To Kill a King (2003)

Dover Castle as The Tower of London

Dover Castle as The Tower of London © FilmFour Productions

 

Director: Mike Barker

Writers: Jenny Mayew

Starring: Tim Roth, Dougray Scott, Olivia Williams, Rupert Everett

Production Company: FilmFour, IAC Film, Natural Nylon Entertainment, Rockwood Edge, Scion Films, Screenland Movieworld GmbH

Kent Filming Locations: Dover Castle, Penshurst Place

This feature film is set in 1645 at the end of the English Civil War. The rebel New Model Army has defeated the Royalist forces of King Charles I and Lord Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell emerge as heroes. Now the pair seeks to reform the crown and execute the King which leads to civil unrest.

Starring in this gripping historical drama is Tim Roth (Lie to Me, United Passions, Skellig), Dougray Scott (There Be Dragons, Doctor Who, Sinbad), Rupert Everett (Shrek, St Trinian’s, Stardust), Olivia Williams (Anna Karenina, Justin and the Knights of Valour, Sabotage) and Corin Redgrave (Spooks, Foyle’s War, The Trial of King Killers).

King Charles’s I (Rupert Everett) sitting in his chamber on a chair

The Baron’s Hall at Penshurst Place as the King’s Chamber © FilmFour Productions

The production visited Kent to film at Penshurst Place where the interiors doubled as Cromwell’s living quarters. Dover Castle doubled as The Tower of London and the castle’s tunnels were also used in the scene where Fairfax and Cromwell search for the king’s missing gold.

Penshurst Place is a 14th century building known for its historical significance and architectural beauty. It is a popular location for a number of film and television shows including The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Merlin (2008) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Dover Castle was first built in 1160 and remains in the same condition as it was when first constructed.  Another popular filming location, the castle has welcomed productions such as, Poirot – The Clocks (2009), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Hamlet (1990).

To Kill A King also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

To Kill a King was released in cinemas in 2003 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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


Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A man on a helicopter, firing a door gun in the film towards the river

Full Metal Jacket © Natant/Stanley Kubrick Productions/Warner Bros

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio

Production Company: Natant Stanley, Kubrick Productions, Warner Bros.

Kent Locations Used: Cliffe

Set in the late 1960’s, Full Metal Jacket follows the lives of trainee marines as they undergo a gruelling boot camp under the direction of demanding Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey). During the boot camp, the men overcome many obstacles and some are even driven mad after being tortured and dehumanised by the sergeant.

In the second half of the film, one of the graduated marines, Joker (Matthew Modine), is sent to Vietnam as a military journalist and he and his photographer, Rafterman (Kevyn Major Howard,) have to face life on the front line, exposed to snipers and mass murders.

Oscar winning director Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, A Clockwork Orange) directs the film which stars   Matthew Modine (The Dark Night Rises, Transporter 2), R. Lee Erney, (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Toy Story trilogy) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Men in Black, Jurassic World).

The Cliffe Marshes double as the Vietnam countryside in the second half of Full Metal Jacket and are well known for Cliffe Fort and the bird life around the pools.

Soldiers walking in front of military truck down a road

Full Metal Jacket © Natant/Stanley Kubrick Productions/Warner Bros

Cliffe is a small village in Medway on the Thames estuary and has a fort which was built in the mid-nineteenth century as a defence against the invasion of London. The Medway area has previously featured on screen in productions such as Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Last Orders (2002).

The film was released on 11th September 1987 and is available to purchase on DVD.

 

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