British amusement parks on film/television

[Graeme]

I'm sorry, I was mistaken about seeing the Battersea Scenic on TV. I actually saw a picture of it in a book. (The BBC2 programme did feature a water chute though).

The good news is that Bedazzled is on Saturday (on BBC2 after the Light Entertainment programme, funnily enough) and that does feature the coaster.


Joyland Books adds information about where to buy the titles:

Buy Bedazzled from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B0009KKW9U

[dave]

graeme can you remember what part of the film the coaster is seen in the movie bedazzled is it at the beginning.
regards dave.

[porterm]

Hey Graeme,

Your mind plays tricks with you too then!

On that topic, does anyone remember some really old programme on the BBC, I believe, that featured the building of the wooden roller coasters at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach? - I think it was back in the seventies; I've never seen it rescreened since. (I'm sure I didn't dream that one). I seem to recall the presenter saying that the park had been highly influenced by the American thrill rides and the owner couldn't see any reason why we could not also have a collection over here.

Ah yes - that Bedazzled film; one occasion where I can honestly proclaim that the British version was so much better than that fairly recent Hollywood remake with the likes of Liz Hurley and Brendan Fraser. Peter Cook was just brilliant in the original I thought - a sad loss to comedy. And the nostalgic scene from my former playground in Battersea just added to the film's joy.

Martin

PS Dave; the Big Dipper was towards the end of the film I believe (I recorded it last time around but lent it to a friend and haven't yet got it back).


Joyland Books adds information about where to buy the titles:

Buy Bedazzled from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B0009KKW9U

[dave]

Thanks martin shall look out for the film at the weekend i try to tape the scenes from movies which have fairgrounds,amusement parks in them.
Other the years there as been some great shots of battersea in movies as already discussed in this post, the best being the mutations starring tom
baker that has some graet shots of the rides all throughout the film not just one small clip,he is the disfigured owner of a freak show in the park which hasd real live freaks as the actors caused a bit of a stair at the time much as the self titled movie from the thirties did which i may add is one of my favourite films.
regards dave.
ps cant remember any of that programme you talk of which featured blackpool pleasure beach sorry........dave.

[Gary]

Have we had "Carry on at your Convenience" yet?

(Brighton Pier's? ) Ghost train in all its glory.


Joyland Books adds:

This film is currently available at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B00009PAJQ

[hazlewood]

Southport Pleasureland (now just a fond memory as of September 2006) was featured in Norman Wisdom's film "What's Good for the Goose" from 1969. Also starred Sally Geeson. Fairly rare item these days, but worth a watch!


Joyland Books adds information about where to buy the titles:

Buy 'What's Good for the Goose' from Amazon here (sadly only currently available as a Region 1 US import): http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B0002EJ7Z8

[Greg Pryce]

This link to A.T.F.O.T.F has most listed, if it's of any interest.

http://www.fun-fairs.co.uk/filmtv.html

[Nick]

I have just watched a TV drama series with two episodes filmed almost entirely at Barry Island Pleasure Park. It is a two-part story from the Sarah Jane Adventures TV series (one of many Doctor Who spin-offs) called 'The Mad Woman in the Attic'. The really amazing thing about it is not just the fact that most of the two 25 minute episodes are filmed at the Pleasure Park, but that the story actually centres around the park being closed down for redevelopment. The owner comments that they have been hit by the credit crunch and that they have been closed for several months. He is now looking after the site until the developers move in. It is therefore very topical with so many parks having closed over the past few years, and interesting to see writers using that as the background for a TV drama. And the park looks fantastically run down!

The episode is available to buy on DVD and is currently at almost half price on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002SZQC8Y?ie=UTF8&tag=beegeecouk04-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002SZQC8Y

The only downside is that it is a box set so you are buying all the other episodes as well, but £12.93 is not a bad price for a bit of TV history, especially as the park has now effectively closed.

Barry Island Pleasure Park did make almost the perfect disused amusement park back in 2008 when they filmed this.

[Gary]

Due to my love of seventies' films and an unhealthy obsession of all things cult TV I've just watched a recently purchased Region 2 DVD called "Melody"

It was shot in 1971 and starred Tracy Hyde, (the late) Jack Wild and Mark Lester.

I remember seeing it advertised at my local cinema first time around but never got to see it back then.

According to IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067418/locations it states the fair scenes were shot at Battersea. Can anyone who may have seen the film confirm that they were for me? It showed footage of a Wild Mouse and I noticed Chipperfields advertised on the side of a couple of rides. (Scrambler)

Some of the seaside scenes were shot (again according to IMDB) in Weymouth.

Anyway: A fantastic British film shot mainly in Lambeth and Battersea capturing pre-adolescent innocence brilliantly. Recommended!

Nick et al: It has a killer early Bee Gees sound track too! Melody Fair, To Love Somebody, In the Morning, Spicks and Specks, First of May..

Cheers

Gary

[Nick]

It is some years since I watched this, but as I recall the seaside scenes were shot at Clacton. I could be wrong as I haven't seen it for about 10 years. I must give it another viewing to confirm!

Melody is available to buy at Amazon, currently at a 58% discount:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002 ... B002VD5SA6

[AJ]

Well this is my 3 year old sons favourite film at the minute, for some reason he loves Freddie & the Dreamers (don't ask me how or where he found it.)

Every Day's a Holiday starring John Leyton, Mike Sarne & Grazina Frame is set in Butlins Clacton in 1964 there are shots of what I guess is the holiday camps fair but there are some shots with the Steel Stella in the background.

Song: 'Every Day's a Holiday - with Steel Stella in the background and shots of the Butlins fairground - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G4LNPkoHN4

There are some other songs around the fair but can't find them on Youtube.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Days-Holiday-John-Leyton/dp/B002VSCADO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294958877&sr=1-1-spell

[Gary]

It is some years since I watched this, but as I recall the seaside scenes were shot at Clacton. I could be wrong as I haven't seen it for about 10 years. I must give it another viewing to confirm!

Melody is available to buy at Amazon, currently at a 58% discount:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002 ... B002VD5SA6

Hi Nick

Apologies: I notice you mentioned Melody earlier in the thread!

Here is a link to the original trailer and it shows a tiny bit of the park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcztTjiYKB0&feature=related

[Nick]

Nick et al: It has a killer early Bee Gees sound track too! Melody Fair, To Love Somebody, In the Morning, Spicks and Specks, First of May..

And the incredble 'Give Your Best', the Bee Gees square dance, with the classic lyric "It's a square dance Mr Marshall, it's a square dance on the floor. It's a square dance Mr Perkins, to be sure, to be sure."

A perfect track as a backdrop to the coaster scenes!

[Nick]

Following the various discussions above about the film Melody, I have just spent a relaxing evening watching it on DVD. I worked out that the last time I saw it was 1985.

What a fantastic film. Alan Parker's first screenplay, David Puttnam's first feature film as producer, directed by Waris Hussein (director of the first ever Doctor Who in 1963) and with a truly beautiful music score by the Bee Gees. I can see why it has such a cult following.

I can confirm that none of the fairground scenes were filmed at Battersea, contrary to many reports. The amusement park scenes were all filmed at Chipperfield's defunct amusement park at Weymouth, and the coaster scenes were on Chipperfield's Wild Mouse. All of the rest of the seaside scenes were also at Weymouth. I don't know why my 26-year-old memory placed it in Clacton!

The Battersea Fun Fair confusion could be because one of the teachers accuses Daniel and Melody of visiting BFF, when they had actually gone to the seaside.

Described as "one of British cinema's most cherished films", it certainly makes for an entertaining 100 minutes. And I only realised this evening that it was largely filmed in Kennington (London) on the street where I lived for several years (after I last saw it, so the penny only dropped tonight!).

Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002 ... B002VD5SA6

[Nick]

The old amusement park at Chessington Zoo (pre-World of Adventures) on Grange Hill. Great use of the Ghost Train!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcDilAc2Yo

Although this episode is not available on DVD, early Grange Hill is now available:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B000V7GCRM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... B000V9I9ZI