animated

The Wind in the Willows – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (1996)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Wind in the Willows movie poster- Cartoon image of a toad with glasses on jumping over a black car, a man is holding on to his shoulders behind. Mr Toad's Wild Ride is written in white

The Wind in the Willows © Walt Disney

Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Steve Coogan, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Stephen Fry, Bernard Hill, Michael Palin, Robert Bathurst
Production Company: Allied Filmmakers
Kent Location Used: Dover Castle, Chiddingstone

The Wind in The Willows – Mr Toad’s Wild Ride (1996) is a feature film loosely based on the classic novel by Kenneth Grahame, sometimes referred to as ‘the Monty Python version’.

The story follows Mole whose home is bought up and marked for development by the evil Weasels. Working with his friends, Mole attempts to win back his home.

Directed by Terry Jones (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian), the film has an ensemble cast including Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, Philomena), Eric Idle (Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen), John Cleese (Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers), Stephen Fry (Gosford Park, V for Vendetta) Bernard Hill (Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) Michael Palin (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Time Bandits) and Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet, Toast of London (2013)).

The production filmed at Dover Castle, which doubled as the Gaol as well as The Old School in Chiddingstone (now the post office) which features as the Welcome Inn where Toad dines before stealing and crashing a motorcar.

Dover Castle is a stunning medieval castle situated on the White Cliffs of Dover, overlooking the English Channel. Dover Castle is a popular film location having featured in Into the Woods (2015), Poirot “The Clocks” (2009) and Hamlet (1990).

Chiddingstone is a beautiful one-street Tudor village with over 70% of the buildings in more than 200 years old. In 1939, the National Trust bought the village in order to preserve it. The village has previously been used as a film location by productions such as A Room With A View (1986) and Elizabeth R (1971).

The Wind in the Willows – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (1996) was released on Friday 11th October 1996 and is available to purchase on DVD.

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

Young Sherlock Holmes (1986)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Young Sherlock Holmes written in white with three cast members stood in a row underneath.

YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (1986) © Amblin Entertainment

Director: Barry Levinson
Writer: Arthur Conan Doyle (novel), Chris Columbus (adaptation)
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 (1985) 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, Bugsy) and written by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, The Goonies), the film stars Nicholas Rowe (Nicholas Nickleby, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) as Sherlock Holmes, Alan Cox (The Dictator, The Auteur Theory) as John Watson, Sophie Ward (Jane Eyre, Book of Blood) as Elizabeth Hardy and Anthony Higgins (The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982), Raiders of the Lost Ark) as Professor Rathe.

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 fences with Professor Rathe.

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.

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