I was lucky enough to be born within spitting distance of Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire and the adjacent Black Park (where 99.9% of Hammer's exterior, woodland shots were filmed) - and also just up the road from Bray Studios.
One of my earliest memories is of my father taking me, aged 5, for a walk around Black Park in 1968 and of him spotting a film crew setting up a shot. Dragging me over to investigate (I was more interested in the ducks and swans on the large lake), I suddenly found myself face to face with a fully made up and costumed Christopher Lee who was about to film a scene in "Dracula has Risen from the Grave" but very kindly took the time to say "Hello, little boy" in THAT voice.
Needless to say, I promptly started bawling my lungs out and was dragged off by my highly embarrassed father. Rather ironically, that vivid and terrifying experience gave rise to a later fascination with all things horror. (I still remember seeing a very pretty lady in costume and a coach - so I guess the scene was the one where Dracula bites Barbara Ewing in the woods.)
Simon
(PS: The photo below is of me a couple of years later in the same location of Black Park.
How many times have you seen that tree line in a Hammer film, eh?)
One of my earliest memories is of my father taking me, aged 5, for a walk around Black Park in 1968 and of him spotting a film crew setting up a shot. Dragging me over to investigate (I was more interested in the ducks and swans on the large lake), I suddenly found myself face to face with a fully made up and costumed Christopher Lee who was about to film a scene in "Dracula has Risen from the Grave" but very kindly took the time to say "Hello, little boy" in THAT voice.
Needless to say, I promptly started bawling my lungs out and was dragged off by my highly embarrassed father. Rather ironically, that vivid and terrifying experience gave rise to a later fascination with all things horror. (I still remember seeing a very pretty lady in costume and a coach - so I guess the scene was the one where Dracula bites Barbara Ewing in the woods.)
Simon
(PS: The photo below is of me a couple of years later in the same location of Black Park.
How many times have you seen that tree line in a Hammer film, eh?)
statistics: Posted by Richard LeStrange — 12:53 PM - Today — Replies 2 — Views 127