Hatfield, Herts

[PS68060]

I was watching Goldfinger a few weeks ago and towards the end Bond gets on an

executive jet were he is again attacked by Goldfinger.



I wondered if the airfield used was deHavilland's at Hatfield, it might not be but then I wondered how many films feature deHavillands airfield ?

[Nick Dando]

I'd say that The Sound Barrier is a pretty good candidate.



Nick

[Steve Crook]

name='PS68060']I was watching Goldfinger a few weeks ago and towards the end Bond gets on an

executive jet were he is again attacked by Goldfinger.



I wondered if the airfield used was deHavilland's at Hatfield, it might not be but then I wondered how many films feature deHavillands airfield ?

The IMDb says that Saving Private Ryan used the "Former British Aerospace factory" at Hatfield, but it doesn't say how.



For their filming locations, they always try to describe/define the location as it is now, rather than how it was known when it was used



Steve

[christoph404]

name='Steve Crook']The IMDb says that Saving Private Ryan used the "Former British Aerospace factory" at Hatfield, but it doesn't say how.



For their filming locations, they always try to describe/define the location as it is now, rather than how it was known when it was used



Steve

RE; Saving Private Ryan,they built a very large exterior set of the bombed out French town which features in the climatic battle at the end of the film. It was visible from the A1. I know that in Goldfinger the "Blue Grass Airfield" supposedley in Kentucky was in reality Northolt Aerodrome which is very close to Pinewood, I would imagine that Aerodrome would have been used throughout the film because of its proximaty to the studio.

[PS68060]

I'm fairly sure a friend of mine was a student at Hatfield

when Private Ryan was being filled so he might be able to give

more details.



So many military aerodromes have disappearred over the past 20 years

their brief appearance in films might be a good record.

[Anthony McKay]

Some of the Virtual Earth 'birds eye view' images of the airfield still feature the buildings from 'Private Ryan'.

[PaulPlowman]

name='Anthony McKay']Some of the Virtual Earth 'birds eye view' images of the airfield still feature the buildings from 'Private Ryan'.

If they are the same images I've seen, they're actually sets from Band Of Brothers, the TV show spin-off from Ryan.

[Anthony McKay]

Whoops - my mistake - they both look the same after a few beers!

[tellingbone]

name='Anthony McKay']Some of the Virtual Earth 'birds eye view' images of the airfield still feature the buildings from 'Private Ryan'.

They went 10 years ago.



The site is now a residential estate, has a school, many businesses and is the site of the main University Of Hertfordshire Campus. The only original features remaining are the control tower/assembly hall and some of the art deco building that held the sales/design offices.

[PaulPlowman]

Google Earth, Virtual Earth, and Flash Earth all still show the Band Of Brothers sets. Try these coordinates...



51.76785, -0.25662

[Anthony McKay]

I've been looking at Shepperton Studios recently and there appears to have been an sports stadium built in the fields just north of the studios - looks like a tennis court - any ideas of the production?



Here

[PaulPlowman]

name='Anthony McKay']I've been looking at Shepperton Studios recently and there appears to have been an sports stadium built in the fields just north of the studios - looks like a tennis court - any ideas of the production?



Here

North? You mean south?



Anyway, it's a copy of Centre Court for the film Wimbledon which came out a few years back!

:)

[George Nixon]

Has anyone ever figured out that Goldfingers jet, a Lockheed Jetstar, and the USAF jet at the end of the movie are one and the same aircraft with different markings??

[christoph404]

name='George Nixon']Has anyone ever figured out that Goldfingers jet, a Lockheed Jetstar, and the USAF jet at the end of the movie are one and the same aircraft with different markings??

The magic of film making also turns it into Dr Who's Tardis! A Jetstar is very small inside in reality, certainly no room for Connery to stand up straight and barely room for two seats side by side,the studio mock up of the interior is like a Jumbo Jet, its massive!

[davidb]

some of tomorrow never dies was filmed in radlett in herts ,the motorcycle chase in a shanty town ,saving ryans privates was filmed on hatfield business park ,some of the film anyway ,and before the business park was totally built on like it is now ,ive worked a few times on the business park and its doubled , possibly trebled in size since the filming of that film which must be over 10 years now

[tellingbone]

I think the area used for Band Of Brothers has still yet to be built on.

[LukeAFB]

PaulPlowman,



The set at Hatfield which was built for Private Ryan is the same set used in Band of Brothers (suitably re-dressed).

[Harleybloke]

Old Hatfield has also been used for period pieces, I've been in the 8 Bells when a load of Georgian types walked in - quite odd!



Nearby Brockett Hall was used for an episode of Morse as well.

[Anthony McKay]

name='Harleybloke']Nearby Brockett Hall was used for an episode of Morse as well.

Brockett Hall - I was doing some location spotting there about the same time as the owner was involved in some very 'interesting' activities involving vintage sports cars and matches.

[davidb]

hatfield also featured in the lee evans film "the martins "