Studio backlot tours

[Big Figure]

Does anyone know if it is possible to take a studio backlot tour at, for example, Pinewood?



In particular, I've always wanted to see the ubiquitous 'warehouse' area that used to pop up week after week in shows like Department S, Randall and Hopkirk, The Saint etc etc. Or the building where James Bond overhears Goldfinger explaining his plan to the Chinese agent, while peeping through a vent.



No idea which studios these were produced at - just hoping someone can give me a steer......



Thanks

[mariocki]

The 3 ITC shows you mention were filmed in Borehamwood and most of it has been demolished unfortunately; Pinewood hosted Man In A Suitcase, (some of) UFO, The Persuaders! and Strange Report though.



Check out Tony's excellent studio guide for more info:



http://avengerland.theavengers.tv/studios/defaut.htm

[christoph404]

Pinewood is not open to the public for guided tours, I guess because its a working studio rather than a Universal Studio style theme park, the ogling public needs to be kept out at all costs! Possibly the best way to have a look around is to say you are thinking of renting the facility...ha ha...or that your interested in taking some of the office space for rent that is occupied by film folk, agents and the like. That should get you past the main gate and into the canteen at least and if you feel brave just go off and have a wander about. I went to visit an agent based in Pinewood once, we had lunch in the canteen, Alan Parker was there amongst the hungry throng. After my meeting I took a stroll around the grounds and garden and wandered over to the large outdoor water tank, there was nothing shooting when I was there and the security seemed fairly relaxed,... don't say I said that though!

[Number Six]

name='christoph404']Pinewood is not open to the public for guided tours, I guess because its a working studio rather than a Universal Studio style theme park, the ogling public needs to be kept out at all costs! Possibly the best way to have a look around is to say you are thinking of renting the facility...ha ha...or that your interested in taking some of the office space for rent that is occupied by film folk, agents and the like. That should get you past the main gate and into the canteen at least and if you feel brave just go off and have a wander about. I went to visit an agent based in Pinewood once, we had lunch in the canteen, Alan Parker was there amongst the hungry throng. After my meeting I took a stroll around the grounds and garden and wandered over to the large outdoor water tank, there was nothing shooting when I was there and the security seemed fairly relaxed,... don't say I said that though!

My Dad took me on a tour around Pinewood on January 24th 1964 - I know the date because it was the day my brother was born! Whilst Mum was in the throes of childbirth, Dad decided to take me out for a while (in those days, husbands were not encouraged to 'share' the experience with their wives!) and as we lived in Slough and he was into films, we drove to Pinewood, parked up a little way down the road and walked around the perimeter to the main entrance, whereupon the chap 'guarding' the gate seemingly waved us in!! I was only 4 at the time and too young to either appreciate or, more infuriating now, remember the visit, but the one thing I do remember is a huge backcloth of blue skies with white clouds standing outside a large building. It could, of course be from any number of films from that era, but it's the only thing I can recall of my visit!

[Bond Fan]

I've visited Pinewood a few times over the years, back in 2004 and 2006. These were all organised events through Bondstars.com - The stars' official online autograph store and got to see a few film sets, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) but I saw the street set and also Stardust and finally Casino Royale!

[smudge]

Pinewood almost became a tourist attraction in the 1970s - I have a copy of a large scale portfolio which they ran up when the project was mooted. It would have included various themed zones relating to the films which had been made there, with a substantial 007 section of course. I can't recall now why it never came off - probably because 'real' work started to pick up again after a lull.



When I first got to see the place properly - back in the early 1990s - the lack of investment was such that the it was very much the same as it looked during the DB5 chase from GOLDFINGER in 1964, even down to the self same pallets stacked outside one of the buildings which can clearly be seen in the film. Since then upgrading has happened and most of the place looks very spick & span these days and (thankfully) it continues to thrive...



Smudge