Hell is a City - Britmovie

The Glueman · 27-10-2006, 09:00 PM

This is a real long shot but i'm sure some of you know the film Hell is a city.

Anyway some of the locations are obvious but two intrigue me.

The site of the garage/ workshop which looks like it could be in an old church or chapel.
The smart suburban house belonging to Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance - the street sign says Rusholme Grove i think but there is no such place (not even in the 50's)

Any ideas from older Mancunians?

George Nixon · 19-12-2006, 10:22 AM

In response to the questions on the film Hell Is City Locations. I am not sure of the garage location, but the house owned by the Donald Pleasence character is situated on Errwood Road, Levenshulme, Manchester 19. I have a website dedicated to Levenshulme in the 1950s & 1960s, and a section of the site covers the making of Hell Is A City. I watched the filming at this location,as a 10 year old,and have always had a fascination with this film since.

JamesM · 19-12-2006, 02:36 PM

That link doesn't work, even when you copy and paste.

Life Stinks · 20-06-2007, 09:22 PM

I have looked at the website with the link above, its very good. I was wondering can anybody help with the following locations out of Manchester:

Taking the murdered girl out to the moors after the robbery and dumping her body.

Switching to the taxi in the old quarry.

The tossing match and subsequent police raid.

I had in mind, due to the physical geography and appearence, the district to the north and east of Oldham bounded by Shaw and Newhey to the north and Greenfield and Saddleworth to the east. Perhaps including the main A62 as it was then, also perhaps the Greenfield - Holmfirth road.

The 'A628 Doncaster Road' features in the story but in reality I am certain location filming did not take place anywhere near this road, but signs were erected by the film crew for effect in lots of unlikely locations.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who can shed more light on this, thank you.

JohnB_Toronto · 21-06-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Glueman

The smart suburban house belonging to Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance - the street sign says Rusholme Grove i think but there is no such place (not even in the 50's)

Any ideas from older Mancunians?

MultiMap does show a Rusholme Grove in Manchester

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&map=51.5039902991333,-0.128328113398752|14|4&loc=GB:51.5039902991333:-0.128328113398752:14#t=l&map=53.45291,-2.21897|17|4&loc=GB:53.45291:-2.21897:17|rusholme%20grove|Rusholme%20Grove,%20MA NCHESTER%20(RUSHOLME),%20M14

vanburen · 25-06-2007, 04:13 PM

The road where the body is dumped and the quarry are on marsden moor.we found them but it took the best part of a day ! the road is either the A640 running over deanhead or the B6114 that leaves the A640.look for deanhead resavoir and you wont be far off.good luck

Life Stinks · 25-06-2007, 10:29 PM

Hi Vanburen, thank you for that information, I shall get out there and take a look when I have some time free.

yorkist · 26-06-2007, 10:00 AM

I can verify that part of hell is a city was filmed on Marsden moors,I went up to see them filming but they had finished when I arrived.I brought back a plastic plate as a souvenir hoping that Stanley Baker had used it.

yorkist

vanburen · 26-06-2007, 11:04 AM

it wont have been stanleys,he's no litter bug.......

vanburen · 29-06-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Nixon

In response to the questions on the film Hell Is City Locations. I am not sure of the garage location, but the house owned by the Donald Pleasence character is situated on Errwood Road, Levenshulme, Manchester 19. I have a website dedicated to Levenshulme in the 1950s & 1960s, and a section of the site covers the making of Hell Is A City. I watched the filming at this location,as a 10 year old,and have always had a fascination with this film since.

Thats fantastic Mr NIXON,some great photos on your site from the making of the film,nice for sharing them

smiffy · 30-06-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Glueman

This is a real long shot but i'm sure some of you know the film Hell is a city.

Anyway some of the locations are obvious but two intrigue me.

The site of the garage/ workshop which looks like it could be in an old church or chapel.
The smart suburban house belonging to Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance - the street sign says Rusholme Grove i think but there is no such place (not even in the 50's)

Any ideas from older Mancunians?

I don't think I have seen this film but will now make every effort to find it,with regard to rusholme grove it does exist and I know it well, it is in a once smart area of manchester now more famous for it's nickname "THE CURRY MILE" it is only a small grove but runs parallel with dickenson rd and is a stones throw from the former home of manchester city ,Maine rd .

Bell Bottom George · 03-11-2007, 06:42 AM

I know this has been asked before, but perhaps some newer members might know ; where is the village/edge of a town where the coin tossing on the slag heaps took place ? There are two mills in the background (now probably demolished though).

Modular · 09-11-2007, 12:31 PM

Hell is a City is currently on offer from Play at a very 'wallet friendly' £3.99.

Click!

batman · 09-11-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modular

Hell is a City is currently on offer from Play at a very 'wallet friendly' £3.99.

My favourite Stanley Baker film and a bona fide classic!

At £3.99 it would be a shame not to ..... buy it!

Bats.

JamesM · 09-11-2007, 01:26 PM

The region 1 Anchor Bay edition features a Val Guest commentary and is around £3 from some Amazon marketplace sellers.

27-10-2006, 09:00 PM	#1
The Glueman Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hell is a City This is a real long shot but i'm sure some of you know the film Hell is a city. Anyway some of the locations are obvious but two intrigue me. The site of the garage/ workshop which looks like it could be in an old church or chapel. The smart suburban house belonging to Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance - the street sign says Rusholme Grove i think but there is no such place (not even in the 50's) Any ideas from older Mancunians?

19-12-2006, 10:22 AM	#2
George Nixon Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 5 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hell Is A City In response to the questions on the film Hell Is City Locations. I am not sure of the garage location, but the house owned by the Donald Pleasence character is situated on Errwood Road, Levenshulme, Manchester 19. I have a website dedicated to Levenshulme in the 1950s & 1960s, and a section of the site covers the making of Hell Is A City. I watched the filming at this location,as a 10 year old,and have always had a fascination with this film since.

26-06-2007, 10:00 AM	#8
yorkist Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: yorkshire Posts: 21 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hell is a city I can verify that part of hell is a city was filmed on Marsden moors,I went up to see them filming but they had finished when I arrived.I brought back a plastic plate as a souvenir hoping that Stanley Baker had used it. yorkist

03-11-2007, 06:42 AM	#12
Bell Bottom George Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wigan Posts: 78 Country: iTrader: (0)	I know this has been asked before, but perhaps some newer members might know ; where is the village/edge of a town where the coin tossing on the slag heaps took place ? There are two mills in the background (now probably demolished though). __________________ "What larks we had Mr Pip...........what larks !"

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19-12-2006, 02:36 PM	#3
JamesM Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,452 Country: iTrader: (0)	That link doesn't work, even when you copy and paste.

20-06-2007, 09:22 PM	#4
Life Stinks Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: . . . . up north you know Posts: 2 Country: iTrader: (0)	I have looked at the website with the link above, its very good. I was wondering can anybody help with the following locations out of Manchester: Taking the murdered girl out to the moors after the robbery and dumping her body. Switching to the taxi in the old quarry. The tossing match and subsequent police raid. I had in mind, due to the physical geography and appearence, the district to the north and east of Oldham bounded by Shaw and Newhey to the north and Greenfield and Saddleworth to the east. Perhaps including the main A62 as it was then, also perhaps the Greenfield - Holmfirth road. The 'A628 Doncaster Road' features in the story but in reality I am certain location filming did not take place anywhere near this road, but signs were erected by the film crew for effect in lots of unlikely locations. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who can shed more light on this, thank you.

25-06-2007, 04:13 PM	#6
vanburen Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: south yorkshire Posts: 63 Country: iTrader: (0)	The road where the body is dumped and the quarry are on marsden moor.we found them but it took the best part of a day ! the road is either the A640 running over deanhead or the B6114 that leaves the A640.look for deanhead resavoir and you wont be far off.good luck

25-06-2007, 10:29 PM	#7
Life Stinks Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: . . . . up north you know Posts: 2 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hi Vanburen, thank you for that information, I shall get out there and take a look when I have some time free.

26-06-2007, 11:04 AM	#9
vanburen Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: south yorkshire Posts: 63 Country: iTrader: (0)	it wont have been stanleys,he's no litter bug.......

09-11-2007, 12:31 PM	#13
Modular Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dock Green Posts: 288 Country: iTrader: (0)	Hell is a City is currently on offer from Play at a very 'wallet friendly' £3.99. Click!

09-11-2007, 01:26 PM	#15
JamesM Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,452 Country: iTrader: (0)	The region 1 Anchor Bay edition features a Val Guest commentary and is around £3 from some Amazon marketplace sellers.