Lights, Camera Action! Discover the scenes and locations of your favourite films and television programmes in the East of England. z In Hertfordshire, pay a visit to Borehamwood – Britain’s very own ‘Hollywood’, which during the 1980’s could boast six out of the top ten box office hits of all time. z Explore the timber-framed villages of Essex, home to the loveable antiques rogue ‘Lovejoy’. z Take a wander in the footsteps of Captain Mainwaring and his Dad’s Army in Norfolk. z Go spy-busting with special agent 007 James Bond in Cambridgeshire. z For those looking for classic inspiration, head to the homes and gardens featured in Bleak House, Vanity Fair, Lady Audley’s Secret and David Copperfield. z Take to the skies in Bedfordshire, to see the aircraft used in Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. z Follow the clues to the crime scenes of P. D. James and Ruth Rendell – and their television adaptations set in Suffolk. This information sheet brings together a selection of films and television programmes which have been made in the East of England. We would like to thank Screen East for their help and assistance. Contents Film and Television Locations Bedfordshire 2 Cambridgeshire 4 Essex 7 Hertfordshire 11 Norfolk 22 Suffolk 28 www.visiteastofengland.com 1 Produced by East of England Tourism BEDFORDSHIRE Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Musical, Fantasy Director: Ken Hughes. Starring: Dick van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes and Lionel Jefferies. Film Fantasy children’s musical. Inventor Caractacus Potts buys an old racing car, and transforms it into ‘Chitty Chitty Bang 28 Days Later… (2002) Horror, Thriller Bang’ - which can magically fly and float on water. Director: Danny Boyle. Location used: Scenes shot at the former airship hangers at Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson. Cardington, nr. Bedford (not open to the public). Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary Colour Me Kubrick (2005) Comedy, Drama amongst the bloodthirsty zombies. Director: Brian W. Cook. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Starring: John Malkovich, Richard E. Grant and Peter Bowles. The true story of a man who posed as film director Stanley Amazing Grace (2006) Drama, Thriller Kubrick during the production of his last film ‘Eyes Wide Director: Michael Apted. Shut’, gaining access to exclusive London parties and Starring: Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell and Ioan Gruffudd. restaurants - despite looking nothing like him. The idealist William Wilberforce manoeuvres his way th Location used: Shops along High Town Road in Luton. through Parliament in 18 C. England, endeavoring to end slavery in the Empire. The Da Vinci Code (2006) Drama, Mystery Location used: Southill Park, Southill, nr. Biggleswade (not Director: Ron Howard. open to the public). Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Paul Bettany. A murder in the Louvre, and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to Batman Begins (2005) Action, Fantasy the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret Director: Christopher Nolan. society for over 2,000 years. Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Liam Neesen. Location used: Bryants Lane Quarry, Heath and Reach, Superhero saga - showing how a young Bruce Wayne was nr. Leighton Buzzard (not open to the public). destined to become Batman, the ‘Caped Crusader’. Location used: One of the former airship hangers at The Dark (2005) Horror Cardington, nr. Bedford (not open to the public) housed a large Director: John Fawcett. indoor set. This included the ‘Narrows’, a decrepit and Starring: Sean Bean, Maria Bello and Richard Elfyn. treacherous slum of Gotham City. The story of a couple who have recently emigrated from America along with their daughter in order to try and save their marriage, whilst restoring a farmhouse in a secluded location. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Cardington The Dark Knight (2008) Action, Crime, Drama Director: Christopher Nolan. Starring: Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Batman and Gordon find alliance with a newly appointed DA Harvey Dent to stop a vicious killer with a warped sense of humour known only as The Joker. Location used: One of the former airship hangers at Cardington, nr. Bedford (not open to the public) housed a large indoor set. De-Lovely (2004) Musical, Drama Bright Young Things (2003) Comedy, Drama Director: Irwin Winkler. Director: Stephen Fry. Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd and Jonathan Pryce. Starring: Jim Broadbent, Simon Callow and Judi Dench. Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel ‘Vile Bodies’ - looking at Porter reviews his life and career with his wife Linda. the lives of a novelist and his would-be lover in the 1930’s. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Empire of the Sun (1987) Drama, War Chaand Kaua Tkdaa (1994) Romance Director: Steven Spielberg. Director: Saawan Kumar. Starring: Christian Bale, John Malkovich and Starring: Sridevi, Salman Khan and Anupam Kher. Miranda Richardson. Romantic ‘Bollywood’ drama, following a wealthy young man Coming-of-age drama. It tells of a young British boy who lives who lives in Europe, but whose family is from India. When his with his family in pre-war Shanghai. During the Japanese mother dies, she makes a final request that he marry a girl invasion, the boy is separated from his wealthy family, and from India (and his search for love begins). with the help of a solider learns to survive on his own. Location used: London Luton Airport. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Casino Royale (2006) Action, Adventure Enigma (2001) Romance, Thriller Director: Martin Campbell. Director: Michael Apted. Starring: Daniel Craig and Eva Green. Starring: Dougray Scott, Kate Winslet and Saffron Burrows. In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker A young genius frantically races against time to crack an enemy to the world’s terrorist organisations, from winning a code and solve the mystery surrounding the woman he loves. high-stakes poker tournament at the Casino Royale. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Location used: Millbrook Proving Ground (test track), nr. Ampthill (not open to the public). www.visiteastofengland.com 2 Produced by East of England Tourism Flyboys (2006) Action, Adventure Quills (2000) Drama, Romance Director: Tony Bill. Director: Philip Kaufman. Starring: Jean Reno, James Franco and Martin Henderson. Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix. The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille - young Americans Drama following the later life of the notorious Marquis de Sade. who volunteered for the French military before the US entered After he escapes execution, he is sentenced to an asylum for World War I. They became the country’s first fighter pilots. the insane, where he begins to write and stage theatre pieces. Location used: Wrest Park Gardens, Silsoe (nr. Luton). Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Thriller, Drama Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (1965) Director: Stanley Kubrick. Adventure, Comedy Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Sydney Pollack. Director: Ken Annakin. Erotic/psychological drama, the final work of legendary Starring: Terry-Thomas, Sarah Miles and James Fox. director Stanley Kubrick. The story A classic - following a large air race between London and Paris. tells of a wealthy couple who are Location used: Some of the aircraft used can be seen at The led into sexual temptation and desire. Shuttleworth Collection (Old Warden). One scene was Location used: Scenes filmed at shot on the former railway line between Cardington Luton Hoo (not open to the public) (nr. Bedford) and Old Warden - this is where a plane lands on and Woburn Abbey. top of a moving train. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) Comedy, Romance Director: Mike Newell. The Shuttleworth Starring: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell and Kristen Collection Scott Thomas. This romantic comedy set the box office alight around the world, winning an Academy Award. It centres on a romance between a charming Englishman and a beautiful American woman, who always run into each other at weddings. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Fred Claus (2007) Comedy Director: David Dobkin. Starring: Vince Vaughan and Paul Giamatti. Sleuth (2007) Mystery, Thriller Fred Claus, Santa’s bitter older brother, is forced to move to Director: Kenneth Branagh. the North Pole. Starring: Jude Law and Michael Caine. Location used: One of the former airship hangers at On his sprawling country estate, an aging writer matches wits Cardington, nr. Bedford (not open to the public) housed a large with a struggling actor who has stolen his wife’s heart. indoor set. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). The Great Escape (1963) War, Adventure Wilde (1997) Biography, Drama Director: John Sturges. Director: Britain Gilbert. Starring: Steve McQueen, James Garner Starring: Stephen Fry, Jude Law and Vanessa Redgrave. and Richard Attleborough. The story of Oscar Wilde - genius, poet, playwright Epic war film, based on the true story of a group of allied and first modern man. prisoners who manage to escape from a allegedly Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). impenetrable World War II Nazi prison camp. Noted for its famous motorcycle chase. Location used: Luton Hoo (not open to the public). Luton Hoo Never Say Never Again (1983) Action, Adventure Director: Irvin Kershner. Starring: Sean Connery, Kim Basinger and Klaus-Maria Brandauer. This James Bond adventure is a remake of ‘Thunderball’ (1965), and is not part of the official series of films. Sean Connery returns as Bond, as he tries to stop a wealthy business man from bringing world powers to their knees.