Howard Clewes

The Long Memory (1953)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Long Memory film poster- a man and women hugging, the man is faced away from the camera. The Long Memory written in yellow

The Long Memory film poster © General Film Distributors (GFD)

Director: Robert Hamer
Starring: John Mills, John McCallum, Elizabeth Sellars
Production Company: J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Europa, British Film-Makers
Kent Locations Used: Gravesend, Stangate Creek

The Long Memory (1953) is a black and white 1953 film based on the 1951 novel of the same name by Howard Clewes. The crime thriller is about Philip Davidson (John Mills) who is wrongfully convicted for murder and given parole after 12 years. Will Philip choose revenge upon the witnesses who lied during the trial, or give himself a fresh start?

Directed by Robert Hamer (Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947)), the film stars John Mills (The Big Sleep (1978), Dunkirk (1958)), John McCallum (Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951), The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947)) and Elizabeth Sellars (The Barefoot Contessa, Forbidden Cargo).

Queen Street and Granby Road in Gravesend feature in the film as the locations for the two Tim Pewsey residences.

black and white image of Stangate Creek, with a wooden fence in front

The Long Memory screenshot at Stangate Creek © General Film Distributors (GFD)

Gravesend street at night with a man in a trench coat walking away from the camera down the middle

The Long Memory screenshot at Gravesend © General Film Distributors (GFD)

The marshes of the Medway Estuary around Stangate Creek and Iwade were used as the location where Phillip Davidson’s (John Mills) barge is moored.

The historic market town of Gravesend is on the south bank of the River Thames and boasts a cast iron pier, promenade and high street. The area is easily accessible with train links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station and is close to the M25. The Gravesend area has previously welcomed film productions such as The Interceptor (2015), Babylon (2014) and Age of Heroes (2011).

Stangate Creek is part of the River Medway and has been used as a film location by productions such as Mr Turner (2014), feature film adaption Great Expectations (2012) and the BBC’s Great Expectations (1999).

The Long Memory (1953) was released on Friday 23rd January 1953 and is now available on DVD.

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

Green Grow the Rushes (1951)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Long shot of Romney Marsh

Green Grow the Rushes screenshot at Romney Marsh © A.C.T. Films Ltd

Director: Derek N. Twist
Writer: Howard Clewes
Starring: Roger Livesey, Honor Blackman, Richard Burton
Production Company: Association of Cinema Technicians (A.C.T.)
Kent Locations Used: New Romney, Romney Marsh

British comedy film Green Grow the Rushes (1951) is based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Howard Clewes. Captain Biddle (Roger Livesey) smuggles alcohol along with Robert (Richard Burton), who poses as a fisherman, but when a reporter, Meg (Honor Blackman), arrives in town as well as a group of Government officials investigating the lack of farming on the marshes, will their scheme be exposed?

The film is directed by Derek Twist (Police Dog, All Over the Town) and stars Roger Livesey (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, A Matter of Life and Death), Honor Blackman (Goldfinger, The Avengers) and a young Richard Burton (The Medusa Touch (1978), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)).

Green Grow the Rushes was filmed in New Romney and on Romney Marsh which double as the town and marshland.

New Romney high street with a lady walking her bike on the pavement

Green Grow the Rushes screenshot at New Romney © A.C.T. Films Ltd

Romney Marsh is a unique landscape boasting over 100 square miles of woodland, wetlands plus sand and shingle shores. On the edge of Romney Marsh sits its principal town, New Romney. The area has been used as a filming location for projects such as The Honourable Woman (2014), Great Expectations (2011) and Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963).

Green Grow the Rushes (1951) was released on Tuesday 6th November 1951 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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