The Medusa Touch (1978)

Posted on November 2, 1978 by Kent Film Office

The Medusa Touch Movie Poster- image of a man's face in black and white facing the camera. Telekinesis written in white with The Medusa Touch written in purple

The Medusa Touch Movie Poster © Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Directed By: Jack Gold

Written By: Peter Van Greenaway (novel), John Briley (screenplay)

Starring: Richard Burton, Lee Remick and Lino Ventura

Production Company: Coatesgold, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Kent Filming Locations Used: Herne Bay & Reculver

The Medusa Touch is the chilling tale of a man with a gift for disaster. Richard Burton (Cleopatra, Where Eagles Dare) is John Morlar, a man with astonishing powers of telekinesis. When French detective Brunel (Lino Ventura-Army of Shadows) is tasked with investigating John Morlar’s murder whilst on assignment with Scotland Yard, he discovers that the victim is not as dead as he first appears. Working with Morlar’s psychiatrist Doctor Zonfeld (Lee Remick- The Omen), the detective reconstructs Morlar’s mysterious life.

It is in the childhood memories of John Morlar that Kent makes its debut. The “Welcome Hotel”, where Morlar and his parents spend their holidays, stands in the coastal town of Herne Bay. Although the Hotel may have been fictional, the building remains the same. Spanning numbers 37-40 Central Parade in Herne Bay, the building is now a row of residential properties next to the Royal British Legion Headquarters.

On their holiday the family also visit the nearby Reculver Towers for a seaside picnic. It is in this scene that Morlar first makes use of his powerful telekinetic abilities.

Although the film was released in 1978, the Reculver Towers have stayed unchanged and are. a distinctive landmark on the Kent Coast They are the remains of a 12^th Century church that once stood there among the ruins of a Roman Saxon Shore fort and a Saxon monastery, and part of Reculver Country Park which is a Special Protection area due to its rare cliff top meadows and the yearly migrating birds.

The nearby coastal town of Herne Bay offers two miles of seafront lined with café’s, amusement arcades and fish and chip shops, all overlooked by stunning examples of Victorian Architecture. In true spirit of an English seaside town, brightly coloured huts line the beach and the location is popular with tourists every summer. The town is home to several antique shops and hosts one of Kent’s biggest markets every Saturday. Productions that have filmed in the area include Got To Dance (2012), Things I Haven’t Told You (2008) and French Dressing (1964).

The Medusa Touch is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Blue Jeans (1977)

Posted on February 11, 1977 by Kent Film Office

Three children sit on a stone wall by the sea. Above them are the words ‘Blue Jeans’. The letter N is shaped like a mouth and is eating a red ice lolly.

Blue Jeans (1977) © Chloë Productions

Director: Hugues Burin des Roziers
Starring: Gilles Budin, Michel Gibet, Pierre Marciahl, Daniel Véry
Production Company: Chloë Productions, Shoot
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Blue Jeans (1977) is a French film following a group of schoolboys on a study trip to England. Julien Morin finds himself experiencing the pains of first love when he meets another exchange student, the charming older Jean-Pierre.

Directed by Hugues Burin des Roziers, the film stars Gilles Budin as Julien Morin, Michel Gibet as Jean-Pierre, Pierre Marichal as Maurice and Daniel Véry as Talimard. This was the director’s first and only film, and many of the young cast – most of whom had no previous acting credits – also did not appear in any other films.

The children go on a school trip to Herne Bay. Locations featured include the beach, the old Pier (which collapsed into the sea not long after the film was released), Herne Bay Memorial Park, Herne Bay Bowling Club, Central Bandstand, Cain’s Amusements and the old Classic Cinema on Avenue Road (demolished in 1988 and now a block of flats). Various roads also feature including Central Parade, Western Esplanade, Beacon Hill, Victoria Drive which is the home of Julien’s love interest Janet, and Sea View Square which is the home of Julien’s teacher Mr Lavigier (Gérard Croce).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first freestanding purpose built clock tower. Other productions to have filmed there include Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973), The Medusa Touch (1978) and Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys Outing (1989).

Blue Jeans (1977) was released in France on Friday 11^th February 1977 and is available to purchase on DVD.

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

Upstairs Downstairs – The Sudden Storm (1974)

Posted on January 19, 1974 by Kent Film Office

The cast of Upstairs, Downstairs standing behind a sign that reads Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Creator: Eileen Atkins
Starring: Angela Baddeley, Jean Marsh, Meg Wynn Owen, Simon Williams, David Langton, Gordon Jackson
Production Company: London Weekend Television (LWT), Sagitta Productions Ltd.
Kent Locations: Herne Bay

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975) was an ITV drama series set in a townhouse in Belgravia which charts the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family and their servants during the First World War and the interwar years.

The show which ran between 1971 and 1975, stars Jean Marsh (Willow, Frenzy), Angela Baddeley (Tom Jones, The Speckled Band), Meg Wynn Owen (Pride & Prejudice, Gosford Park), Simon Williams (Kinvig, Jabberwocky), David Langton (The Whistle Blower, Quintet) and Gordon Jackson (The Professionals, The Great Escape).

: Upstairs, Downstairs screenshot at Herne Bay © London Weekend Television (LWT)

: Upstairs, Downstairs screenshot at Herne Bay © London Weekend Television (LWT)

: Upstairs, Downstairs screenshot at Herne Bay © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Herne Bay, including the beach by the former pier and Central Bandstand, features in series three, episode thirteen “The Sudden Storm”, when the staff take a day out to the seaside.

Located near to Canterbury, Herne Bay has a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens, as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. The area has previously featured in filming projects such as Boomers (2014), Little Britain – Season 1 (2003) and The Medusa Touch (1978).

Upstairs, Downstairs “The Sudden Storm” (1974) was shown on Saturday 19th January 1974 and is available to watch on ITVX.

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

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Series One (1973)

Posted on February 10, 1973 by Kent Film Office

Michele Dotrice as Betty and Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer standing in front of a train on the platform

Michele Dotrice as Betty and Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer © BBC

Writer: Raymond Allen
Starring: Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice
Production Company: BBC
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) is a BBC sitcom following the accident-prone Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) and his ill-fated attempts to hold down a job and look after his family.

There were three series and four Christmas Specials which ran between 1973 and 1978. The show was created and written by Raymond Allen and starred Michael Crawford (The Knack …and How to Get It, Hello, Dolly!) as Frank Spencer and Michele Dotrice (Vanity Fair, Not Now, Comrade) as his long-suffering wife, Betty.

Herne Bay was used as a location for two episodes of the programme’s first series. The High Street and William Street featured in the very first episode, The Job Interview, where Frank arrives at a shop for a job interview.

The Railway Station and the Carlton Hotel feature in the episode four Have a Break, Take a Husband for scenes on Frank and Betty’s ill-fated second honeymoon.

Herne Bay is located on the Kent coast and boasts a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades and a windmill. Other productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Boomers (2014), Little Britain Series One (2003) and Only Fools and Horses, the Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).

Series 1 of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) was originally broadcast between Thursday 15th February – Thursday 29^th March 1973, and is now available to purchase on DVD.

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

French Dressing (1964)

Posted on April 10, 1964 by Kent Film Office

French Dressing Poster- lady in a red bikini standing in front of a cartoon beach scene, the faces of two men float behind her. French Dressing is written over the top

Director: Ken Russell
Starring: James Booth, Roy Kinnear, Marisa Mell
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation, Kenneth Harper Production
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, Kings Hall, Medway Queen Paddle Steamer

French Dressing (1964) is a comedy film set in the fictional seaside town of Gormleigh-on-Sea about a deckchair attendant, Jim Stephens (James Booth) who is deputised to organise a film festival. After finally convincing French movie star pin-up Françoise Fayol (Marisa Mell) to attend, a series of unplanned mishaps threatens the festival’s success.

The directorial debut of Ken Russell (The Devils, Altered States), French Dressing stars James Booth (Zulu, Airport ’77), Roy Kinnear (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Watership Down) and Marisa Mell (Danger: Diabolik, Under Siege).

French Dressing Screenshot on Herne Bay beach © Warner-Pathé Distributors	French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay © Warner-Pathé Distributors
French Dressing Screenshot at Kings Hall © Warner-Pathé Distributors	French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay seafront © Warner-Pathé Distributors

The film was almost entirely filmed in Herne Bay which doubles as Gormleigh-on-Sea and the Kings Hall doubles as the Council Offices. The Medway Queen Paddle Steamer is used in the scenes when Jim Stephens (James Booth) and Henry Liggott (Roy Kinnear) take the boat to France.

Herne Bay is a traditional seaside town offering two miles of splendid coast including a delightful beach with colourful beach huts, bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries and amusement arcades. Herne Bay has been used as a film location on projects such as Boomers (2014), Big Bad World (2013) and Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

French Dressing (1964) was released on Friday 10th April 1964 and is now available on DVD.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission