The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp

[lovenorwegians]

I'm a big fan of the 1954 film "The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp" and the Charles Terrot novel it was based on. I'd like to try and identify the outdoor locations used; can anyone help, please?

[harryfielder]

I'm sure I saw them filming some of this in Cambden Passage off Islington high street when I was 13/14 years old.
It's funny how things stick in your mind. (my old Nan lived nearby)

Aitch,

[Steve Crook]

The IMDb lists Islington as a location, but doesn't specify where in Islington. It was made at Beaconsfield studios

Steve

[lovenorwegians]

Thanks very much, guys.

It's interesting to note that the idea began life as a short story, was made into a half-hour TV play, expanded into a full-length novel and then became a feature film.

I've read the novel a few times over the years and it is actually quite dark when compared to the film.

Is the film still available to buy on a region 2 DVD, by the way? I went on eBay to buy a back-up copy and was surprised to find there weren't any on there.

[essaljay]

The pawn shop was indeed located in Camden Passage. Islington. It runs alongside Upper Street at it's top end just before the City Road intersection. It is still an antiques centre with open air markets during the week. I was the manager of the music shop situated there for a few years.

[smiffy]

Originally Posted by lovenorwegians Thanks very much, guys. It's interesting to note that the idea began life as a short story, was made into a half-hour TV play, expanded into a full-length novel and then became a feature film. I've read the novel a few times over the years and it is actually quite dark when compared to the film. Is the film still available to buy on a region 2 DVD, by the way? I went on eBay to buy a back-up copy and was surprised to find there weren't any on there.

Available at play.com £7.99 free delivery .I use them a lot, excellent service

[harryfielder]

Originally Posted by essaljay The pawn shop was indeed located in Camden Passage. Islington. It runs alongside Upper Street at it's top end just before the City Road intersection. It is still an antiques centre with open air markets during the week. I was the manager of the music shop situated there for a few years.

I remember the music shop Susans in the 50s/60s... (I bought my first electric guitar there ..

Aitch,

[alan french]

Hi.
Yes. I go along with what has been said. I remember seeing the film, and was intrigued by recognising the location. Although I had by now moved, I felt an affinity with the film due to the fact that I had lived in Islington. I am doing this next bit by memory, but I seem to recall that there was reference in the film to the fact that an angel had supposedly visited the district. Hence the area is known as The Angel. A bit of local history: I have read that the original Angel pub, supposedly in Islington, was in fact in Finsbury,which bordered part of Islington. However, with the the progression of time, Finsbury has now become absorbed into the London Borough of Islington.

Alan French.

[harryfielder]

Hello Alan,,,,(small world)
I was born Islington 1940 and lived there till 1993.
Then I moved to Herts to Abbots Langley and worked for a few years part time in a DIY Store at Appsley Mills HH. (Small world)

Aitch,

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by alan french Hi. Yes. I go along with what has been said. I remember seeing the film, and was intrigued by recognising the location. Although I had by now moved, I felt an affinity with the film due to the fact that I had lived in Islington. I am doing this next bit by memory, but I seem to recall that there was reference in the film to the fact that an angel had supposedly visited the district. Hence the area is known as The Angel. A bit of local history: I have read that the original Angel pub, supposedly in Islington, was in fact in Finsbury,which bordered part of Islington. However, with the the progression of time, Finsbury has now become absorbed into the London Borough of Islington. Alan French.

I think they might be confusing that with Neil Gaiman's comic book and television miniseries, Neverwhere

I don't think that The Angel, Islington is based on an angel visiting the district any more than the various pubs named after other things (kings, queens, animals etc.) are named because those people or creatures visited those areas. It's just a name.

There was an inn on the site in 1665, possibly earlier. People fleeing the plague took refuge there. The present building dates back to 1899.

Back in the old days not so many people could read so pubs and other places had a picture board outside to say what they were. These weren't necessarily representative of what they actually sold there, they were just something to distinguish them from other establishments.

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

Angel is apparently one of 5 tube stations named after a pub. To save you the trouble of Googling and to enhance your pub quiz skills I'll tell you that the others are

Spoiler

Royal Oak, Swiss Cottage, Elephant and Castle and and Manor House

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett Angel is apparently one of 5 tube stations named after a pub. To save you the trouble of Googling and to enhance your pub quiz skills I'll tell you that the others are Spoiler Royal Oak, Swiss Cottage, Elephant and Castle and and Manor House

And The Angel, Islington is the only "street" on the London edition of Monopoly that isn't really a road (or a street or any other thoroughfare).

Mind you, having "Free Parking" in London shows how out of date that board is

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

There are a couple of Bond Streets but they're nowhere near Oxford Street. You won't find Mayfair on a map either

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett There are a couple of Bond Streets but they're nowhere near Oxford Street. You won't find Mayfair on a map either

There are a few others that are spread out more than the board suggests and some are quite small streets. But you're quite right about Mayfair, that's just a district, not a road

Steve

[lovenorwegians]

I've just discovered that there was also a German novel and film, both titled "Der Engel, der seine Harfe versetzte". The plot thickens!

A quick plug for my recently formed Yahoo! group:

theangelwhopawnedherharp : The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp