Victor Frankenstein (2015)

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kent Film Office

Victor Frankenstein Poster-James McAvoy and daniel radcliffe staring at the camera with a dead body on an operating table covered by a white cloth is underneath. Victor Frankenstein reads in silver.

Victor Frankenstein Poster © Fox UK Film

Director: Paul McGuigan

Writer: Max Landis (screenplay)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Andrew Scott, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Charles Dance, Mark Gatiss, Louise Brealey

Production companies: Davis Entertainment Company, TSG Entertainment

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Victor Frankenstein is a dark, contemporary twist on the classic tale of Frankenstein, told from the point of view of Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) who befriends radical young scientist Victor Von Frankenstein (James McAvoy). Together they envisage innovative research into immortality to aid human suffering, but it is not long before the experiments go too far and Victor’s ambition leads to horrifying consequences. Can Igor save them both from Victor’s creation?

The screenplay is adapted by Max Landis (Fear Itself, Me Him Her), based on the novel by Mary Shelley, written almost 200 years ago.

The film is directed by Paul McGuigan (Sherlock, Push) with a stellar cast including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, The Woman in Black) and James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Last King of Scotland), Andrew Scott (Saving Private Ryan, Spectre), Jessica Brown Findlay (Albatross, Downton Abbey), Charles Dance (The Imitation Game, Game of Thrones), Mark Gatiss (Wolf Hall, Doctor Who) and Louise Brealey (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Ripper Street).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film some exterior scenes by the Chain and Cable store, the Tarred Yarn Store, which doubled as a hospital interior, and additional outdoor street scenes.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location which offers Georgian and Victorian buildings and authentic cobbled streets. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in Suffragette (2015), Mr Turner (2014) and Dom Hemingway (2013).

Victor Frankenstein is released in cinemas on 4^th December 2015.

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

The Great Fire (2014)

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Kent Film Office

CHARLES DANCE as Denton, ROSE LESLIE as Sarah, ANDREW BUCHAN as Thomas, JACK HUSTON as The King, DANIEL MAYS as Pepys and PERDITA WEEKS as Elizabeth all standing in a row with a burning village behind them

The Great Fire L-R Sarah (ROSE LESLIE), Charles II (JACK HUSTON), Sam Pepys (DANIEL MAYS), Thomas Farriner (ANDREW BUCHAN), Lord Denton (CHARLES DANCE) © Ecosse Films/ITV

Writer: Tom Bradby

Starring: Andrew Buchan, Rose Leslie, Charles Dance, Jack Huston, Daniel Mays

Production company: Ecosse Films

Kent Locations: Penshurst Place and Cobham Hall

The Great Fire is a new four part ITV drama inspired by the historical events of 1666, where the capital was devastated by fire.

Set against the decadent backdrop of King Charles II’s Court, the drama focuses on the circumstances which led to the catastrophic fire. It looks at Thomas Farriner’s family life at the bakery in Pudding Lane where the fire started the King’s extravagant lifestyle, and diarist Samuel Pepys, whose recordings chronicled the turbulent Regency period.

The series was written by British journalist and novelist Tom Bradby and stars a host of acting talent including Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch, Cranford), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Alien 3), Jack Huston (American Hustle, Boardwalk Empire) and Daniel Mays (Mr Biggs, Public Enemies).

Jack Huston as Pepys in a garden with guards in a row against the hedges behind him

Jack Huston as Pepys at Penshurst Place Gardens © Ecosse Films/ITV

The Great Fire team visited Kent and filmed at Penshurst Place, doubling as King Charles II’s Court and Cobham Hall , which was used to represent Arundel House as well as various London streets.

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor fortified style manor house set in gorgeous parkland and boasts formal Elizabethan gardens. A popular film location, Penshurst Place has previously hosted productions such as The Hollow Crown – Henry V (2012), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969).

Cobham Hall is a private school near to Gravesend located in 150 acres of Grade II listed parkland and has a stunning ball room, library, cobbled courtyards, formal gardens, classrooms as well as sports facilities, including a swimming pool. Cobham Hall has been used as a film location by Wild Child (2008) and Bleak House (2005).

Don’t miss The Great Fire which starts on Thursday 16^th October 2014 at 21:00 on ITV1.

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

Bleak House (2005)

Posted on December 23, 2005 by Kent Film Office

Bleak House filming at Cobham Hall - Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock and Anna Maxwell Martin as Esther sat on a bench in a formal garden, cobham hall can be seen behind

Bleak House filming at Cobham Hall © BBC and Terry Curran

Written By: Charles Dickens (Novel) & Andrew Davies (Adaptation)

Starring: Gillian Anderson, Ana Maxwell Martin, Carey Mulligan, Charles Dance, Patrick Kennedy & Denis Lawson

Production Company: BBC, WGBH, Deep Indigo Productions, Smallweed Productions

Kent Locations Used: Cobham Hall

This BBC A dramatic thriller set in Victorian England. It tells the story of the beautiful but icy Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson). Nursing a dark secret in her past, her merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn seeks to uncover it.

Running parallel to the central story, the generous John Jarndyce struggles with his own past and takes in two young wards Richard (Patrick Kennedy) and Ada (Carey Mulligan). Like the infamous Lady Dedlock, all three are caught up in the case of Jarndyce Vs Jarndyce, a court case many years long that is yet to be resolved. When it is, the winning party will be rich beyond all imagination.

The two young wards are accompanied by Esther Summerson (Ana Maxwell Martin), a woman of questionable background. Told she will never amount to anything, is she the key to Lady Dedlock’s secret?

First published in 1852, the novel was released in 19 instalments. To mirror Dickens’ original dramatic storyline and typical cliff-hanger endings, the TV adaptation was comprised of a one hour opening episode with subsequent 30 minute programmes lasting for 14 episodes. The programme was shown twice weekly in 2005 on BBC 1 and is now available to buy on DVD.

Behind the scenes filming of Bleak House at Cobham Hall © Terry Curran	Behind the scenes filming of Bleak House at Cobham Hall © Terry Curran
Behind the scenes filming of Bleak House at Cobham Hall gardens © Terry Curran	Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlockk at Cobham Hall © Terry Curran

The BBC adaption stars Gillian Anderson (The Fall, Johnny English Reborn), Ana Maxwell Martin (Becoming Jane, Philomena), Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, Suffragette), Charles Dance (The Imitation Game, Ghostbusters), Patrick Kennedy (Atonement, War Horse) and Denis Lawson (New Tricks, Broken).

Cobham Hall is a private boarding school near to Gravesend located in 150 acres of Grade II listed parkland. The interiors boast a stunning ball room, library, cobbled courtyards, formal gardens, classrooms as well as sports facilities, including a swimming pool. Cobham Hall is a popular film location having previously been used for Hetty Feather series 1-2 (2012), The Great Fire (2014) and Wild Child (2008).

Bleak House features in the Kent Film Office Dickens Trail which was laucnhed in 2012: https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/kent-movie-map/dickens-movie-trail/

Bleak House was shown on the BBC in 2005 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Henry VIII (2003)

Posted on October 28, 2003 by Kent Film Office

close up of Ray Winstone wearing a gold crown looking away from the camera

Director: Pete Travis

Writer: Peter Morgan

Starring: Ray Winstone, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, David Suchet, Danny Webb, Helena Bonham Carter, Emilia Fox, Sean Bean, Emily Blunt

Production Company: Granada Television, Power, Powercorp, WGBH

Kent locations: Leeds Castle

Henry VIII is an Emmy Award winning two-part TV movie, which follows the life of Henry VIII throughout his radical 38 year reign and unpicks the volatility of Henry’s nature, particularly when it comes to love, as he marries and discards a string of wives with quick succession.

Henry VIII was written by British film writer and playwright Peter Morgan and directed by Pete Travis (Dredd, Vantage Point).

The cast includes an array of renowned British actors, such as Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Great Expectations), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Alien 3), Mark Strong (Kick Ass, Sherlock Holmes), David Suchet (Poirot, Great Expectations) Danny Webb (Alien 3, Valkyrie), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd, The King’s Speech), Emilia Fox (The Pianist, Merlin), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) and Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria, The Devil Wears Prada).

Historically, Leeds Castle was used as a palace by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon but the production chose Leeds Castle to represent exteriors of Henry’s castle in Richmond.

Leeds Castle is near Maidstone and is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. Features include original marble bathrooms, a river and maze with shell grotto. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

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

Henry VIII was first shown on ITV in 2003 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission