Author: Kent Film Office

Doctor Who – The Curse of Fenric (1989)

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head shot of Sylvester McCoy as Doctor Who looking concerned, looking away from the camera

Sylvester McCoy as Doctor Who © BBC

Director: Nicholas Mallett

Starring: Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Dinsdale Landen, Alfred Lynch, Nicholas Parsons

Production Company: BBC

Kent locations used: Lillesden Manor, Roses Farm, St Lawrence Church in Hawkhurst

The Curse of Fenric is a four part story of popular sci-fi show, Doctor Who, starring Sylvester McCoy. The Doctor and his companion, Ace, arrive at a secret military base during World War II where a Viking curse has been awakened.. Confronted by vampires emerging from the sea and Russian commandoes closing in, the Doctor and Ace need to find a way to defeat an old evil to secure a better future for mankind.

Sylvester McCoy (Frank Stubbs, Rab C. Nesbitt) stars as the seventh Doctor alongside Sophie Aldred (Corners, Melvin and Maureen’s Music-a-grams), Dinsdale Landen (Devenish, Mickey Dunne), Alfred Lynch (Jackanory, West 11) and Nicholas Parsons (The Arthur Haynes Show, Sale of the Century).

The production visited Lillesden Manor which doubled as the laboratory under the church. It is situated in Hawkhurst and is set in 200 acres of land, and was built in 1853 by Edward Lloyd. Just after World War I, the mansion was sold and became a girl’s school which closed in 1999.

The production also visited listed timber framed cottage, Roses Farm in Hawkhurst, which doubled as Mrs Hardaker’s Cottage and St Lawrence Church in Hawkhurst which doubled as St Judd’s Church.

Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric was first shown in 1989 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Birds of a Feather (1989-1998)

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Birds of a Feather cast members stood in front of a door having a conversation at a desk

Birds of a Feather – Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph), Sharon Theodopolopodos (Pauline Quirke) and Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson) © BBC

Director: Nick Wood

Starring: Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson, Leslie Joseph, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou

Production Company: Alomo Productions, SelecTV

Kent Locations used: Maidstone Prison

Birds of a Feather is a comedy series about two sisters, Sharon and Tracey Stubbs who move in together after both their husbands end up in jail following an armed robbery attempt.

Sharon has been struggling and her husband’s crime isn’t a surprise whereas Tracey has been living her dream life in Chigwell and is shell-shocked to find her beloved husband is a criminal.

The sisters must get used to their enforced new circumstances and deal with their husbands being in jail as well as their sex-mad neighbour Dorien Green.

Birds of a Feather was created by Laurence Marks (Goodnight Sweetheart, The Last Laugh), and stars Pauline Quirke (Broadchurch, Emmerdale), Linda Robson (Casualty, Crossroads), Leslie Joseph (Night & Day, Rumble), Alun Lewis (Emmerdale, Lexx), and Peter Polycarpou (Evita, EastEnders).

The long running BBC franchise finished after nine series in 1998. However, in 2013 it was revived with a tenth series for ITV, and an eleventh series has been commissioned.

HM Maidstone Prison was used to film the exterior prison scenes throughout the original series.

Maidstone lies on the River Medway and is the county town of Kent offering shopping areas and parks. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as Kent Life and Leeds Castle.   The Maidstone Studios has hosted filming for TV productions such as  Take Me Out (2010-2019). 

Birds of A Feather was shown on the BBC between 1989-1998 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Great Expectations (1989)

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Great Expectations Movieposter 1989- Montage of characters from the film overlapping. Great Expectations written in yellow over the top

Great Expectations Movieposter 1989 © Buena Vista Television

Director: Kevin Connor

Writers: Charles Dickens (Novel)

Starring: Kim Thompson, Jean Simmons, Anthony Calf & Anthony Hopkins

Production Company: Harlech Television (HTV), Primetime Television Ltd., Tesauro Television, Walt Disney Television

Kent Locations Used: Harty Church, Rochester, Chatham, Upnor village

With a future as a blacksmith before him, Pip is invited to the home of the lonely spinster, Miss Havisham, abandoned on the day of her wedding. Encouraging her adopted daughter Estella to break the young boy’s heart, Pip is sent there for her own entertainment. The young boy’s fortunes change when an unknown and generous person pays for Pip to travel to London and begin a new life as a gentleman.

Starring Kim Thompson (Emmerdale Farm, 1408) as Estella, Jean Simmons (Spartacus) as the haunting Miss Havisham, Anthony Calf (New Tricks) as Pip and Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Thor) as Abel Magwitch, this Disney adaptation of the Dickens classic features many Kent locations.

Filming took place at Harty Church on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent: young Orphan Phillip (Pip) Pirrup, on a visit to the graves of his parents, meets the sinister escaped convict Abel Magwitch.  The church has part-Norman origins and is visited by both tourists and historians from around the world.

The crew also came to Upnor village to film, which provides the home of Herbert Pockets’ fiancée Clara’s house. Locals to the area will notice the Upnor Lighthouse as Pip docks in the village.

Another Kentish church, St James’ church in Cooling, which is situated on the marshes near the Hoo Peninsula, inspired Dickens so much, he used the location for the dramatic scene where Pip meets prisoner Magwitch.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Inspector Morse – Deceived by Flight (1989)

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Inspector Morse with his hands in his pockets looking at the camera with the port of dover queue behind him.

Inspector Morse (John Thaw) © ITV

Starring: John Thaw, Kevin Whatley, Nathaniel Parker, Peter Amory, Norman Rodway

Directed by: Anthony Simmons

Production Company: Zenith Productions, Central Independent Television

Kent locations used: Port of Dover, Dover Priory Station

Deceived by Flight is episode 3, from series 3, of the well-known Inspector Morse series based on the novels by Colin Dexter where Morse is investigating the murder of a member of the old boys’ cricket team, who have reconvened before starting their European tour. However, after a second murder, it soon becomes clear that some members of the cricket club have another agenda when it comes to the tour. Detective Sergeant Lewis agrees to go undercover as a member of the team in an attempt to reveal the murderer.

As well as regulars in the franchise; John Thaw (The Sweeny, Chaplin), and Kevin Whatley (Auf Wiedersehen Pet 1983) this episode also features Amanda Hillwood (Die Hard 2),  Sharon Maughan (Holby City, Shes out of my league),  Norman Rodway (Mother Night) and Nathaniel Parker (The Bodyguard, Haunted Mansion).

Dover Priory Station and the Port of Dover both feature towards the end of the episode when the cricket team arrive in Dover, with the intention to catch a Ferry, to begin their European tour.

The Port of Dover in Kent is the UKs busiest passenger Port and the coastline is well known for its white cliffs. Dover’s Port has previously featured in Johnny English (2003), Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and more recently in Sky Atlantics drama, The Tunnel (2013).

Deceived by Flight first aired on the 18th January 1989 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Lady Jane (1987)

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Lady Jane Movieposter- close up of Lady Jane with her hand on a man hair. Lady Jane written in red on top.

Lady Jane Movieposter © Paramount Pictures

Directed By:  Trevor Nunn

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood, Patrick Stewart

Production Company: Capital Equipment Leasing, Paramount Pictures

Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle

When the death of King Henry VIII throws the country into chaos, the question of succession to the throne must be resolved. While the King’s surviving son Prince Edward lies on his death bed, a scheming John Dudley resolves to marry his son Guildford (Cary Elwes) to Lady Jane Grey (Helena Bonham Carter), great niece of Henry VII and place her on the throne after the king’s death. Unwilling to be married, Guildford and Jane are at first unhappy with Dudley’s plans, but over time, their love for each other blossoms just as  a chain of events threatens to rip them apart.

This costume drama sheds light on England’s reformation in 1553 as the Duke of Northumberland attempted to guarantee a Protestant monarchy and keep Catholic Princess Mary from the throne.

The film is directed by Trevor Nunn (King Lear, Oklahoma!) and star Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, The King’s Speech) and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) as young lovers Jane and Guildford, alongside John Wood (WarGames, Chocolat) and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek and X-Men series).

Three of Kent’s Castles feature in the film: the Long Gallery at Hever Castle was used for the scene where Lady Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) and Princess Mary (Jane Lapotaire) meet and talk about God and the moat around Leeds Castle was used to double as some of the exterior of Lady Jane’s home. Dover Castle doubles as the Tower of London, including the execution scenes at the end of the film.

Near Maidstone is the magnificent Leeds Castle, which is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. This location boasts a mote and maze and state rooms including original marble bathrooms. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Henry VIII (2003) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Hever Castle was originally built as a country house in the 13th Century, but the Boleyn family, who held a seat there from 1462 till 1539, transformed parts of the castle into a Tudor manor. Today it offers three floors containing antique furniture and Tudor artefacts which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the county.  The location has been used for filming projects including Inkheart (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Dover Castle was founded in the 12th Century and has held defensive significance for the country throughout history. The famous Operation Dynamo during the Second World War was masterminded within its walls. Dover Castle has previously featured in Into The Woods (2015), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and To Kill a King (2003).

Lady Jane also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Lady Jane was released in cinemas in February 1986 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

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A man on a helicopter, firing a door gun in the film towards the river

Full Metal Jacket © Natant/Stanley Kubrick Productions/Warner Bros

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio

Production Company: Natant Stanley, Kubrick Productions, Warner Bros.

Kent Locations Used: Cliffe

Set in the late 1960’s, Full Metal Jacket follows the lives of trainee marines as they undergo a gruelling boot camp under the direction of demanding Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey). During the boot camp, the men overcome many obstacles and some are even driven mad after being tortured and dehumanised by the sergeant.

In the second half of the film, one of the graduated marines, Joker (Matthew Modine), is sent to Vietnam as a military journalist and he and his photographer, Rafterman (Kevyn Major Howard,) have to face life on the front line, exposed to snipers and mass murders.

Oscar winning director Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, A Clockwork Orange) directs the film which stars   Matthew Modine (The Dark Night Rises, Transporter 2), R. Lee Erney, (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Toy Story trilogy) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Men in Black, Jurassic World).

The Cliffe Marshes double as the Vietnam countryside in the second half of Full Metal Jacket and are well known for Cliffe Fort and the bird life around the pools.

Soldiers walking in front of military truck down a road

Full Metal Jacket © Natant/Stanley Kubrick Productions/Warner Bros

Cliffe is a small village in Medway on the Thames estuary and has a fort which was built in the mid-nineteenth century as a defence against the invasion of London. The Medway area has previously featured on screen in productions such as Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Last Orders (2002).

The film was released on 11th September 1987 and is available to purchase on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

The Princess Bride (1987)

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The Princess Bride film poster- cartoon image of characters from the film underneath a castle gate in blue mist. The Princess Bride written in yellow.

The Princess Bride © Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Written by: William Goldman

Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Parinkin, Chris Sarandon, Fred Savage, Peter Falk and Andre the Giant

Production Company: Act III Communications, Buttercup Films Ltd., The Princess Bride Ltd.

Kent Locations used: Penshurst Place

Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Count Rugen (Christopher Guest) duelling in a hall next to a long wooden table with food on it. Candles are in the background behind them.

Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Count Rugen (Christopher Guest) duelling © Lionsgate Home Entertainment

The Princess Bride is cult fantasy film, based on the 1973 book of the same name, written by William Goldman. A stable boy named Westley (Cary Elwes) confesses his love to an enchanting woman named Buttercup (Robin Wrigh) but their happiness is cut short when Westley is reportedly murdered by blood thirsty pirates. Fearing that her love will never return, Buttercup becomes engaged to a cruel king and they plan to wed. However, as the wedding ceremony begins, so does an invasion of the castle by an unlikely trio of men. Will there be a happy ending after all?

This film is a unique and daring spin on the classic fairy tale formula, complete with sword fights, damsels in distress, magic potions and heroic heroes.

The films cast includes  Cary Elwes (Twister, Saw), Robin Wright (Forest Gump, Beowulf), Mandy Parinkin (Homeland, Dead Like Me) Chris Sarandon (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Childs Play), Fred Savage (The Wonder years, Little Monsters), Peter Falk (Columbo, Murder Ink) and Andre the Giant (WWF, Conan the Destroyer).

Production visited Penshurst Place and used the Barons Hall as the setting for the confrontation between Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Count Rugen (Christopher Guest). Penshurst Place is a grand estate located in the Weald of Kent with extensive grounds spanning 48 acres. Due to its medieval architecture, the house and grounds are a popular filming location and have previously been used in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), the BBC fantasy series Merlin (2008), and thriller movie The Gathering (2003).

The Princess Bride was first released in November 1987 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

The Mission (1986)

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The Mission DVD cover- Robert De Niro standing on tree branches and rocks pointing a sword at the camera. The mission written in green.

The Mission DVD cover ©Columbia-Cannon-Warner

Director: Roland Joffe

Starring: Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, Ronald Pickup, Aidan Quin

Production Company: Warner Bros., Goldcrest Films International, Kingsmere Productions Ltd., Enigma Productions, AMLF

Kent locations used:  Fort Amherst

Mendoza (Robert De Niro) holding Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons)up by the collar in confrontation

Mendoza (Robert De Niro) and Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) filming at Fort Amherst ©Columbia-Cannon-Warner

The Mission is an Oscar winning action film focused on the story of Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert De Niro), who after killing his brother, is given the chance by Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) to redeem his sins. They both travel to Brazil on a mission to bring Christianity to a native South American tribe. However, when the church comes under pressure from the Portuguese empire, they sell the land the mission is built on, putting its future in jeopardy.

The film features Oscar winners Robert De Niro (Taxi Diver, Mean strrets) and Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune, Waterland). Also starring Liam Neeson(Non-Stop, Batman Begins), Ronald Pickup(Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and Aidan Quin(Legends of the Fall, Unknown).

The tunnels of Fort Amherst were used as part of the monastery where Mendoza (Robert De Niro) is being held after he murders his brother. Fort Amherst was originally built in 1755, containing a labyrinth of underground tunnels and hidden gun positions, to improve the defense of the River Medway. Fort Amherst has previously welcomed other productions such as Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and The Saint (1997).

The Mission first premiered in 1986 and is now available to buy on DVD.  

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Young Sherlock Holmes (1986)

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Young Sherlock Holmes written in white with three cast members stood in a row underneath.

YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES
Available on DVD or Digital Download

 

Director: Barry Levinson

Writer: Arthur Conan Doyle, Chris Columbus

Starring: Nicolas Rowe, Alan Cox, Sophie Ward, Anthony Higgins

Production Company: Amblin Entertainment, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Paramount Pictures

Kent locations used: Penshurst Place

Young Sherlock Holmes is a new take on the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in which we see the famous Sherlock Holmes first meet his trusty companion Watson at boarding school where they work together to solve a series of puzzling murders plaguing London.

Directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Toys) and written by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, The Goonies), the film stars Nicolas Rowe (Da Vinci’s Demons), Alan Cox (The Dictator), Sophie Ward (Jane Eyre) and Anthony Higgins (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

The film included the first fully computer-animated character and was nominated for Best Effects, Visual Effects at the Oscars.

The historic Barons Hall in Penshurst Place served as the Brompton School gym for the scenes where Holmes (Nicholas Rowe) fences with Professor Rathe (Anthony Higgins).

Penshurst Place is a 14th century building known for its historical significance and architectural beauty. Its medieval design has made it a popular location for a number of film and television shows including The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Merlin (2008) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Young Sherlock Holmes was released in cinemas in 1985 and is now available to buy on DVD.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wwkx6d6_AI

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.