Dave Homewood

The Way Ahead

I am a huge fan of the classic film 'The Way Ahead', which was released in 1944 and starred a huge cast of brilliant actors such as David Niven, William Hartnell, John Laurie, Leslie Dwyer, Stanley Holloway, Raymond Huntley, Hugh Burden, Peter Ustinov, Jimmy Hanley, Jack Watling, Leslie Howard and many more. Real top brass cast.

I'm also a fan of the film that inspired it, the Army film 'The New Lot'.

I'm curious about where The Way Ahead was filmed, and in some scenes, how it was filmed.

Does anyone know...
- Which army camp/s was/were used in the training scenes?

- Was it really Crewe station that appeared several times? I know other films were made on the real platform there, like Brief Encounter.

- Where were the scenes filmed that depicted the North African village? It really looked real, very hot and dry and Mediterranean. Was it all an elaborate set?

- In the scenes where the ship sinks, did they set fire to a real ship? It looks so real, and the action and stunts are fantastic for the time, it doesn't look like stunt men either. Did they actually blow up a real ship?

- In the street battle scenes it all looks like it's actually filmed in streets being blown up, as opposed to stock footage being tacked in. I'd think if they were using stock footage filmed in real battles it wouldn't look as good a grade of film stock, and it would be a bit more shaky. Plus you see the actors running passed buildings as they explode, or at least it looks that way. Was the entire African village a big set? If so, where? Was it a real village? Did they perhaps actually go to a safe African country and film there despite the war?

Even if it's all made in a pinewood set it's so well made it's seemless, and it puts many films made later and with bigger budgets to shame.The characters, story, actors, stunts and poignancy are all top notch. Scenes where they are all singing, like when Tessue O'Shea is visiting the camp, or in the Frenchman's cafe', just magical - they give me goosebumps.

Is anyone else here a fan of the film?

Chevyman

Hi Dave,

You might find the following links useful:-


The Way Ahead (1944)

The New Lot (1943)

There are quite a few members on here who appreciate/admire the film.

I've just watched "The Way Ahead" myself and concur with your view

Welcome by the way

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all

"Don't tread on Greta Garbo, as you walk down the boulevard?"

Dave Homewood

Thanks for the welcome Chevyman.

I am very familiar with IMDb but I have to admit last time I looked up The Way Ahead on that site's entry I never noticed those two locations listed.

So apparently it was made at Denham Studios and at Pirbright Army Camp. So I wonder if all the elaborate North African town was just a very well made set, and the same for the ship. Amazing if that's the case. Of course IMDb could be incomplete.