The Lady in the Van (2015)

The Lady In The Van - Dame Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd being pushed in a wheelchair by Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in

The Lady In The Van – Dame Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett © Sony

Writer: Alan Bennett

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Starring: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Dominic Cooper, James Corden, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour

Production company: BBC Films, TriStar Productions

Kent Locations: Broadstairs – High Street, Esplanade, Harbour Street, Viking Bay Beach,  Morellis Gelato, Buckmaster House

The Lady in the Van is British film based on the true story about a homeless woman, Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), who temporarily parked her old yellow van on the driveway of writer Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) in the 1970’s. As fifteen years went by, the pair developed an endearing but sometimes turbulent relationship, which translates into a funny, poignant and life-affirming story.

Adapted by Alan Bennett (The History Boys, A Private Function, Prick Up Your Ears) from his memoir of the same name, the film is directed by Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible, The Object of My Affection, Center Stage).

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Gosford Park) stars as Miss Shepherd with Alex Jennings (The Queen, Babel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) playing Alan Bennett.

Also starring is Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!, Need for Speed, Captain America: The First Avenger), James Corden (Begin Again, Into the Woods, The History Boys), Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!, Cloud Atlas, Gangs of New York) and Frances de la Tour (Hugo, The Book of Eli, Alice in Wonderland).

In November 2014, The Lady in the Van production team came to Kent to film in Broadstairs including the High Street, Esplanade, Harbour Street, Viking Bay Beach and http://www.morellisgelato.com/ for the scenes where Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith) visits the coast. Buckmaster House in Broadstairs also doubled as Weston-Super-Mare for the scenes where Alan Bennett visits his mother.

Broadstairs is a traditional British seaside town offering sandy beaches with rides, beach huts, surfing, a harbour and cliff-top promenade. The High Street has historic red-brick buildings occupied by cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. Broadstairs has also been used as a film location in Eastenders (2015), Edge of Heaven (2014) and Hancock and Joan (2008).

Don’t miss The Lady in the Van which is released in cinemas on Friday 13th November 2015.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA8tMziteZM

 

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

 

 


Into the Woods (2015)

Meryl Streep as the Witch crouched in a tree

Meryl Streep as the Witch in Into The Woods © Disney

Director: Rob Marshall

Writer: James Lapine, Stephen Sondheim

Starring: Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Christine Baranski, Billy Magnussen, Mackenzie Mauzy, Tracey Ullman, Daniel Huttlestone

Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Lucamar Productions

Kent locations: Dover Castle

Into the Woods is a film adaption of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award–winning Broadway musical of the same name which is a modern twist on several beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

The story follows the Baker and the Baker’s Wife’s who are unable to start a family due to the curse by a wicked Witch. Trying to break the spell, they encounter Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel.

Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife and James Corden as the Baker in the woods looking shocked

Emily Blunt as the Baker’s Wife and James Corden as the Baker © Disney

Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Memoirs of the Geisha), the film has an ensemble cast with an array of acting talent including Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean series, Edward Scissorhands), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, The Hours), James Corden (Gavin and Stacey, The History Boys), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), Anna Kendrick (Twilight, Pitch Perfect), Chris Pine (Star Trek, Unstoppable) Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia, The Good Wife) , Mackenzie Mauzy (The Bold and the Beautiful, Brother’s Keeper), Billy Magnussen (As the World Turns, The East), Daniel Huttlestone (Les Miserables), and Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show, Corpse Bride).

The Disney production visited Dover Castle in September 2013 which doubled as the King’s Castle, and features in scenes such as Cinderella attending the ball, her marriage to the Prince and a giant attacking a castle.

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 Poirot “The Clocks” (2009), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Hamlet (1990).

Into The Woods is released in cinemas on Friday 9th January 2015.

 

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


All Or Nothing (2002)

Car driving through a isolated background with lighthouse

All or Nothing Screenshot © Thin Man Films/StudioCanal

Director: Mike Leigh

Starring: Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, James Corden

Production Company: Les Films Alain Sarde, Thin Man Films

Kent location used: Dungeness

All Or Nothing is a film set on a London housing estate and centres around three working-class families and the struggles they face; including unemployment, violence unplanned pregnancy and alcoholism.

The film was nominated for many awards and won two at the London Critics Circle Film Awards – British Film of the Year and British Actress of the Year for Lesley Manville.

The film is directed by the acclaimed Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake) and stars Timothy Spall (Mr Turner, The King’s Speech, Enchanted), Lesley Manville (Maleficent, Another Year, Secrets & Lies) Ruth Sheen (Run Fatboy Run, Misfits, Vanity Fair) and James Corden (Begin Again, Into the Woods, The History Boys).

driving through fields looking out onto the beach

All or Nothing Screenshot © Thin Man Films/StudioCanal

Dungeness features in the film when Phil drives to the beach to contemplate his problems.

Set in the Shepway district of Kent, Dungeness is a unique location with a shingle beach, old and modern homes, two lighthouses, a historic railway station and a Power Station. Dungeness has been used as a film location by productions such as Ginger and Rosa (2012), Derek (2008) and I Want You (1998).

All Or Nothing was released in cinemas on 18th October 2002 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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