Villan

My wife and 7 year old have been badgering me for months to go on a short break. I sneakily agreed to a long weekend in the Lakes. I say sneakily as I have always wanted to go on the Brief Encounter locations trail. This will include visits to the refurbished Station, The Hotel where cast stayed, and the bridge (I have'nt told the family yet!).Anyone else done anything similar? Don't worry if its embarrassing you're amongst friends !

Rob Compton

Interesting. No, I haven't done anything similar, but please tell us where all these locations are?

rgds
Rob

PS and when you come back - what was it like now? :)

only hooper

Oh-my-goodness-I-want-to-go-on-that!!!!

British Ladies

Villan

The first stop was at Carnforth Railway Station. (the location for most of the platform shots). I had been there as a nipper and remember it as a run down hole but now with the dedication of groups of enthusiasts (Friends of Carnforth Station)it's come on leaps and bounds. Then it was on to Middle Fell Bridge (OS 285 060) over Langdale Beck at Great Langdale. Finally we stopped over at Low Wood Hotel on the banks of Windermere (the hotel where the cast stayed). There are dedicated Carnforth web sites which give more info. Whilst in the Lakes we also took the opportunity to visit Ulveston the birth place of Stan Laurel. We visited the L&H museum and his house.

aphra

Can anybody help by naming the cinema that Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard visit to see FLAMES OF PASSION? There is a shot at the end of this sequence that shows them coming out of the front of what looks like a real cinema, not a studio shot. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

Philip Eno

That would be the same sequence with Joyce Grenfell on the Cinema Organ?

aphra

Yes, though I think you will find it was Irene Handl.

Dave Rattigan

All these years, and I had no idea that was Irene Handl on the organ!

The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations gives the cinema interior location as simply "a picture house in Victoria". The exterior was one of the entrances to Denham Studios, now demolished.

aphra

Thank you so much Dave. Yes, the interior was the Metropole in Victoria, not the New Victoria (known affectionately as Macfisheries because of all its wonderful underwater Deco motifs). I am so glad to have tracked down the origin of the exterior of the cinema and, of course, it looks just right in hindsight.

Ealingfilmfan

Watched this film for the umpteenth time last night.....

Simply magnificent.......

"Just room for one inside sir"