Films set in 1969/1970 London

[Tony2or4]

tigerkoi said:

toasty said:

The Bank Job was set in 1971

I used to live above Lloyds, in that very block. I once wandered in and was speaking to the bank manager at the time (chap called Stephen, who then moved to Piccadilly) and he told me the whole story. We joked that it should be turned into a film. A few years later it was Statham'd.

Actually, a major difference between The Bank Job and films like Frenzy is that in the former, the story is set in the 70s but the film was made in modern times, so the London you see is not the real 1970s McCoy and doesn't feel like it either; whereas the latter have the authentic London flavour of 40 years ago because it really was filmed during that era.

Strange thing about the real-life story behind The Bank Job: I'd just started at London University at the beginning of October 1971, just a few days before the robbery, and my college was very close to Baker St, where the heist occurred - in fact I used to walk past that bank every day. So you'd think the robbery would have been a local topic of conversation around that time - but it wasn't. In fact I only got to hear about the robbery many years later.

[Twincam16]

Halb said:

Some good films mentioned above
The Limey might be one?

That's set entirely in modern-day California!

[P5Nij]

tigerkoi said:

P5Nij said:

tigerkoi said:

Ah, I've got 'Crossplot' tucked away in the 'waiting to be watched' pile. Thanks for the prod.

What I really noticed about Villain, possibly due to the cut of it I have, was that everything was so crystal clear. Nigel Davenport in the garden of his 1930s semi with the curved bay windows, Wolfie's flat, Dakin's mum's house, all looks so fresh, it's like a time capsule film.

I've thought the same about Villain whenever I've watched it - Benny's flat is the same at the start of the film, inside and out - all very fresh and tidy looking. A few of us on the Sweeney forum have visited some of the locations recently, the railway arches at Nine Elms have changed a bit since 1970 but you can still recognise where the final scene was shot if you go there now. Wolfies flat exterior in Battersea still looks pretty much the same but parking outside is a bit of a pain. The plastics factory in Bracknell is very different now and the empty field opposite where the phone box was is now built on, as is the area a little further away where they ditch the battered S-Type Jag and 'borrow' the Zephyr. The footbridge over the raiway is still intact where Dakin and Terry cross over to get in the P5B Coupe, the vegetation has grown up a bit but the area either side is still recognoisable. All good stuff ;-)

Glad I'm not the only one
Brilliant for detail isn't it? I paid my way through Uni working in Nine Elms not too long ago, and you're right. My boss had a Soarer and a 996 Turbo and I only ever got a lift once, often having to trudge from one end of the market to the other to get home. So I took in the scenery. Incredible that so little has changed in all those years.

It's one of those films I can watch over and over again, but still hits the spot each time. Some say that Burton was miscast as Vic Dakin but I honestly can't think of anyone else who would have fitted the role at the time and been able to pulll it off. Michael Caine was busy filming Get Carter at the same time (Summer of '70) and wouldn't have been right, although he was a 'different kind of nasty' in Get Carter. The locations, photography, supporting cast and cars are all spot on for me, and the script probably contains the earliest use of certain swear words all together in the same film!

[P5Nij]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Just ordered up Villain, Performance and Frenzy - great stuff!

You won't be disappointed with that little lot! Fingers crossed the version of Performance you've ordered is the proper British cut, without the awful dubbed voices for those American chappies across the water. That particular version was hacked to bits as well, the bits that were chucked out have been put back in for the latest release. Performance definitely gets better with repeated viewings though!

[Asterix]

What about 'Blow Up' - 1966

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060176/?ref_=fn_al_tt...

[vixen1700]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHTF3PKVPaU

Trailer for Bronco Bullfrog, filmed around Stratford in 1970.

The DVD has a nice little extra filmed in colour about the 'actors' in the film and shows them playing football where I used to when I was a nipper over Wanstead Flats.

[16VJay]

More Caine - The Ipcress File.

[BLUETHUNDER]

P5Nij said:

It's one of those films I can watch over and over again, but still hits the spot each time. Some say that Burton was miscast as Vic Dakin but I honestly can't think of anyone else who would have fitted the role at the time and been able to pulll it off. Michael Caine was busy filming Get Carter at the same time (Summer of '70) and wouldn't have been right, although he was a 'different kind of nasty' in Get Carter. The locations, photography, supporting cast and cars are all spot on for me, and the script probably contains the earliest use of certain swear words all together in the same film!

The funny thing about that film ( I find anyway as I work there) is when he emerges from the arch which is now located in the bottom end of the fruit and veg market he turns and looks at the residents gathered on the walkways of the flats nearby. In fact the flats are the Patmore estate a quarter of a mile away at the top end of the market. There are some scenes where they are in the P5 travelling over waste ground. This is in fact the now the site of the multi storie car park.

Those sciences were all filmed on what used to be part of the old goods/sidings yard at Nine Elms. Which was levelled in 68 to make way for the New Covent Gdn Market. Anyone wanting to see any of the old locations shouldn't wait around as the whole site is about to be levelled again.

[Beati Dogu]

Poppet on a Swing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4yFJO6MvlI

A Harry Enfield Production

[Horten229]

While others have mentioned two of my favourites of this specific era, Villain and Robbery (the granddaddy of all car chases - the inspiration for the Bullitt chase) I'd like to add Theatre of Blood. Not sure if it's from the Hammer stable but I grew up watching these and TOB is probably my favourite film of that genre.

Great locations, original plot and a cast that included Vincent Price, Diana Rigg and Ian Hendry (fresh from Get Carter and probably celebrating the fact) - brilliant.

Now, you fine PH'ers may be able to help me with another. I've tried Goggling to no avail but here goes: another Hammer type pic, filmed around the same time (London, obviously - must keep on topic!), it had the following ingredients: an ensemble piece following the fate of 4 passengers on a train; tarot cards, Donald Pleasence or possibly Peter Cushing but definately, 100% the one thing it centred on was a blind match seller at the entrance to a London railway station.

For some reason that film is wedged squarely in my psyche - help!!

[Sprouts]

Smashing Time, Lynn Redgrave is great as a northern wannabe singer. Quite humourous if I remember right.

[Wacky Racer]

Two obvious ones spring to mind, Blow up from 1966,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zeza1xeWKM

Featuring Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck from the Yardbirds and David Hemmings as the playboy photographer....


and Up the Junction filmed in '68....Here we go round the Mulberry Bush was another good one, but this was filmed in Stevenage, starring the late Barry Evans, the teacher out of "Mind your language"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QYdD_qpzCc

[daveydave7]

Horten229 said:

While others have mentioned two of my favourites of this specific era, Villain and Robbery (the granddaddy of all car chases - the inspiration for the Bullitt chase) I'd like to add Theatre of Blood. Not sure if it's from the Hammer stable but I grew up watching these and TOB is probably my favourite film of that genre.

Great locations, original plot and a cast that included Vincent Price, Diana Rigg and Ian Hendry (fresh from Get Carter and probably celebrating the fact) - brilliant.

Now, you fine PH'ers may be able to help me with another. I've tried Goggling to no avail but here goes: another Hammer type pic, filmed around the same time (London, obviously - must keep on topic!), it had the following ingredients: an ensemble piece following the fate of 4 passengers on a train; tarot cards, Donald Pleasence or possibly Peter Cushing but definately, 100% the one thing it centred on was a blind match seller at the entrance to a London railway station.

For some reason that film is wedged squarely in my psyche - help!!

Dr Terrors House Of Horrors ?

[Wacky Racer]

daveydave7 said:

Horten229 said:

While others have mentioned two of my favourites of this specific era, Villain and Robbery (the granddaddy of all car chases - the inspiration for the Bullitt chase) I'd like to add Theatre of Blood. Not sure if it's from the Hammer stable but I grew up watching these and TOB is probably my favourite film of that genre.

Great locations, original plot and a cast that included Vincent Price, Diana Rigg and Ian Hendry (fresh from Get Carter and probably celebrating the fact) - brilliant.

Now, you fine PH'ers may be able to help me with another. I've tried Goggling to no avail but here goes: another Hammer type pic, filmed around the same time (London, obviously - must keep on topic!), it had the following ingredients: an ensemble piece following the fate of 4 passengers on a train; tarot cards, Donald Pleasence or possibly Peter Cushing but definately, 100% the one thing it centred on was a blind match seller at the entrance to a London railway station.

For some reason that film is wedged squarely in my psyche - help!!

Dr Terrors House Of Horrors ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_0REQTwnao&lis...

[blod]

vixen1700 said:

Just wish I could remember the one set in the school, it ticked every box, think it even had Cat Stevens or someone doing the music, or was it a kind of 'Lazy Sunday Afternoon' type song.

To Sir, With Love ? 1967

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9peg_fnXJms

[tigerkoi]

BLUETHUNDER said:

P5Nij said:

It's one of those films I can watch over and over again, but still hits the spot each time. Some say that Burton was miscast as Vic Dakin but I honestly can't think of anyone else who would have fitted the role at the time and been able to pulll it off. Michael Caine was busy filming Get Carter at the same time (Summer of '70) and wouldn't have been right, although he was a 'different kind of nasty' in Get Carter. The locations, photography, supporting cast and cars are all spot on for me, and the script probably contains the earliest use of certain swear words all together in the same film!

The funny thing about that film ( I find anyway as I work there) is when he emerges from the arch which is now located in the bottom end of the fruit and veg market he turns and looks at the residents gathered on the walkways of the flats nearby. In fact the flats are the Patmore estate a quarter of a mile away at the top end of the market. There are some scenes where they are in the P5 travelling over waste ground. This is in fact the now the site of the multi storie car park.

Those sciences were all filmed on what used to be part of the old goods/sidings yard at Nine Elms. Which was levelled in 68 to make way for the New Covent Gdn Market. Anyone wanting to see any of the old locations shouldn't wait around as the whole site is about to be levelled again.

I really must pop down to that part of the world and soak it up [again]. My brother used to work in Lassco, where I'd happily while away my time, but feel a new visit coming on...

Vixen - what a cracking thread. The way it's teased out the knowledgeable folk...bravo. A real oasis.

How about 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins'. 1971, and even has the obligatory Roy Budd soundtrack.

A touch later, 1974, there's the Coburn vehicle, 'The Internecine Project'. Bits of Hammersmith and South Bank if I recall.

[vixen1700]

Horten229 said:

While others have mentioned two of my favourites of this specific era, Villain and Robbery (the granddaddy of all car chases - the inspiration for the Bullitt chase) I'd like to add Theatre of Blood. Not sure if it's from the Hammer stable but I grew up watching these and TOB is probably my favourite film of that genre.

Great locations, original plot and a cast that included Vincent Price, Diana Rigg and Ian Hendry (fresh from Get Carter and probably celebrating the fact) - brilliant.

Now, you fine PH'ers may be able to help me with another. I've tried Goggling to no avail but here goes: another Hammer type pic, filmed around the same time (London, obviously - must keep on topic!), it had the following ingredients: an ensemble piece following the fate of 4 passengers on a train; tarot cards, Donald Pleasence or possibly Peter Cushing but definately, 100% the one thing it centred on was a blind match seller at the entrance to a London railway station.

For some reason that film is wedged squarely in my psyche - help!!

Theatre of Blood is fantastic, Arthur Lowe's head on a milk bottle and Robert Morley being force fed his poodles.

Yep as already mentioned it was Dr.Terror's House of Horrors, with a very young Roy Castle.

Love all those Hammer short story collections from the mid 60s to the early '70s.

[uk66fastback]

Love this thread. It is Dr Terror's HoH just to confirm .... with the five or so separate pieces ... one being Christopher Lee as an art critic driving a P4 Rover from memory ....

I've got a few boxed sets (Sweeney etc) from that era and I love the then and now London locations that have been found over on the Sweeney TV Lounge forum.

I wish ITV 4/Dave etc would repeat Randalll & Hopkirk or Man in a Suitcase soon ... it's been a while (couple of years!)

Decent R&H locations page here ...

http://www.randallandhopkirk.org.uk/locations_main...

Blow Up then and now locations here ...

https://sites.google.com/a/blowupthenandnow.com/bl...

There used to be a greta then and now locations site for Get Carter but I can't find it anymore ... I did go on the Get Carter Tour once - about ten years ago. Superb - although the car park has gone now.

[Gargamel]

Hmm I was going to add American Werewolf in London, as it has some great London Street scenes. However its 1981

Still, I don't think the tube stations changed that much in ten years

[P5Nij]

Wacky Racer said:

Two obvious ones spring to mind, Blow up from 1966,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zeza1xeWKM

Featuring Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck from the Yardbirds and David Hemmings as the playboy photographer....


and Up the Junction filmed in '68....Here we go round the Mulberry Bush was another good one, but this was filmed in Stevenage, starring the late Barry Evans, the teacher out of "Mind your language"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QYdD_qpzCc

Point of order guvnor... Up The Junction was shot in '67! Top film though with a great soundtrack from Manfred Mann and wonderful views of old London. Oh and Suzi Kendall looks rather ace too....

Another one I've just remembered - 'The Reckoning' starring Nichol Williamson, shot in '69 a whole year before 'Get Carter' but has similarities to it and featuring a mighty Jag 420G as the main car, the whole film is on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw3IeeF6oXk

Edited by P5Nij on Friday 11th January 11:27

Edited by P5Nij on Friday 11th January 11:29