Bernie

Greetings Filmbuffs,
I discovered this site whilst seeking info re "The Long Memory" (1952) dir. Robert Hamer, seen C4 18th June. I was really struck by the locations and lighting which were, for me, the strongest aspects of the film and created a wonderful English-noir atmosphere! I have yet to seek the recommended location websites, but meanwhile wondered if anyone knew the details of the setting, supposedly Gravesend. I fear it might have changed somewhat!
Many thanks,
Bernie

dylan

It was certainly filmed on location in the North Kent marshes around Gravesend. These are Thames Estuary salt marshes that were reclaimed for grazing in medieval times. You could see the old earth flood defence bund in several shots - this now lies beneath more substantial defences constructed after the disastrous floods of 1953.

The warehouses of the Shad Thames area south of London Bridge featured in the film have now been converted into yuppie apartments.

dylan

I meant Tower Bridge of course.

Bernie

Thank you Dylan for your informative reply; I'm pleased to have found this site - I've learnt a lot in a short time!

Bernardo

I thought the film was beautifully shot also yet when I spotted its showing on C4 I checked Halliwells Film Guide and it was reported as a boring one set film. Glad I recorded it.
Bernardo

Bernie

Pleased to read of your appreciation of this film, Bernardo. I should love to see it on the big screen. I've been learning a bit about the troubled director Robert Hamer, who died quite young and made some other films I have enjoyed a lot; these often contain a rather fatalistic or dark romanticism such as "It Always Rains on Sunday". Considering the "Most Enlish Film" category, perhaps this could compete for most English title!

fishwife

As a youngster I remember watching the filming of one scene of this film where JOHN SLATER was leaning against a wall of terraced houses. This was somewhere in Northfleet. In the film he was watching a house opposite. In reality the house being watched was some distance away in another part of town.
Not much help I'm afraid but a trip down memory lane for me.

Timwall02

The barges on which John Mills makes his home are at the bottom of Chetney Hill - on the Chetney Marshes on the Thames estuary. They are still largely there - minus all of the superstructure and most of the decking. The fence and gate in the earlier sequence are still easily identifiable.
Scenes of Gravesend are hard to positively identify except the spire of St Georges
Church in the town centre in one of the later sequences when Tim Pughsley is tracked down by John Mills' character.
Another church may be that of St Andrews on the riverfront - this is (or was) an art gallery and sits above a small bay below Gravesend town centre. When the police inspector and newspaperman await developments - an early version of the Gravesend-Tilbury ferry chugs towards Gravesend seen in view between the two men.
Check out the barges if youre in the area though - its an atmospheric spot....and you can walk in John Mills footsteps. How cool is that ?