Reel Streets

FRENCH FILM LOCATIONS and FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL U.K.

2014-11-04T17:57:00.001+00:00

Nina Cangdon has just brought to our attention a project she has recently finished with Paris based filmmaker Paco Zamora, who has previously worked on different documentaries in France, South America as well as here in the U.K. The video "FilmTripping" is very "ReelStreets" but just a little more. It invites film lovers and travellers to discover the City of Light (Paris) through seven films set in Paris, showing the locations where some of the scenes were set, from the perspective of someone who explores Paris for the first time. It moves from touristic Trocadéro to the bohemian and still undiscovered Belleville, with the objective of connecting spectators with the magic of the cinema. The video, approximately two and a half minutes long can be viewed at:

FilmTripping Paris by Expedia

It is perhaps no coincidence that Nina finished the project to coincide with the launch of the annual French Film Festival in the U.K., full details of which can be found at:

http://frenchfilmfestival.org.uk/FFF2014/wp/

Over 40 UK premieres are to be shown in 11 major locations across the U.K. between the 7th November and the 7th December.

More film locations spotted.

2014-11-03T20:09:00.001+00:00

Sharp eyes and perhaps some "local knowledge" have provided us with answers to the following:

Psychomania 000, 009 and 010 - Julian Easton :
Fiend Without a Face 014 - Julian Easton :
Give My Regards to Broad Street 002, 003 and 016 - Paul Linton :
The Fast Lady what appears to be many studio shots - Mike Garfield :
That Kind of Girl 008 and 009 - Francesca Nardelli :

Thank you all

The British Council Film Collection

2014-11-03T20:01:00.002+00:00

John has stumbled across the intriguing archive material of 120 short documentary films made by The British Council during the 1940's. They were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. They are all interesting, especially for "Senior Citizens" but John has highlighted the one entitled "London 1942" that includes an uncredited Bill Owen (at 08:45), most famous for his portrayal of the character 'Compo' in Last of the Summer Wine. This is apparently the second-oldest footage of him.

View it at http://film.britishcouncil.org/london-1942

Film Location - UPDATE

2014-10-21T16:47:00.000+00:00

More sharp eyes and a desire to help has resulted in the following locations being identified:

Blackout blk011 -Clive Turner :
On the Fiddle oft004 - Tony Hagon :
Tales from the Crypt 011 to 016 - Alan Hoare :
Room at the Top 044 to 046 - Andrew Lee :
Lucky Jim 021 and 023 - Mike Hitchen :

Thank you all.

Film Locations – UPDATE

2014-10-08T10:44:00.001+00:00

Partly as a result of me having the temerity to leave my desk and take a break and partly as a result of the amount of information that we have been sent, this list is longer than usual but that is the way we like it. Thank you all for your interest and contribution(s).

Fast Lady, The 000a and 000b – Rob Beckwith :

Secret Place, The 014a and 014b – Clive Turner :

Villain 013 – Mary Nelson :

On the Beat 005 – Rob Beckwith :

Ragman’s Daughter, The 030, 031 and 056 – Mike Bunker :

I was Monty’s Double 037 – Mary :

Birth of the Beatles 007, 008 and 009 – Neil Rigby :

Tales That Witness Madness 011 and 012 – Steve Cook :

Blue Lamp, The 048 and 049 – Alan Bowden :

Angry Silence, The 031 – Rob Beckwith :

Carry On Camping 026 – Nick Dellow :

Crowded Day, The 012, 013 and 014 – Patrick Brown :

Work is a Four Letter Word 015 – Bernard Harris :

Night Train to Murder Various – Steve Cook :

So Well Remembered 018a, 018b and 018c – Dave Martin :

Ladykillers, The 022 – Greg Tingey :

Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter 020-023 – Steve Cook :

39 Steps, The (1959) 002e – Graham Shewan :

FILM: So Well Remembered - 1948

2014-10-04T18:24:00.000+00:00

Maurice Mottershead, a Maxonian (a man of Macclesfield) has spent much time with this film and has helped us both with locations and information relating to them. He has also provided some more up to date NOW shots as well as some personal ingredient regarding the locations. All this can be found in an article that can be accessed from the film page heading.

During his time with the film Maurice has highlighted that there is one unknown location in the film that appears a number of times and he has called it, ‘Location A’, assuming that this is a location and not a film set. Maurice seeks the help of anyone with a knowledge of Macclesfield and proposes the following:-

The ‘T’ junction between Nicholls Close, assuming this is not fictitious, (swr034) and an unknown road forms two corners; a pub called The Miners Arms is on one corner and The Browdley & District Guardian newspaper office is on the other. The film either side of swr019 clearly shows the pub is called The Miners Arms and also shows a steeple behind (which can just be seen in swr019). The area behind the pub looks like a churchyard. If anyone knows the location of The Miners Arms then we will know the location of many of the scenes in this film.

He states that ‘Location A’ occurs in the film at (time stamp hh:mm:ss): (00:02:12) (swr001a and swr001b), (00:03:05), (00:03:19), (00:08:37), (00:29:22) (swr019), (00:34:35), (00:44:22), (00:45:42), (00:49:31), (00:58:19) (swr034 and swr035), (01:12:37), (01:15:18), (01:48:40), (01:48:51).

Film Locations Recently Identified

2014-09-09T18:44:00.000+00:00

In recent weeks we have been overwhelmed with “Now” shots, information, personal stories as well as location identifications, for all of which, we reiterate our thanks. We are greatly rewarded by the interest that the Site continues to stimulate.

As always, we like to highlight those locations that have been identified but are not necessarily apparent to all unless one is following a particular film, so here are some of those more recently advised to us.

Man Who Haunted Himself 023 – Andrew Lees :

East of Ipswich 005/6 –John Hanley :

Fourth Protocol 072 – Rob Beckwith :

Taste of Honey 006b – Richard Lysons :

I was Monty’s Double 037 - Molly

Location Information Update

2014-08-17T18:20:00.001+00:00

We really appreciate the steadily increasing interest that the Site seems to be enjoying, not only from within the UK but from other parts of the Globe which all helps to fill those elusive "Unknown Locations" gaps. Recently, many of those contacting us have, or been able to, support their information with at least Google Images but two recent pieces of information lay hidden within the screen grabs.

Nick Hart recognised Morgan, a suitable Case for Treatment 049 and 050 as White Lodge in Richmond Park, home of The Royal Ballet School. Nick lived there as a child and one of his earliest memories is the hammer and sickle being laid on lawn and has just acquired a copy of the DVD to go down memory lane. Now it is identified all we need is someone to visit and take those shots.

By coincidence, another Nick (Cooper) tracked down O'Lucky Man! 037 to Tottenham Court Road underground station, now under serious redevelopment due to Crossrail. His support Website references can be seen with that screen shot.

Thanks to you both for solving those locations.

Does Vincent Price thrill you, or make your blood curdle?

2014-08-05T16:12:00.003+00:00

Which ever it is we can, perhaps, add to your experience as we have been in correspondence with Peter Fuller, curator of The Sound of Vincent Price blog and the Vincent Price Journal. With the benefit of all that knowledge he also conducts walks in London based on Vincent Price's connection there, including Theatre of Blood and has been kind enough to acknowledge the help that Reelstreets has given him in pinpointing some of the more obscure locations. He has recently won a Rondo Award for his blog My First Trip Abroad - Vincent Price (July-August) 1928) which can be found at:
http://vincentpricejournal.wordpress.com

Peter is currently writing a feature about the locations for his blog as well as for The Spooky Isles website.

If you want to further sink your teeth into something meaty have a look at:

http://thesoundofvincentprice.blogspot.co.uk and http://kultguyskeep.wordpress.com

We wish you further success with your blogs.

FILM: Prince Valiant (1997)

2014-08-01T18:52:00.000+00:00

Richard Lysons is currently working on an article concerning the film Spring and Port Wine for the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society Magazine and says that he will give Realstreets a decent "plug", so thank you for that Richard. As it is holiday time he is kindly drawing our attention to the fact that the 1997 film Prince Valiant with Katherien Heigl and Joanna Lumley had its exterior and interior scenes shot in North Wales. The Movie Map North Wales (2006 edition) listing:

Penrhyn Castle, Caernafon Castle, Capel Curig, Beaumaris, Llanfair PG, Blaenau Festiniog, Beddgelert, Trawsfynydd, Gwrych Castle.

There is an interesting short "behind the scenes" clip on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y-jfOf2ed0

Does anyone have a copy of this film so that we can take some grabs and use Richard's knowledge and interest to cover this film? Maybe YOU have a holiday booked in Wales!

FILM: Never Let Go (1960)

2014-07-25T09:35:00.000+00:00

Back in January 2008 there were two detailed Blogs (still viewable) from Colin Childs concerning the precise locations of the early still shots of this film. We have now heard from Brian Jenkins who lived in Kinnaird Street and went to school with Colin. He is keen to get in touch with him again and discuss the "Street" and "Place" locations in more detail with him. Having read all the correspondence, clearly local knowledge is important to understanding the locations and changes that went on. Unfortunately, ReelStreets has not kept Colin's contact details so if you still follow our Site Colin and would like get in touch we would be pleased to connect you with your old school friend. After all, we do like to be exact with our location information on this Site!

Location Information Update

2014-07-08T16:39:00.000+00:00

We have recently received information on the following films:

Half a Sixpence regarding halsi024 from Andy Cook
After The Fox regarding aftfo011, 012 and 019 from Cristina Tortora

Thank you both

British B's

2014-06-30T16:50:00.000+00:00

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.

2014-06-30T11:37:00.000+00:00

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

2014-06-23T23:05:00.000+00:00

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

2014-06-22T15:55:00.003+00:00

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.

2014-06-14T17:11:00.001+00:00

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!

Some Reelstreets, and other films, last week, this week and next week on UK TV

2014-05-17T09:02:00.000+00:00

Did you see them? If not, many of their locations are here on Reel Streets, and if they are not yet discovered, can you help us find them?

Passport to Pimlico, Against the Wind, Young Winston, Four Feathers, The Lady Vanishes,

The 39 Steps, In Which We Serve, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woof?, Goodbye Mr Chips, The Importance of Being Ernest, Billion Dollar Brain, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, Lifeboat, The Conversation, Notting Hill, The Birds, Clockwork Orange, Oliver Twist, League of Gentlemen, Malta Story, The Gentle Gunman and probably several others.

Are you interested in the filming locations? There are many that we haven't spotted, can you identify them? Have you taken any photos? Are there any films that we should add to the list? Will you pull the “then” stills so that we can add them?

And this week; Malta Story, Crooks Anonymous, The Black Tent, League of Gentlemen, Hobson's Choice, all coming to a screen near you, and available here on ReelStreets, the largest provider in the world of real, comparative and illustrated movie and film locations, with almost 28,000 photos.

London’s Borough Market Set To Star Again?

2014-05-17T09:00:00.000+00:00

Due for release in July 2015, Bridget Jones’s third big screen adaptation seems to be finally underway. Following the hugely successful novel “Mad About The Boy” by Helen Fielding, this movie will continue the story where “The Edge of Reason” left off. The first two movies were commercial successes so expect a nationwide release through large cinema chains, like Cineworld, and an accompanying heavy-duty marketing campaign. Fans of the comedy drama will be delighted to hear that location shooting could begin as soon as this summer and – it is expected – that Borough Market in Southwark will again feature in a Hollywood film.

Located a stone’s throw from London Bridge, Borough Market has been a favoured shooting location in the capital for a number of directors. Bedale Street ,which runs between the market and Borough High Street was the chosen location for Bridget Jones’ flat, just above the Globe pub which is still there, squashed between two overhead rail lines. The memorable scene in which Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fight was shot in this street, although the steps leading to an Underground station in the background are entirely fictitious.

A traditional wholesale fruit and veg market for decades, Borough Market’s fortunes were dwindling in the mid 1990s with many stall holders moving away or going out of business. Nowadays, the largely Victorian architecture is a huge hit with trendy market traders selling gourmet foods and farm produce directly to customers. The mostly covered roof and intense atmosphere really evokes a bygone era despite all of the newcomers. As such, it really feels very different from somewhere like Covent Garden, itself once a flourishing fruit and flower market.

In 1998, Guy Ritchie chose the alley that is just on the other side of Borough Market from Bedale Street for a number of scenes in “Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels”. By this time in the market’s history, bistros and artisan cheese makers had already begun trading close to the market on Park Street. Yet, the location was simply made over and retained enough of its back street London look to match Ritchie’s gritty visual style. Whether he knew it or not, Ritchie was following in the steps of Merchant Ivory, who also chose to use Park Street for a location in “Howard’s End”.

A year later, some scenes of “Entrapment”, a Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones thriller, were shot in the market itself. The location directors also used part of London’s financial district – just over the river Thames - for some shots. The contrast between the two sides of London that were depicted really added to the sense of location, before the action moved to Kuala Lumpur for the film’s finale.

More recently, Borough Market’s distinctive and historic visual appeal has been selected by location directors working on the Harry Potter franchise. Along with Leadenhall Market, a now defunct market in the City of London, it features as the secret entrance to Diagon Alley. It was perhaps this other-worldliness that attracted Terry Gilliam to the area, too when he chose Borough Market as a location for “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. Gilliam’s movie used Green Dragon Court for his shots, just paces away from Bridget Jones’ fictitious home on Bedale Street.

With so many movie locations to spot and such gastronomic fare on offer, Borough Market is really well worth a visit. If you can, head there mid-week, when there are less crowds and it is subsequently easier to spot the various locations used.

Movie Legend Jean Kent

2014-05-06T13:16:00.000+00:00

As many of you may know, movie legend Jean Kent was tragically found dead last November. She signed to Gainsborough Pictures during the Second World War and appeared in a number of British films during the 1940's and 1950's before turning to television. Michael Thornton, film critic and film historian was a close friend of hers and has brought to our attention that the inquest into her death will take place on Thursday of this week, 8th May. Full details and commentary on this is available should you wish to Read More.

The following week, on the 15th May, Michael is introducing the star's most celebrated and notorious film, Good-Time Girl (1948) at the National Film Theatre should you wish to attend.

London in Colour - 1927

2014-01-31T19:27:00.000+00:00

Many of us know of William Friese-Greene, a pioneer of early cinematography, perhaps primarily as a result of the film "The Magic Box" (1951) which features on the ReelStreets Website. However, following his fathers death in 1921 his son Claude carried on the development of the additive colour film process called Biocolour and toured the UK capturing the dramatically changing scene that followed the First World War. His journey from Land's End to John O'Groats between 1924 and 1926 and entitled The Open Road was featured in a series of programmes by the BBC back in 2006 and is now available on DVD.

It has recently come to my notice that some footage shot by Claude in London during 1927 and subsequently remastered by the BFI is available to be seen at:

Click here for the Link

With the flickering removed it is hard to imagine just how old this footage is, better than most of our home movies of the 1950/1960's!

With nearly six minutes of footage it covers many locations that appear variously throughout films listed on ReelStreets and in a few instances almost provides a retrospective "THEN" shot. Because of the popular locations included, many films can be associated with the places featured and I have related a few but I am sure those with a greater experience than I can add a better comparison, which I am happy to do if they would give me the detail. Maybe they could pen a follow-up Blog!

Location Featured - Film

Tower Bridge Road
Callan (1974)

Panning the Thames, Trinity House and Tower of London
Pool of London (1951)

Going Over London Bridge
Brothers In Law (1957)

View of Tower of London from London Bridge

Continued journey over London Bridge

Looking down Whitehall
Rockets Galore (1958)

Whitehall and the Cenotaph
Dial 999 (1955)

Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square
Subterfuge (1968)

Hyde Park Corner
True as a Turtle (1957)

Marble Arch
The Optimists of Nine Elms (1973)

Kensington Gardens
Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)

Peter Pan Statue
Three Hats for Lisa (1965)

Petticoat Lane
A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)

Looking over Westminster Bridge

Albert Embankment to Houses of Parliament
Street Corner (1953)

Changes to stills/nows display

2013-10-22T08:45:00.001+00:00

We have made some changes to the way the filming location stills and the present-day now location shots are displayed for each film. In the past the filming location still was displayed on the left, and the now location shot was shown next to it. Now, when you navigate to a film page you will only see the filming location stills. To view a now location shot, just move your mouse over the still and it will be replaced be the up-to-date now shot. The location information for both the film still and the now shot are shown below the image (the now shot information is shown in green. Any still that has an associated now shot has a black border. If we do not have a now shot the border is red. We hope you like this new way of displaying the stills and now shots.

Architectural Visits

2013-08-28T13:04:00.001+00:00

Open House London celebrates all that is best about the capital’s buildings, places and neighbourhoods. Every September, it gives a unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of London’s amazing architecture, with over 700 buildings of all kinds opening their doors to everyone – all for free. The dates for 2013 are 21 & 22 September. The full programme has details and opening times of all buildings and events. http://www.londonopenhouse.org .........and tell them we sent you.

Maybe a chance to find some of those elusive interiors and capture them for ReelStreets.

This information from; Consumer Action Group

And this month’s newsletter contains articles on;

Treated unfairly by your Payday loan lender? Complain to the FOS!!

CPP mis-selling: Payback time is here

ATOS appeals: GP's charging £130!!

Set your own credit card terms!!!

Tesco 'half-price' offer exposed

Hello, I'm a burglar, can I sell you some home insurance?

Bank account switching service to launch in September

Co-op removes customer guarantee

Warning over 'flash-for-cash' car accident insurance scam

British Gas- another horror story

Furniture stores use fake prices, says OFT

Move over or it's £100 fine

Golden Eye 'illegal' download scam

The best and worst car insurers

Learner drivers warned about extra charges

Winter's coming - Warm Home Discount

BBC responsible for over 10% of all criminal prosecutions in Magistrates Courts

Amazing information and interesting money-saving articles from CAG, the Consumer Action Group

www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/‎

The Consumer Action Group is a UK organisation that campaigns for customer rights, particularly for the recovery of unfair charges imposed by UK banks on their customers and assists individuals in reclaiming charges

Dulcima, loaded by Russel Groves

2013-08-06T08:14:00.000+00:00

Story of a pretty girl meetinga rich grumpy old man. In my dreams! Anyway, enough of my fantasies, Russell has done splendid work, thirty then shots and a full matching set of thirty now shots. Bingo, full house, snap and other expressions of achievement. Dig out your favourite films, pull the thens, try and find comparative nows and send them in. Dulcima, John Mills, Bernard Lee, 1971, just over forty years ago, and it seems like yesterday. Ah, nostalgia, films and movie locations, what would we do without them. Well done Russell.

English Stately Locations In Period Dramas

2013-07-31T16:09:00.001+00:00

Love them or hate them, period dramas have surged in popularity over the last five years, with films such as the King’s Speech and the 2011 adaptation of Jane Eyre being among the two most notable (and highly acclaimed) examples of late. And while any era in history is fair game and open to dramatic interpretation, two things remain constant across the genre: astounding architecture and incredible costume design.

Since England is the literary and historical birthplace that has given rise to this slice of cinematography, it’s not surprise that the majority of such films and TV shows are filmed there. Today, we’ll be exploring some of the more recognizable locations and building across the pond that has been given greater exposure on screen.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey has seen great success on both sides of the Atlantic, having won both Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award (as well as a staggering 27 nominations).

The titular abbey is placed in the county of Yorkshire throughout the series, but in reality the architecture used isn’t called Downton Abbey and is located in a different part of the country entirely.

In fact, it isn’t even an abbey. Highclere Castle in Hampshire is used to depict Downton from the exterior (and most of the interior shots as well). The castle, which has stood in one form or another since the 8^th century, underwent construction in 1839 to become the recognizable splendor we’ve come to know today.

Given its heightened popularity of late, Highclere has seen a surge in interest as a wedding venue but might be slightly out of budget for most people – just to hire the venue will set you back around $30,000, plus an extra $300 per guest for catering.

The King’s Speech

Among the many triumph’s of 2010’s The King’s Speech was the excellent use of location to realistically depict depression-era London. In order to do this, they commandeered an entire street which featured some of the only surviving Victorian tenement buildings in London – housing hastily built to accommodate impoverished factory workers and their kin.

Despite the extremely high production value of the film as a whole, set designers only had a $12m budget to work with – a huge amount for a filmmaking student perhaps, but comparatively small when talking about recreating a whole different era for a feature film. Life Street in particular (pictured above) was used extensively during filming, with 30s era posters being plastered on the side of buildings and grime sprayed over the entire street. In addition to trying to make the street look as filthy as possible, crew had to replicate the noxious smog which was commonplace at the time – to do this, they pumped in so much fake smoke that fire alarms were set off.

Since permission to film inside Buckingham Palace is seldom granted, Lancaster House was used as a substitute for the scenes leading up to the Colin Firth making the speech (and the delivery scene itself).

Jane Eyre

There are more attempts at translating Jane Austen’s work to the silver screen than you can shake an Elizabethan stick at. Some have been incredibly successful, some not so much, but director Cary Fukunaga’s 2011 take on Jane Eyre is amongst the former.

Along with the enigmatic moors and dales of the English midlands, two key locations helped bring this wonderfully realized adaptation to life. The first was Haddon Hall (pictured above), was used to represent Thornfield Hall; an apt choice, really, given that it had already appeared in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1996 adaptation of the film as well as in the 2006 BBC television series. The manor hall areas have been relatively untouched since its construction in the 11^th century, which makes it one of the most well-preserved historical buildings in the country.

Some key scenes were filmed (albeit to a lesser extent) further south in Oxfordshire at Broughton Castle.

Like Haddon, the modest castle also had a pedigree as a prime filming location long before Jane Eyre, having previously made an appearance in The Madness of King George and Shakespeare in Love.

Pride & Prejudice

From one Jane Austin masterpiece to another, Pride & Prejudice has also been the subject of many screen adaptations. Which has been the best and/or most faithful is the subject of much debate, but high up in the rankings is one of the most recent – Joe Wright’s 2005 feature film adaptation, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

Haddon Hall once again made an appearance in the film, but the main fictional estate of Pemberley was portrayed by two separate locations.

Wilton House, pictured on the right, is a relatively modern (16^th century) manor in the county of Wiltshire, and its impressive grounds have featured in numerous period dramas over the years. Chatsworth House on the left – instantly recognizable from Wright’s Pride and Prejudice and many others – is one of the most well known in England and is the largest, privately owned property in the country.