Kisses at Fifty

[Critto]

Although some of the locations are cited as Dewsbury, West Yorkshire (Battye Street sign as the Bill Maynard character, Harry is walking up the hill to his local pub, and train station where Harry is sleeping rough), I am confused as to the whereabouts of the train station during the play's climax where Harry boards the train (the destination on the train does cite Leeds). Does anyone have any information?

[glyn horton]

Hi Critto



The railway station at the end where Harry boards the train is Mirfield station, on the Manchester-Leeds line. Actually the scene where Harry sleeps rough was filmed in London - on Marylebone station!

[Critto]

name='glyn horton']Hi Critto



The railway station at the end where Harry boards the train is Mirfield station, on the Manchester-Leeds line. Actually the scene where Harry sleeps rough was filmed in London - on Marylebone station!

Many thanks for that.

[MartinU]

name='glyn horton']Hi Critto



The railway station at the end where Harry boards the train is Mirfield station, on the Manchester-Leeds line. Actually the scene where Harry sleeps rough was filmed in London - on Marylebone station!

Ah, the station where Harry slept rough was Marylebone, not Dewsbury LNWR station? Was that just the interior shots, because I've a vague memory of seeing recognisable outside shots of Dewsbury station. I wonder why they used Marylebone - maybe they needed to reshoot those scenes after they'd left the West Riding locations. Marylebone would have been ideal in those days: dingy and bleak - at least they didn't show the indescribably bad subterranean gents' loo there!



I missed the Battye Street sign. I'd have recognised the name if I had seen it because my ancestors had a textile printing works and a sweet factory in one of the side streets off Battye Street - I can remember my grandpa and great grandma telling me all about it. I wonder if there are any more recognisable shots of the area. IMDB says that a scene was shot in Morley, a couple of miles away.



I remember the wierd incidental music - there was a song about Charlie Chaplin IIRC!

[Marky B]

Is this the one where he comes back to give his daughter away at her window,and she is defiant about asking her estranged father to do so?

Ta Ta

Marky B

[MartinU]

name='Marky B']Is this the one where he comes back to give his daughter away at her window,and she is defiant about asking her estranged father to do so?

Ta Ta

Marky B

That's the one. "Play for Today" Kisses at Fifty (1973)



Bill Maynard's character Harry leaves his wife and daughter (who is about to be married) and goes to live with a barmaid (played by Marjorie Yates). They move away from the area. Things don't work out and Harry comes back to his family on the wedding day with his tail between his legs. I can't remember whether the daughter wants him to walk her down the aisle. He leaves again on a train at the end of the play, probably because his wife won't take him back.

[Marky B]

name='MartinU']That's the one. "Play for Today" Kisses at Fifty (1973)



Bill Maynard's character Harry leaves his wife and daughter (who is about to be married) and goes to live with a barmaid (played by Marjorie Yates). They move away from the area. Things don't work out and Harry comes back to his family on the wedding day with his tail between his legs. I can't remember whether the daughter wants him to walk her down the aisle. He leaves again on a train at the end of the play, probably because his wife won't take him back.

Thanks,Martin

Ta Ta

Marky B

[Mr Sloane]

This play is available to download from Thebox.

[glyn horton]

name='MartinU']Ah, the station where Harry slept rough was Marylebone, not Dewsbury LNWR station? Was that just the interior shots, because I've a vague memory of seeing recognisable outside shots of Dewsbury station. I wonder why they used Marylebone - maybe they needed to reshoot those scenes after they'd left the West Riding locations. Marylebone would have been ideal in those days: dingy and bleak - at least they didn't show the indescribably bad subterranean gents' loo there!



I missed the Battye Street sign. I'd have recognised the name if I had seen it because my ancestors had a textile printing works and a sweet factory in one of the side streets off Battye Street - I can remember my grandpa and great grandma telling me all about it. I wonder if there are any more recognisable shots of the area. IMDB says that a scene was shot in Morley, a couple of miles away.



I remember the wierd incidental music - there was a song about Charlie Chaplin IIRC!

I think Dewsbury station was used for the scenes where Maynard and his barmaid lover are in a station buffet having tea.



Marylebone was a very popular station location for film and TV in the 60s and 70s because it was fairly unmodernised (good for historic scenes) and relatively quiet, particularly on Sundays so filming wasn't too much of a disruption. It's a bit different there now!

[wadey]

I was thinking about this play the other day as I'm sure I spotted Marjorie Yates in "Heartbeat"



Some station photos here



http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=14292031

[795e]

My first post on the forum - so I hope the pics turn out ok.

The station where Harry boards the train in the closing scene is Ravensthorpe (not Mirfield) on the Manchester - Huddesfield - Leeds line midway between Mirfield and Dewsbury stations. It is still open but bereft of all its buildings. In the programme, as the train leaves (shot from the Calder Road overbridge), you can see the old coal fired Thornhill power station and cooling tower on the left.

train film.jpg ravensthorpe.jpg

Battye Street had me puzzled for a while; I went to the school there many moons ago and it didn't seem to fit just right with my memory. Through the wonders of Google Streetview I found the TV location of Battye Street to be in Heckmondwike, not the one in Dewsbury. The school buliding is still there although the local education authority indicate that it is no longer a school.

battye st film.jpg battye st g.jpg

The pub, The Woodman, appears to be The Brighton, also in Heckmondwike and only yards away from Battye Street.

woodman fil.jpg brighton.jpg

It's been a while since the last post, but I hope the above is of help to the previous posters.

[wadey]

Great work, thanks

[MartinU]

My first post on the forum - so I hope the pics turn out ok.

The station where Harry boards the train in the closing scene is Ravensthorpe (not Mirfield) on the Manchester - Huddesfield - Leeds line midway between Mirfield and Dewsbury stations. It is still open but bereft of all its buildings. In the programme, as the train leaves (shot from the Calder Road overbridge), you can see the old coal fired Thornhill power station and cooling tower on the left.

Attachment 7496 Attachment 7497

Battye Street had me puzzled for a while; I went to the school there many moons ago and it didn't seem to fit just right with my memory. Through the wonders of Google Streetview I found the TV location of Battye Street to be in Heckmondwike, not the one in Dewsbury. The school buliding is still there although the local education authority indicate that it is no longer a school.

Attachment 7498 Attachment 7499

The pub, The Woodman, appears to be The Brighton, also in Heckmondwike and only yards away from Battye Street.

Attachment 7500 Attachment 7501

It's been a while since the last post, but I hope the above is of help to the previous posters.

Thanks for those corrections. I'll correct the locations list in IMDB.

I too was puzzled by not recognising Battye Street, but if it was the one in Heckmondwike, that explains it.

[MartinU]

Thanks for those corrections. I'll correct the locations list in IMDB.

I too was puzzled by not recognising Battye Street, but if it was the one in Heckmondwike, that explains it.

I'm doubtful about Dewbury station too. As Harry walks into the station cafe to meet Audrey, it looks as if there's a solid wall at the end of the road that he walks along, whereas Dewsbury station is on a through road and there is a service road between the station building and Dewsbury Ring Road. Mind you, the road layout could have been remodelled since then.

[795e]

I'm sure that the station cafe is not Dewsbury (Wellington Road). As Harry walks down to the station entrance he passes what look like shops or commercial premises adjoining the station proper. Dewsbury station stood back from the main road (Wellington Road) in a sort of open court yard with walls on the 'wing' sides - no shops. Sidings were located behind these walls, including at least one quite large warehouse. Also, there wouldn't have been room to park the bus (single decker?) to the left of the entrance. Can't remember Dewsbury ever having a cafe either, although it now boasts a real-ale pub! When Harry is talking to Audrey in the cafe you can see (briefly) platforms which appear to indicate a sizeable station whereas Dewsbury had only two platforms, although four tracks (now three, I think).

Pedantic correction to my previous post. The Ravensthorpe final shot must have been taken from the platform footbridge and not the Calder Road bridge; that is too far away without using a telephoto lens.

I think I have located Harry's house (No 63) - and it's not Battye Street!

If anyone's interested I'll try and get some pics.

[MartinU]

Yes, I think it's not Dewsbury station. So I wonder where it is. Could it be some part of Huddersfield?

It was bugging me that the Streetview photo of Ravensthorpe station showed the footbridge obscuring the platforms, and this was not visible in the final shot of Kisses at Fifty. But I hadn't thought that the shot could have been taken from the footbridge. Duh!

Where's Harry's house? Just after we see the Battye Street sign, Harry walks past a big orange sign saying "E Company, 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Volunteers, TAVR". http://www.win.tue.nl/~drenth/BritAr...age/YORKSHIRE/ seems to suggest that E Company was at Carlton Barracks in Leeds with another site in Castleford - no obvious connection with Heckmondwike.

[795e]

Yes, I think it's not Dewsbury station. So I wonder where it is. Could it be some part of Huddersfield?

It was bugging me that the Streetview photo of Ravensthorpe station showed the footbridge obscuring the platforms, and this was not visible in the final shot of Kisses at Fifty. But I hadn't thought that the shot could have been taken from the footbridge. Duh!

Where's Harry's house? Just after we see the Battye Street sign, Harry walks past a big orange sign saying "E Company, 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Volunteers, TAVR". http://www.win.tue.nl/~drenth/BritAr...age/YORKSHIRE/ seems to suggest that E Company was at Carlton Barracks in Leeds with another site in Castleford - no obvious connection with Heckmondwike.

That station buffet! I've looked around various stations on Google without success. Many stations have either been remodelled or demolished which obviously doesn't help. Huddersfield station itself has a stunning facade, so that's not it. I have also discounted Leeds (City and Central), both Wakefield's and Bradford's and a few others. Could be in the Home Counties - nearer to the studios perhaps as there are only two characters needed on set for the scene(s). A train rattles through the staion as Harry walks along the platform indicating a through station rather than a terminus, so it wouldn't be any of the major London stations. Will keep searching!

Oh, you mentioned a solid wall at the end of the station approach. I think it is a wall on the far side of a T-junction. You can see a 'no right-turn' sign at the junction and a set of steps running up the far left hand side of the wall. The building on the corner looks like a newspaper office - ads and photos in the windows? - just a thought.

The 'E Company' sign had me puzzled too. The building looks like a converted school, so I don't think it would be a 'full' barrack, more likely a drill hall of some sort. The stone work is in keeping with the West Riding but I wouldn't have thought the scene required a trip to Leeds or Castleford for shooting - afterall, we only hear the band. Perhaps it was a local outpost of 'E Company' long since demolished?

Harry and Rene's home. '63 Carlisle Crescent, Ravenswike, Yorkshire,' says the DHSS official. I think that it is 63 Cornmill Drive, Liversedge. Here are some pics that seem to bear it out:

Aerial view of the area with some locations marked.

cornmill map2.jpg

Harry walks home from the pub along the footpath. Note the pylon in the background,

footpath with harry tv.jpg footpath cornmill drive.jpg

Harry walking up the hill from the pub and approaching home. Note quite matching views - Harry is approaching the corner shown in the Google view.

Harry walks up hill tv.jpg cornmill up to 63.jpg

No 63 itself - best google view I could manage.

63 cornmill drive.jpg


I have a few more shots that I feel will support my suspicions but as I'm about to exceed my picture limit, they will have to wait until tomorrow. Plus I've found some location for an old thread from the Film Locations threads!

[MartinU]

That station buffet! I've looked around various stations on Google without success. Many stations have either been remodelled or demolished which obviously doesn't help. Huddersfield station itself has a stunning facade, so that's not it. I have also discounted Leeds (City and Central), both Wakefield's and Bradford's and a few others. Could be in the Home Counties - nearer to the studios perhaps as there are only two characters needed on set for the scene(s). A train rattles through the staion as Harry walks along the platform indicating a through station rather than a terminus, so it wouldn't be any of the major London stations. Will keep searching!

Yes I know Hudderfield's impressive facade, but I was wondering if there were any other less well-known side entrances. I suppose I was thinking of a station that was large enough to have a buffet and several platforms. I too had discounted Bradford Exchange/Forster Square, Wakefield Westgate (and probably Kirkgate - depending when the buildings were demolished to leave it in its present semi-derelict state!), Leeds City (did the buildings of Central still exist in 1973?). What about some of the stations on one of the Manchester lines - Todmorden, Hedben Bridge? It looks northern, not Home Counties, but I may well be wrong. As you say, it's a through station, not a terminus (unless there was an almighty crash after the end of the shot of Harry walking past the buffet window!).

Oh, you mentioned a solid wall at the end of the station approach. I think it is a wall on the far side of a T-junction. You can see a 'no right-turn' sign at the junction and a set of steps running up the far left hand side of the wall. The building on the corner looks like a newspaper office - ads and photos in the windows? - just a thought.

Duh. Yes, it's the wall on the far side of the T junction. I missed the no-turn-right sign. The name on the building by the junction is almost legible, but tantalisingly not so I wonder if it could be an estate agent: they also have boards in the window with lots of photos on.





I wonder whereabouts they have (had?) red and cream buses.

The 'E Company' sign had me puzzled too. The building looks like a converted school, so I don't think it would be a 'full' barrack, more likely a drill hall of some sort. The stone work is in keeping with the West Riding but I wouldn't have thought the scene required a trip to Leeds or Castleford for shooting - afterall, we only hear the band. Perhaps it was a local outpost of 'E Company' long since demolished?

Yes it looks like a school. At first I wondered whether it was the school in Battye Street, especially since we see the street name just before.

Harry and Rene's home. '63 Carlisle Crescent, Ravenswike, Yorkshire,' says the DHSS official. I think that it is 63 Cornmill Drive, Liversedge. Here are some pics that seem to bear it out:

I think you've got it! The first view of the footpath as Harry walks towards the camera, "toddling home", is recognisable.

Then there's the factory where Harry works after leaving the place where he worked as a stoker. The half-timbered building (a pub) opposite ought to be recognisable - to someone!





And the church where his daughter gets married. I wonder where that is.





The wooden porch and the buildings opposite ought to be recognisable providing they haven't been demolished.

[bobsterkent]

Ok that bus, Its a Bristol RE with ECW body in Tilling red. So if its Yorkshire that narrows it down to West Yorkshire Road car Co. It had main depots at Harrogate (also the Head Office), Bradford, Keighley, Leeds and York, however if we thing the station wasn't in Yorkshire but London then the closest 'red' Tilling company was Thames Valley who were around Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, High Wycombe, Oxford and Windsor.

[MartinU]

Ok that bus, Its a Bristol RE with ECW body in Tilling red. So if its Yorkshire that narrows it down to West Yorkshire Road car Co. It had main depots at Harrogate (also the Head Office), Bradford, Keighley, Leeds and York, however if we thing the station wasn't in Yorkshire but London then the closest 'red' Tilling company was Thames Valley who were around Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, High Wycombe, Oxford and Windsor.

Windsor. Could it be the entrance to Windsor Central, with the walls of the castle in the background of the first photo?





Spot the metal verandas around the first-floor windows at the right-hand end, and the change in level of the white-painted ground floor as you get close to the station. What do you reckon?

OK, so Windsor station is a terminus, but maybe the buffet scenes were filmed somewhere else from the shot of Harry walking into the station. Mind you, if they'd travelled all the way from Marylebone to Windsor during shooting in the south, you'd think they'd use somewhere nearby for the buffet scenes.

How certain are we that the scene where policeman finds Harry sleeping rough was shot at Marylebone. Could that conceivably be the interior of Windsor Central? From memory, that has similar brick architecture to Marylebone inside. Just a thought...