In at least two films written by William Rose, Genevieve (1953) and The Ladykillers (1955), there is a fleeting mention of the village of Pangbourne, six miles upstream from Reading, on the Thames. As a resident I am curious to know if the village held any special significance for him. Did he live here? Did he have friends here? Did he marry here?
shareThis movie is being shown today, and not being familiar with the film, I ventured to my online 'movie bible', and found your note (though 3 years old). I searched info for William Rose and was dumbfounded to find he was born a mere three hours from here, in Jefferson City, Missouri. On another site, I read that in 1939 he went to Canada and joined the Black Watch, eventually stationed in Scotland and England. After the war, he returned to England to work as a screenwriter. Surely he was taken with the English people and countryside, so much so that he took up residence, which is where he died in 1987. It states his place of death is Jersey, Channel Islands. I wouldn't doubt that in 50 years of living in the UK, he may have lived in, or around Pangbourne at one time or another, but I couldn't find any specific mention. You are lucky to live there. It looks charming.
I want to thank you for piquing my curiousity, for I shall never forget this man's name. I recently saw the The Ladykillers, because of my new passion for Sir Alec. I now realize I've seen many other films on which William Rose is credited. Nominated many times, he won the Academy Award for original screenplay in 1967 for Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, and the Bafta in 1955 for The Ladykillers. Amazing. Well, I'm definitely watching Genevieve, today -- by the way, it was another AA nomination for Mr. Rose in 1953.
Patti
Nice to hear from you Patti. A movie buff 'Supremo'.
shareHaving just watched Genenvieve again after many, many years I was fascinated to see two locations that I know very well - both pubs!
One is "The Jolly Woodman" (as it used to look before being modernised some years ago) in Burnham Beeches near Slough. This location was also used in "Reach For The Sky" which also starred Kenneth More.
The other location is "The One Pin" whose name can actually be seen in the movie. This is in Hedgerley (a few miles north of Slough). There is a mound in the background of one scene which is a small reservoir. The sign post which points to the "Brighton Rd" is just a prop!
David.
How did I miss your response, Spope?! Thank you for the nice words!! : )
David, thanks for the additional comments regarding location. Ohhh I'd love to visit England again!
I'm sure Terry-Thomas'character says he's from Pangbourne in 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
shareThe sprawl of London (beyond its official border) extends from Bedford in the north to Brighton in the south, and from Shoeburyness in the east to Pangbourne in the west. Pangbourne itself is a rather genteel western appendage to Reading, situated on the River Thames. It may be seen as the uttermost limit of London and its environs before the West Country begins. (The Reading accent - although it's slowly dying out - is more akin to the West Country than to London.)
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