Billy Liar Film 1963

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Fri 23 Dec, 2011 3:33 pm

Found some archive cine film of the filming in Leeds which took place in 1962. All looks grim and smoke blackened before sandblasting.http://www.yfaonline.com/node/3059?dest ... ly-liarThe final scene (when Julie Christie takes the train and Billy misses it), Billy walks up a darkened suburban street with his imaginary army. Filmed on Spennithorne Avenue and a house still has the unique iron gates.Any more please?

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 23 Dec, 2011 9:07 pm

Here's the scene:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRCU2Qwbh1Qwhich looks like spennithorne ave but.....just to be controversial....about half way through he passes a street sign that says Midland Road and the house at the end looks like it's above the road up some steps, IIRC unlike Spennithorne ave. Is it a composite of two locations? I seem to remember the house being in Bradford from a previous link that I can't find.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 23 Dec, 2011 9:08 pm

Here we gohttp://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/billyliar.htmlWhich is adjacent to Midland Road.

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Fri 23 Dec, 2011 9:33 pm

A friend of mine - who we used to call Tony 'Keith Waterhouse' due to his obessesion with Billy Liar etc once walked down the canal to the house in Baildon that was used as Billy Fishers home in the film. At the time the old lady living there was the same woman who had dwelt there when they used her home as the film location. This was over 20 years ago that he made this pilgrimage so I guess the old lady is no longer there... I've been to Undercliffe Cemetery and chucked an orange in front of my girlfriend in homage to this classic piece of cinema...!

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 12:32 am

Cardiarms wrote: Here's the scene:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRCU2Qwbh1Qwhich looks like spennithorne ave but.....just to be controversial....about half way through he passes a street sign that says Midland Road and the house at the end looks like it's above the road up some steps, IIRC unlike Spennithorne ave. Is it a composite of two locations? I seem to remember the house being in Bradford from a previous link that I can't find. Good find CardieYeah they used both. The metal gates by the streetlight on Spennithorne Ave in your clip are still there. He is edited back to Midland Road Baildon which adjoins 'Billy's House' namely 37 Hinchliffe Avenue.It was colder at the Midland Rd point you can see his breath.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 12:40 am

His fringe is combed differently as well.

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 11:17 am

Shadrack & Duxbury's building and the steps outside are still there; the steps run down to Southgate from Sunbridge Road. My wife used to work in Southgate, and she saw all the filming. Interesting to learn that the final scenes were shot in Marylebone Station - I always thought it had been Bradford Victoria.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 1:16 pm

UnoThey've put up a plaque on Southgate for 'film-related-tourism'http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/films/fil ... tmlSuspect in reality that's mainly middle aged folks who's childhood surroundings were captured in that film, rather than coach loads

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 5:18 pm

Jogon wrote: UnoThey've put up a plaque on Southgate for 'film-related-tourism'http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/films/fil ... tmlSuspect in reality that's mainly middle aged folks who's childhood surroundings were captured in that film, rather than coach loads Have they really? I must confess I rarely go into Bradford city centre, particularly that section. There's not much there these days since T J Hughes closed down, having taken over the former Co-op Emporium at Sunwin House.Bradford calls itself the "City of Film", but has allowed the former Gaumont (later Odeon) to deteriorate beyond repair. Neither does it publicise that a famous scene in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" was filmed in Lister Park. I wonder why?I agree that coach loads of visitors are unlikely to home in on Bradford.Would any of you Leodiensians come for a day out?

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 24 Dec, 2011 5:29 pm

Uno Hoo wrote: Jogon wrote: UnoThey've put up a plaque on Southgate for 'film-related-tourism'http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/films/fil ... tmlSuspect in reality that's mainly middle aged folks who's childhood surroundings were captured in that film, rather than coach loads Have they really? I must confess I rarely go into Bradford city centre, particularly that section. There's not much there these days since T J Hughes closed down, having taken over the former Co-op Emporium at Sunwin House.Bradford calls itself the "City of Film", but has allowed the former Gaumont (later Odeon) to deteriorate beyond repair. Neither does it publicise that a famous scene in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" was filmed in Lister Park. I wonder why?I agree that coach loads of visitors are unlikely to home in on Bradford.Would any of you Leodiensians come for a day out? No.