E15,where the Theatre Royal at which I first saw the Littlewood production of Sparrows Can't Sing.

John C Poole

Sparrows can't sing

sparrows cant sing pict 11 is the clichy estate , jamaica st, these flat are still there . the newer high rise flats in the film have been pulled down.

Ray Simmons

Hi There!

Just visited your website and thought that I might be able to help you out with some of the street names from ‘SPARROWS CANT SING’ movie 1963. I should start by saying that I’m originally from the east End of London; I grew up where many of these places were filmed.

I grew up in the same street as STEPHEN LEWIS who wrote Sparrows and also stared in the movie (as the caretaker). Right!

....................is Stephen Lewis the tall skinny man who was in On the Buses?

Image: Location:
1: Glass House fields, London E1 - Looking from the bottom of Glass House fields (the Highway end). The back of the Glass factory is behind the people. Glass House fields junctions CABLE Street and The Highway London E1 OLN The primary school Nicolas Gison is to the right of the shot.

.....................is there anything left to photograph?

5: Solander Gardens E1 (forgot this one)

6: Solander Gardens E1 - No longer there The street had a row of terraces, the School at the end is St Marys and Michael’s RC Primary School. Still there! As a note THIS IS MY SCHOOL! The school junctioned Commercial Road E1 and Sutton Street E1 and was also used in the film VIOLENT PLAYGROUND staring Stanley Baker (circa 1958)

15: Cannon Street Road (forgot this one) Looking North from the Highway, Cannon Street Road E1 junctions The Highway E1 and Cable Street E1 Some of these houses are still there!

17: Solander Gardens (forgot this one)Picture taken from the then waste ground at the back. The possible street from where this photo may have been taken would have been Lukin Street E1 (junctions Commercial Rd E1)

31: Stepney Green, London E1 - Metropolitan Police Section Houses in rear of shot. Arbour Square Police station is behind these blocks of flats.

25-29: Stepney Green, London E1 Shot 25 has Stephen Lewis as the caretaker.

34-37: Narrow Street E1 - The SWING BRIDGE at Limehouse and Narrow Street E1(still there but it doen’t move).

..................that's a good one, thanks

53-54: Watney Street Market E1 - I think this is Watney Street Market which junctions Cable Street and Commercial Road.

46: BELGRAVE Street E1 - Terrace Houses I’m pretty sure of this (photo taken from Salmon lane E1)

47: Solander Gardens - (correction as you see the church)in the background.

....................nice one, thankyou

48: Petticoat Lane E

49: Kossofs is right

Well I hope thats enough, I have the movie and will ask some older friends if they recall the other streets.

.....................thanks very much Tony. Can you take some pics?

Best wishes
John

Glad to be of assistance. Yeah! Stephen Lewis is the tall skinny guy, you may remember him as the awful bus inspector ‘BLAKEY’ from ON THE BUSES . . he also appears in LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE.

Left of Glass House fields is now private flats, before there were warehouses. As on the opposite side of this Street (which is the Highway) you used to have FREE TRADE WHARF (now luxury apartments). I’ve added some additional comments below, also looking at 47 It has the church in the background suggestion were looking into Solander Gardens. The railway arches are still there part of the Fenchurch Street to Southend line. Next time I visit I’ll take some photo’s.
All the best
Tony

Now this is the sort of stuff we need, wonderful

"What a Crazy World"

The old Angel Lane Market in Stratford London E15, was used in a film starring cockney singer Joe Brown (outside Cohen's Fish and Chip shop).

..........Any idea what the title of Joe Brown's film was called ?

My memories are now fading, I think the Joe Brown film was based on one of his hit records 'What a crazy world we're living in'

.................found it........."What a Crazy World"

The old ABC 'REX' Cinema in Leytonstone High Road,E11 was also used in that film.

Sparrows Can't Sing

There are two shots from 'Sparrows Can't Sing'. these were taken on the bridge that links Limehouse Basin with the Thames on Narrow Street St,London E14. It obviously used to 'swing' but now just 'lifts' to give access to the basin and the Regents Canal.
best wishes, Richard Avison

Confessions Films

hi

i am the official historian for elstree film studios and entertainments officer for elstree council.

....................then you're THE man!

i came across your site and saw you were looking for identifying shots from 'confessions of a pop performer'

..............yes, and a goodly number of them I found in August, as well as many for Confessions of a Driving Instructor and also Window Cleaner, which starts with the Three Horse Shoes pub in Letchmore Heath, where was made The Village of the Damned

i certainly recognise photo 10 which is shenley road, borehamwood.

.................thats a good lead, thankyou

shots 7 and 8 are the bottom of furzehill road, borehamwood just before the t junction with shenley road.

.............thanks again, but in pic 7, do you know the girl with the long
legs?

finally the shot outside the red lion pub, number 9, is in shenley road opposite elstree studios but is now a macdonalds although the exterior of the building is not much changed.

...............yes we have this one, thanks, but waiting time to get it loaded on site

for my part i would be interested if you ever come across location photos for 'night of the demon' starring dana andrews (excluding bricket wood railway station and the manor house).
best wishes
paul

............this film we don't yet have. If you can make me a DVD copy I can pay £5.00 for your expenses, plus postage, I cannot "buy" an unauthorised copy.

thanks
Ciao, from sunny Italy
John Tunstill

The Wicker man remake

Has Hollywood lost the ability to invent new movies? Or are we simply unwilling to rouse ourselves for something that hasn't already been established by a brilliant original or a thrilling first installment? Following a summer box-office divided between three sequels (Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Superman Returns, Mission Impossible III) and a book adaptation (The Da Vinci Code), filmmakers might be forgiven for thinking that if their project isn’t massively famous before its production, it probably never will be.

If this is the sad truth, perhaps the easiest solution (as far as movie studios are concerned), is simply to re-hash an existing movie: a particularly fashionable option in the world of horror. Case in point (and in cinemas): Neil LaBute’s re-imagining of horror staple The Wicker Man.

Wicker Again

The new spin on the 1973 classic drafts Nic Cage into Edward Woodward's original role. He’s a sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island, who discovers strange pagan rituals involving, yes, a large and extremely flammable wooden man.

Christopher Lee played the leader of the occult islanders in the first film, we now have Ellen Burstyn, whose horror lineage dates back to The Exorcist. Where the first film shocked with its depictions of human sacrifice, this one tones things down to a gentler 12A rating, cutting some of its nastier scenes in the final edit (Cage being stung half to death by bees – who wouldn’t want to see that!)


Is nothing sacred?

The law of diminishing returns seems set to douse the new Wicker Man before it’s had a chance to make a spark. Recent horror remakes haven’t exactly helped. Anyone who celebrated 6/06/06 this year with the new version of The Omen will have left the cinema both un-horrified and unimpressed at a follow-up that failed to live up to its name. House Of Wax, fronted by Paris Hilton, fell equally flat last year. Worst of all perhaps was the 2005 remake of John Carpenter favourite 'The Fog', which was about as entertaining as a night in with a smoke machine.

‘But what about King Kong?’ we hear you ask. This was, we admit, an impressive re-imagining of the 1933 creature feature (although we wouldn’t go as far as to call it in an improvement). Perhaps the relative underperformance of such a large-scale blockbuster is a sign of the need to return the biggest budgets to those blockbusters that carry an original idea. It will be interesting to gauge Kong’s success next to that of director Peter Jackson's newly announced remake of classic World War 2 flick The Dam Busters.

Digging up the past

Resurrecting old movies is nothing new. In fact, you might even say that the remake has had its day. Did you know that the 1959 version of Ben-Hur (tied with The Return Of The King for the most Oscar wins ever) was a re-working of its original – a 1925 silent film starring Ramon Novarro? For horror, the eighties yielded The Thing based on The Thing From Another World and David Cronenberg’s The Fly, taken from the hammy fifties version.


True, there are some good remakes out there. But it takes a vast ego to fix that which isn't broken. The Wicker Man is symptomatic of a film industry that prefers to rely on pre-established titles to get bums on seats. In the process, the creative people of the film world are discouraged by an output resembling that of a recycling plant. Perhaps now, with the scary thought of Sylvester Stallone returning to the ring next February for Rocky Balboa (Rocky 6! Count 'em, 6!), it might just be time to start dreaming up some fresh ideas.

Written by Ed Holden, Entertainment Editor - MSN UK