This location was where the bully in the park hurting the boy who said he had seen Jesus, the area in question went on to become the site of Barden High School in 1968, i went to the school from 1979 - 1984 and sadly my old school was demolished in October 2008, happy memories.
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Too bad about your school being demolished. Did teachers and/or students at your school have as much of an awareness as you did (and do) that your school site had once been the location of some of the filming of "Whistle Down the Wind"? How many of your fellow classmates had seen it and what did they think of it? What did you think of it?
I only saw this movie once, on TV in LA in the 70's, when local stations would often play great, older, classic movies in prime time and throughout the night. Did anyone else reading this note see it on LA TV during the early or mid 70's?
Even though I only saw it once, it made a huge impression on me and I've never forgotten it. It's of the sweetest, most important films about how the innocent faith of the onlooker(s), (in this case, a group of children), can partially redeem, or at least plant a seed of redemption, in the mind and heart of sinners who might have reached a point of considering themselves lost causes - beyond forgiveness, beyond redemption.
These children, who mistakenly believe they have the wounded Christ in their hay loft and are committed to feeding him and nursing him back to health without telling their parents, give this bullet-wounded criminal the short-lived experience of having their innocence and faith in his goodness in the palm of his hand - and that experience alone is a spiritual epiphany for him. The movie does not tell us how far this epiphany took him, but we are at least allowed to see small signs that he was inwardly transformed by the innocence and faith of the children - and that what the rest of his life might be like as a result of this opening of his heart is anyone's guess.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful movie. Anyone who has not seen it yet should do so asap. - Sarah
I went to Barden Junior school and left in 1960, my last teacher being Mr Treadwell. Bob Jowett, Don Salter, Kevin Coyne etc were in the same year. (I recall Ann Ludlam too).
I, along with 20 or so others was filmed for a scene in WDTW, which unfortunately didn't make the film final cut. Opposite the park, i.e. over the railway bridge where the bully, (appalling acting) makes his appearance, running parallel to the park was a stony path which we 'aspiring bit-parters' had to run up towards the bridge, cheering and shouting as we ran. Several re-takes were necessary as one or two star-struck 12 year olds insisted on waving to camera.
Bryan Forbes picked us out from a crowd of 40 or so kids by placing his hand on the heads of the 'chosen'. On completion of our duties, we were paid a crisp ten bob note each. (10 shillings would buy fish and chips x6 back then).
I managed to earn a pound, as I was selected to kick a football around in the backround for another scene shot in the park on Barden rec'.
One of the morning highlights was to await the arrival of the 'star' Hayley Mills. No one got within 100yds of her car, (a big Ford and very distinctive outside the park on Barden rec'.)
Happy days, but try as I may. I can't identify myself in the film during my 15 seconds of 'fame'. Robert E Lee.
The film was made in 1961, before my time but nowadays, i am not sure who would remember it because of its age except myself who were born in the late 60s and older, the bridge where the bully came from is still there as is the railway line although only 1 line runs now, not 2. I downloaded the film a few years ago and watched it again looking at the scene in the park and walked my mates dog along the road with him and we talked about it and i took photos of the park area which was then at the time, Barden High School being demolished and the scene of the park can be seen in the photos i took, it was sad to see my old school going down and the park scene area is now an artificial football field with the new 6th form school further on the field in the distance.
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