spinalman

That's interesting. I scrutinised the film for Cement Works clues and couldn't see anything conclusive. I always assumed it was filmed there but that was only beacuse the cliff sequence was up the hill at Truleigh Hill. I know Shoreham very well. Where was the disco bit shot?

Paul

alan gowdy

I'd be surprised if Blue Circle would have permitted their then-active premises to be used for this purpose, although the other definite locations that I photographed (see earlier postings) are nearby.

pitchfork

I have read in a publication that the expolding truck scene was filmed near Maple cross but have spoken to locals who remember it being filmed behind Truleigh Hill. Unless we can find someone who was there we might never know.
We still joke that the driving scenes are used as a training film for local tipper firms!

Sid Langran

Hi, My first entry into your great forum, I too am a great fan of THE HELL DRIVERS film, still watch the video a few times a year. Members of my family were tipper drivers in the early 1950's, I was then a 9 year old boy and like other boys at that time went with my dad or one of my older brothers for the day in their lorry. We were from Croydon so the company's who they worked for were, Henry Streeter, Marco, De-Margo, George Sands, Standard Brick Co, Otway & Golder, Hall & co, Neal, Chapman, etc. I have read with interest the previous messages and may be able to help a bit
HAWLETTS Yard in the film was obviously at least partly put together for the film, but whoever designed the set was very near the mark, Henry Streeters yard in Leslie Park Road, Croydon could have been the model on which the film set was based, each of the drivers returned after a days work, filled up! and reversed his truck into it's bay, the bays were just open fronted "Tractor Sheds" on three sides of the yard, the other side being workshops, office and the House, built by the original Henry Streeter in the mid 1800's.
Streeters had an 50 cwt ex-army type Bedford as a breakdown truck, Hawletts was a Phase One Standard Vangard Pick-up.
Streeters only ran Dodge Kews at the time, Some prewar flat nosed versions with 4 yard bodies, and the rest were the Bonneted Dodge Kews with 5 and 6 yard bodies, as Hawletts were, In 1956 Streeters had a pair of S-type Bedfords come home as demonstration vehicles I think, although they were sign written, these were Six-Wheelers and my dad was to drive
one!
Streeters Pit was at Hythe End Lane, Wraysbury and I just loved to watch the lorrys reversing under the hoppers, there was an old boy who would raise the bar and give instructions to the drivers, "Up a bit" untill he was satisfied that the load was about the right weight.
What I think would surprise the drivers of today is that these trucks had a 20 mph restriction on them, but still managed to get from Croydon to Wraysbury several times a day, and through Kingston town centre! One truck I remember had a rear view mirror under the cab and could be used to see whatever was right up behind so sometimes the 20 mph was 30 mph.
I have recently met a man in his 80's that was a driver in the film, not all the actors could drive the lorry's it seams, anyway he said that some of the dodges were Grey in Colour and one had different coloured doors, apparently to help the camera crews to focus on the right vehicle in the long shots. but maybe his memory is not what it was?
I have been for many years searching for photos of Henry Streeters lorrys from that period, and would welcome any leads into finding them.

alan gowdy

Maple Cross would certainly have been convenient for Pinewood, but they took the trouble to shoot several scenes on the Downs near Shoreham. As they had gone to that expense (given the very tight budgets that modest Brit films had in the fifties) it is very likely that the quarry crash was staged there also. After all, there are several suitable sites there. Also, elsewhere on the forum someone has posted a cutting from a local Sussex paper showing a truck flying through the air and a small film unit at the locality.

alan gowdy

Try this:

homeguard

" One truck I remember had a rear view mirror under the cab and could be used to see whatever was right up behind so sometimes the 20 mph was 30 mph."

Come on Sid, this is straight out of a movie made around the same time as Hell Drivers (I think for television). The driver kept getting stopped by police who drove right up behind him. Using this mirror, the driver lures the police car in close, then slams on his brakes. The policemen are killed as their car runs under the back of the tipper. The driver is then vilified by all the rest of the tipper drivers. Can't remember the name of it though.
Regards,
HG

pitchfork

Homecuard, I think the movie you mention was based on a book called "Late night on Watling Street"

Sid Langran

Hi, Just had a look at. " what can only be described as some kind of vintage truck is seen parked outside the yard's main gate - what it is (was) is anyone's guess."

I have an Idea it is an old long nosed DENNIS, the model with the front axle right back to shorten the wheel-base, might be called the Pax. Failing that may be a Thornycroft Taurus.

This is only my second posting on the "Brit Movie" site, and am so glad I found it.

mariocki

Some up on the site now if you weren't aware:

IMCDb.org: "Hell Drivers, 1957": cars, bikes, trucks and other vehicles

spinalman

Hi Alan,

That is pretty conclusive! Those scenes of the junction and cliff were always flagged as Truleigh Hill for me -from years back when I first saw the film and knew that some of the film was shot at Shoreham. When I re-watched the film 4 or so years ago i was disappointed not to see any of the expected cement works scenes or any road sequences that looked like sussex and the environs. I watched at slo-mo and couldn't place the yard, nor gates. The film yard is a low key site, nothing like the huge complex that was Blue Circle. I reckon it was a second unit that was dispensed to Sussex for those last reel scenes and nothing more. All the rest appear to have been up at the yard and environs location nearer London as discussed earlier.

Paul

pitchfork

Hi, I think that some parts of the early scenes such as the route test drive were filmed in the locallity. There is a shot from the Steyning direction towards Truleigh Hill briefly.
I agree that the Blue Circle works was not used. There was of course no Shoreham by pass then and the later Steyning by pass used part of an old railway route.However the back roads behind Truliegh Hill and Small Dole and Upper Beeding probably have not changed a great deal.

homeguard

Thanks Ptchfork. I'll try and find it.
Regards,
HG

batman

The book was written by Bill (Alfie) Naughton. There doesn't seem to be a listing for it on IMDB. There is a Naughton credit in the Armchair Theatre series called Looking for Frankie with Colin Blakely. There is no synopsis but could this be it?

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

Moor Larkin

Reading the various accounts it seems reasonable to assume that everyone is right. Various clips could no doubt have been stitched together, from various 'takes' to make the full exciting scenes....... The magic of movies!

I have a 'still' image, from the movie, of Red in his cab, evidently plummeting to his doom and through the side window is what appears to be a wall of some sort, whether stone or a studio panel I know not......... ..... Certainly not a quarry, that's for sure!