John Hurt

The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Henry V riding on a white horse next to a castle. Three other characters are on horses behind him.

Henry V – Duke of York (Paterson Joseph), Earl of Salisbury (Richard Clothier), Henry V (Tom Hiddleston) and Earl of Westmoreland (James Laurenson) © BBC/Neal Street Productions/Nick Briggs

Director: Thea Sharrock

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt

Production company: Neal Street Productions, NBCUniversal, WNET

Kent locations used: Squerryes Court, Penshurst Place

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes  (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) produced The Hollow Crown, four film adaptations of Shakespeare’s best-loved history plays; Richard II, Henry IV (Part I & 2) and Henry V screening on BBC this summer as part of the Shakespeare Unlocked Season.

The Hollow Crown series star many familiar faces including Ben Whishaw (Criminal Justice) as Richard II, James Purefoy (Solomon Kane) as Thomas Mowbray, Rory Kinnear (Quantum of Solace) as Henry Bolingbroke and Tom Hiddleston (Thor, Warhorse) as Henry V.

Henry V is directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You, Call the Midwife) and along Tom Hiddleston stars Geraldine Chaplin (The Impossible, Talk to Her), Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Hot Fuzz), Richard Griffiths (Sleepy Hollow, Harry Potter series) and John Hurt (V for Vendetta, Alien).

Featuring as part of the BBC’s Shakespeare season for the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad, Henry V is the final film of the series and charts Henry V campaign against France and their leader Herald Montjoy.

Earl of Salisbury (Richard Clothier) fighting in a battle in a field

Earl of Salisbury (Richard Clothier) © BBC/Neal Street Productions/Nick Briggs

Kent features strongly in Henry V: No Surrender, as the Battle of Agincourt was staged in the grounds of Squerryes Court, where Henry V leads his soldiers to battle. The crew also visited Penshurst Place, with the exterior doubling for The Palace of Westminster and the interior of the Baron’s Hall as the French Palace where Herald Montjoy resided.

It is not the first time Squerryes Court has been on the screen, the location was used for Emma Wooshouse’s home in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s famous novel Emma (2009),
The Boat that Rocked (2009) and Foyle’s War – The German Woman (2002). The estate is popular with productions as it boasts a grand 17th Century manor house with 20 acres of grounds.

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor fortified style manor house set in parkland and featuring Elizabethan formal gardens. It is a popular filming location and previous productions filmed at Penshurst Place include Wolf Hall (2015), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

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

 

The Hollow Crown series was shown from July 7th 2012 BBC Two and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

Whistle and I’ll Come To You (2010)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
John Hurt wearing a dressing gown with one arm holding the dirty wall behind. Looking slightly distressed,.

John Hurt stars as James Parkin in Whistle and I’ll Come To You © BBC/Laurie Sparham

Starring: John Hurt, Gemma Jones, Lesley Sharp
Kent Filming Locations: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay and the Sea Pavilion at Walpole Bay

BBC2 drama Whistle and I’ll Come To You is a modern adaptation of M R James’ Edwardian ghost story which stars John Hurt (Merlin, Hellboy) as James Parkin who after leaving his wife in a nursing home travels to their favourite destination, a quiet seaside town. On a deserted beach he has an encounter with an apparition which continues to haunt him for the rest of his stay.

The one off drama was written and adapted by Neil Cross and explores the themes of ageing, supernatural with a psychological element throughout.

The drama also stars Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones Diary, Sense and Sensibility) and Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, The Full Monty). 

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by white chalk cliffs with it having some of the best sea caves in the country and has been used by Sulphur and White (2019) . Nearby Botany Bay which also has a white cliff backdrop is a popular filming location and has been used for productions such as True Love (2012) and Hunderby (2012).

Whistle and I’ll Come To You was shown on BBC TWO 24th December 2010 at 22:00. 

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

 

The Alan Clark Diaries (2004)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Alan Clark walking under the gate at Saltwood Castle

Alan Clark (John Hurt) at Saltwood Castle © BBC

Directed by: Jon Jones

Written by: Alan Clark, Jon Jones

Starring: John Hurt, Jenny Agutter, Hugh Fraser, Nicholas Jones, Jeremy Clyde, Paul Brooke, Peter Blythe

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations: Saltwood Castle, Hythe Beach

The Alan Clark Diaries is a 6 part BBC drama production, adapted from the bestselling diaries of late conservative MP Alan Clark. It gives a unique inside into the politicians mind, his controversial views and his dedication to the conservative party. It depicts the highs and lows of his career, as well as his unique relationship with his loyal wife Jane (Jenny Agutter), who tries her best to support him throughout his political life.

Starring John Hurt (Doctor Who, Hellboy Franchise) as Alan Clark alongside Jenny Agutter (Call the Midwife, The Avengers), Hugh Fraser (Agatha Christie: Poirot, 101 Dalmations), Nicholas Jones(Philomena , Hornblower: Mutiny), Jeremy Clyde (The Iron Lady), Paul Brooke(Bridget Jones’s Diary , The Phantom of the Opera)and Peter Blythe(Carrington).

Saltwood Castle featured as itself during the series after Clark’s widow, Jane, gave her support for the production and welcomed the team into her home. The castle remains owned by the Clark family, and is rarely opened to the public. However, it has previously hosted other productions such as My Week with Marilyn (2011), again due to a family connection.

Alan Clark often used to visit Hythe seafront and this is represented in the first episode of the series. Fisherman’s Beach in Hythe is a pebble beach with beautiful views, closely located to several cafés and tearooms, which are perfect for tourists.

The Alan Clark Diaries was first aired on the BBC in 2004 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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