British B's

BRITISH B's
 
British B films, many made at the Merton Park or Twickenham Studios in south west London. Many of these wonderful films are available on YouTube, almost invariably in black and white, sometimes known as Quota Quickies and as all of them were made on very limited budgets, in the 50's and 60's, with no cash for elaborate sets, they just used the local streets, the real streets.

These essays in crime were hugely popular and provide the social background to how we were, three-piece suits, wives at home in the kitchen, vehicles, attitudes, shop fronts, street furniture, food and speech. 

Google:-  British B films, Edgar Lustgarten, Scales of Justice, Scotland Yard and Edgar Wallace and you may well be pleasantly surprised. There are many snips and trailers, but also many complete films are to be found, thus allowing a delicious wallowing in nostalgia.

John Tunstill

Location information received last week.

Our Server problems appear to be behind us and we have, hopefully, made all the necessary amendments that were outstanding. Thank you to all those that were so patient with us. Last week we were able to add at least Google Images to support all the information provided including that from Nick Farmer concerning The Big Sleep and screen shot bs014 in particular.  Nick, who served at Marylebone Lane Police Station until 1977 also provided us with this additional interesting background information.

"When you watch the film the scene after Roger Mitchum enters the Police station and meets Richard Todd and John Mills is the ground floor Charge Room and the cell passage can be seen to the rear. The next scene is on the first floor, in what was the old CID Office. Note the curtains are drawn as it is meant to be at night. At times the local Police, then at their New Police Station in Seymour Street (now also closed) had to go down to Marylebone Lane Police Station and explain to "tourists" that we had moved, although it appeared open, as the film crew had actors in uniform!"

Many thanks for that Nick.

APOLOGY

We offer our sincere apologies to anyone who has been in touch with us with photo's or information over the last 10 days or so as it is likely that we have, or may yet appear shambolic. We have been having problems with our Server to the extent that we have recently taken the decision to change to a new one. Regrettably, significant problems have continued right into the transfer process which we are currently trying to resolve. As soon as matters have been resolved we will address each of the subjects that you have written to us about and be in touch with you individually. Should in due course you see that we have missed your topic or aspect please do let us know as we are anxious to get back to what we believe is our customary efficient response.

All of us at ReelStreets

Location and film related detail received this week

Dave Buckley has been in touch with us about Love Thy Neighbour and particularly ltn008b-008h, all of which are in front of what was EMI-Canon studios on one side of Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Herts. However, he has additionally referred us to http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/defaut.htm. On that page, select Studio Buildings under Associated British Studios, there can be seen various photos, some of which show the front of the building and the private access road pictured in the stills. If you also look at Studio Map you will see how much of the site is now Tesco's. No doubt, like me, you will then be wandering around the other Studios and Set pictures wondering where all your time has gone.

Dave also mentions two related books. Elstree Confidential by Paul Welsh, MBE which he says is a fund of information about the studios, the films made there and the film stars who appeared in them, together with personal anecdotes. Also, Elstree, the British Hollywood which details all the studios in the area of which there were four in the High Road alone! Thanks Dave for all that background.



I have been in touch with the Thames Police Museum in Wapping with regard to a film I am currently working on and received valued help from its Hon. Curator Rob Jeffries. Besides helping me, he gave some additional information which besides being interesting itself could be helpful to us when researching similar London based films. He said that in 1954, the year I am dealing with, the Met Police would not have agreed to renting out police boats and crews to take part in commercial films so there was a trade in old police launches that could be bought second hand by companies working on the river that could be made to look like police boats. This was the case until comparatively recently when they were making James Bond's The World is not enough. They wanted to use real police officers and boats but the Met declined to take part. This changed when the Met cottoned on that there was cash to be made out of this and Rob was part of one the very first occasions when police launches and crews could be rented out to film companies....(Prime Suspect Six). Thanks again Rob for that.

Richard Lovejoy

Locations identified in recent days.

We are always very pleased to receive emails giving us specific detail for those film stills that we have been unable to provide a location. Whilst information, when received, is added to the shot(s) in question the update is not immediately known to our audience unless someone happens to be regularly viewing that film in question. So, you might like to know that in recent days we have received specific information on the following films:

The Face of Fu Manchu from Dave Lally covering 004 and the 029's

The Night We Got The Bird from Timothy Lidbetter covering 009 and 010

On The Beat from Di Davies covering 001 and 002

Thank you all for your help and interest, it is much appreciated. Next step, some NOW shots please!