Diane Blackwell

I'm a very sad person who just LOVES Amicas compilation-type films. And now I have a bee in my bonnet about locations in From Beyond the Grave. Anyone know where the little street is where Peter Cushing has his antiques shop? Or is it a set?

smudge

The street set for Temptations is, I believe, an old standing set at Shepperton, redressed - very much like 'Elstree Corner' used to be at ABPC for things like THE SAINT, CHAMPIONS, DEPT. S etc.

The corner where Donald Pleasence sells his, "matches...bootlaces..." is real enough though. It's at the bottom of the stairs leading from Goswell Hill to Royal Windsor Shopping (the old central railway station) in Windsor. It's the same street where the alien blob slimed up and over the wall in the first Hammer Quatermass film.

The old station has been changed into the shopping arcades since 1997, but Pleasance's corner was only affected a little. As you face towards Windsor Castle you can see the 'shadows' of light coloured brick from where the old advert hoardings were behind Ian Bannen.

They later stroll down the hill on the way to Donald's house...


SMUDGE

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Diane Blackwell

Well I never! Thanks very much, Smudge!

smudge

Oh yes, you're not a million miles away are you Diane ?

Well you can pop over at the weekend, have a coffee in the Cinnamon Cafe (Plug ; the only none chain and truly local cafe in the arcades!) and then walk down the very steps !

Don't forget Windsor was also v. popular with the Carry On team, NO SEX PLEASE WE'RE BRITISH was there, Jack Cardiff's PENNY GOLD - a snippet of CALLAN ; NEW AVENGERS, Michaels Winner's THE GAMES....etc.

Wonder if their tourist office would give me a job ?

Oh yes, and also (in the Amicus stakes) the Peter Cushing segment of HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD was located o/s Church House Antiques in Weybridge and the waxworks were actually the community hall on the opposite corner...both pretty much still as they were back then.

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Diane Blackwell

Good grief! I'm staggered. Actually, although I live in Kingston (Surrey, not Jamaica!) I've only ever been to Windsor once, about 25 years ago. And Weybridge isn't really far away at all, but I've only been there once before as well.

That was interesting about the House that dripped Blood - do you know any more locations for any of the Amicus compilations? Did you used to live down this way, or are you just a mine of information about locations?

smudge

Thames Street, Weybridge for 3 years, and used to go shopping in Windsor. Still go back regularly and have taken lots of pix.

I shall trawl the old grey matter (and reference works) to see what else of the Amicus stuff I can recall.

The old Walton 60s shopping centre was used in PSYCHOMANIA and also doubled as Nuneaton in MICHAEL RIMMER...

Chertsey Bridge IIRC was also in PSYCHOMANIA.

Will post again as & when I recall....

SMUDGE

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Diane Blackwell

That's great Smudge, keep it coming! Psychomania is quite a favourite of mine, so that was spot on! What's this Michael Rimmer? I've not heard of it.

smudge

THE RISE AND RISE OF MICHAEL RIMMER - a rather rare Peter Cook satire on politics and all that. AFAIK it has only been on once in the past 20 years, on CH 5 AGES ago.

Nuneaton (Walton in reality) is used to represent Middle England, and there are some brief (but nice) shots of the old 60s shopping centre. This has now, as you no doubt know, been demolished.

Walton also appeared occasionally in the original MONTY PYTHON tellys.

It seems that there is only one 1960s 'conservation area' in the whole of the uk, this being Point Royal, Bracknell, where I START COUNTING was filmed - it was also used as Sean Connery's home in THE OFFENCE...

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Diane Blackwell

Thanks for all that info - no, I wasn't aware it had been demolished!

One point of interest though - and this is nothing to do with Amicus or locations - what on earth are you doing sending messages at 5.13am on a Sunday morning?!

smudge

Ahhh....firstly, is this clock right and on BST ?

Secondly, can't stand lazing in bed when there's so much to do....

SMUDGE

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Diane Blackwell

I thought maybe you'd gone to Live 8 and had only just got home!

smudge

Nope - I quite deliberately missed LIVE 8 ; just couldn't see what it expects to achieve..

Quite ironic that these modern generations of 'bling' artistes are preaching to us all to eradicate poverty whilst happily racking up their own (ultra) conspicuous consumption.

Yet who's first in court if a download site is breaching their intellectual property (profit) rights ?

It's all about sharing....isn't it ?

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Diane Blackwell

Do you realise we have this forum entirely to ourselves?!

smudge

Yes.

But don't tell the wife....!
SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Diane Blackwell

You mean she doesn't belong as well? Schlock horror! Actually, my other half doesn't belong either - he only likes awful films full of violence and rubbish - no sense of refinement!!