Not only was the church interior a mock up in a huge marquee, but they also built a 20 foot replica of the tower which made it appear they were shooting down - but the camera was at ground level pointing up. I spent a few hours on that location during the filming.
I worked on the filming at Mapledurham along with my brother, we prepared and drove all the WW11 military vehicles, plus the Vauxhall that drove into the lake. A mock-up of the interior of the church was erected in a field just down from the village which was also our base camp for all the filming equipment. It was a great location beside the Thames and the weather was glorious. The pub was so realistic a tourist tried to order a pint there. One of my jobs was to drive the half track into the village where the machine gun blasted away, well the top of the body was made of wood and when the gun burst into life I nearly fainted. I only had a slit in the front to see out of and the costume dept. made me wear a helmet and scarf just in case I was in shot. The weather and it was blistering in the cab so between shots I jumped, there was a lot of onlookers and they fell about laughing as I was only dressed in a pair of shorts and trainers, plus the helmet and scarf.
Liked the film, but in the bit where the jeeps got attacked driving the river/mill theres a yard fenced of and there sits a del boy reliant,blue and yellow i think also loved follow up book the eagle has flown same author
Just Google directions to Mapledurham. www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Mapledurham,+Reading,+Oxfordshire/@51.4859295,-1.0402799,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48769a41900d5f8d:0xdb1fa52097fbb4ba!8m2!3d51.4864318!4d-1.035336
I think you will find that the toffs, in this case, were there first and built everything that you can see. I am not sure that privatised is the correct word to use when you built it in the first pace.
Not only was the church interior a mock up in a huge marquee, but they also built a 20 foot replica of the tower which made it appear they were shooting down - but the camera was at ground level pointing up. I spent a few hours on that location during the filming.
I worked on the filming at Mapledurham along with my brother, we prepared and drove all the WW11 military vehicles, plus the Vauxhall that drove into the lake. A mock-up of the interior of the church was erected in a field just down from the village which was also our base camp for all the filming equipment. It was a great location beside the Thames and the weather was glorious.
The pub was so realistic a tourist tried to order a pint there.
One of my jobs was to drive the half track into the village where the machine gun blasted away, well the top of the body was made of wood and when the gun burst into life I nearly fainted. I only had a slit in the front to see out of and the costume dept. made me wear a helmet and scarf just in case I was in shot. The weather and it was blistering in the cab so between shots I jumped, there was a lot of onlookers and they fell about laughing as I was only dressed in a pair of shorts and trainers, plus the helmet and scarf.
Brilliant story, about one of my very favourite films...
@@davidhoward2487 Have you read Jacks follow up book the Eagle has flown?shame they never made that into a film
Also the place where the first Black Sabbath album cover was shot.
Liked the film, but in the bit where the jeeps got attacked driving the river/mill theres a yard fenced of and there sits a del boy reliant,blue and yellow i think also loved follow up book the eagle has flown same author
Excellent
But you didn't go to joanna Grey's cottage which is minutes up the lane from the village!?
nice video! i will so graceful if you can told me how to arrive there from London. thanks!
Just Google directions to Mapledurham. www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Mapledurham,+Reading,+Oxfordshire/@51.4859295,-1.0402799,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48769a41900d5f8d:0xdb1fa52097fbb4ba!8m2!3d51.4864318!4d-1.035336
3:30 great you found this old info map, hide in a church.
Cheers, Tom.
great vid
A village owned by an old Catholic family!!!
I went there a couple of weeks ago, its a beautiful village ruined by toffs that have privatised everything and closed all the good bits off.
I think you will find that the toffs, in this case, were there first and built everything that you can see. I am not sure that privatised is the correct word to use when you built it in the first pace.