David Brent

Does anyone know the film location of the family home used in The Huggett films?
Filmed in the late 1940's the films starred Jack Warner and Susan Shaw amongst many other well known actors of the time.
The location footage of the Huggett home showed that it was situated in the middle of what seemed a very long street. All the houses in the street seemed to be of identical design.
Anyone have any clues as to where it was filmed?
Being Gainsborough films they may have been filmed in an area close to the then studio.
I'm also wondering whether the origional houses are still standing.
Any help would be welcome.

Cheers!

Dave.

Rob Compton

Dunno Dave, though I'd like to know as well. Pretty sure it's London suburbs, but that still leaves a wide area to search!

rgds
Rob

David Brent

Hi Rob,

Surely some old timer on the forum who has lived most of their lives in and around London would know.
Surely...

Dave.

Steve Crook

Yes, but London's a BIG place.
Greater London covers an area of 609 square miles (1,579 km²).
That's 1/40 the area of Tasmania
And, unlike Tasmainia, a large proportion of Greater London is covered with streets full of houses any one of which could be where they filmed The Huggett's

Steve

hoggers

Have you tried writing to Ken Annakin, the director. You can reach to him c/o Tomahawk Media, PO Box 1236, Sheffield, S11 7XU... I'd say he was your best bet...

Cheers

Hoggers

David Brent

Hi Steve,

Yes....I do know how big London is.
What I meant was that maybe someone connected to the forum may have seen, been there or knew of where the location filming was made.
A shot in the dark I know, but there may have been a Huggett's buff out there somewhere.

Dave.

David Brent

Hi Hoggers,

Many thanks for the information. I appreciate your help.
I'll get onto it and when/if I get an answer I'll share it with the forum.
Cheers mate.

Dave.

Jim

Dave, I'm wondering if the Huggett's house is still there. They were probably 'council houses' and have been replaced or modernised by now - OR they may have been bombed during WWII!

Just a thought.

Good morning boys.

Rob Compton

Dunno why, but I'd put my money on it being south of the Thames - well, narrows it down a bit doesn't it?

Would be interested to hear any reply you get Dave

rgds
Rob

David Brent

Hi Rob,

You've got it mate

Dave.

David Brent

Have written to Ken Annakin and am waiting for a reply.
Meanwhile I have discovered that the Huggett films were made at the now closed Islington Studio's.
Could the street scenes have been shot around that area?

Dave,

David Brent

I am pleased to say that I have received a reply from Mr. Ken Annakin, director of the Huggett films.
He has confirmed that the Huggett house location scenes were indeed filmed in a street situated very near to the old Islington film studio's.
Mr. Annakin, now in his nineties, added that he could not remember the exact name of the street used but did promise to check out some of his notes and get back to me if he found further information.
It was very nice of him to take the time to reply to me.

I do not know where the old Islington film studio's were situated but maybe someone else on this forum does.
Anyone now prepared to guess where the Huggett house was situated?

Cheers

Dave.

Steve Crook

Nice one Dave, thanks.
The old Islington Film Studios were on the Western edge of Islington, more like Hoxton. In Poole Street. Known as "Hollywood by the Canal", it was on the banks of the Regents Canal, just off the New North Road (A1200)

Steve

David Brent

Many thanks for that info Steve.
I'll have to sort out my London A to Z and try to pinpoint where the Huggett street may be.
I remember it looked like a really long and wide street yet at the time it didn't appear to be a main road.
It REALLY would be interesting to know if some of those houses are still there.

Cheers

Dave.

Harold Pelham

Fascinating stuff about the Huggets and great to hear a reply from director Ken Annakin. I have just starting researching the Huggett films for a proposed DVD box set. I'm learning as I go along so please bear with me. At the moment the set is to include "Holiday Camp" (the film that first introduced the family), "Here Come The Huggetts", "Vote For Huggett", "The Huggetts Abroad" and the spin off "Easy Money".

Before anyone gets too excitied it is a way down the schedule and will probably only happen if another more commercial set (also in the planning), starring Petula Clark, sells well. Fingers crossed.