Film Set
Because it adjoins Bray Studios, the exterior of Oakley Court was used in the filming of a number of films including several Hammer horror films, such as The Reptile (1966), The Brides of Dracula (1962), The Plague of the Zombies (1966), and And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973). It is perhaps best remembered as Dr. Frank N Furter's castle (called The Frankenstein Place) in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
The only film to be filmed both inside and outside of Oakley Court is regular Hammer director Freddie Francis' independent project Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly. Francis and screenwriter Brian Comport specifically tailored the movie around the building after Francis became enamored with it during his work on various Hammer projects and decided to take full advantage of the entire house and its grounds rather than just use it for establishing shots.
It was also used for a cult independent horror film called Vampyres (1974). In 1995, it featured as the 'Laxton Grange Hotel' in the British television series, Pie in the Sky.
The classic 1976 mystery farce "Murder by Death" also used this house for its setting.
The house may also be seen in the William Castle Horror comedy The Old Dark House (1963), which was a remake of the original The Old Dark House, directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff.
On many web resources it is erroneously credited as being St Trinian's School in the original St Trinian's film series, but a comparison between the films and the actual building show a quite different architecture and overall design. Historical notes available from the hotel, however, indicate that some parts of the St Trinian films were filmed in the grounds.
Read more about this topic: Oakley Court
Famous quotes containing the words film and/or set:
“The motion picture is like a picture of a lady in a half- piece bathing suit. If she wore a few more clothes, you might be intrigued. If she wore no clothes at all, you might be shocked. But the way it is, you are occupied with noticing that her knees are too bony and that her toenails are too large. The modern film tries too hard to be real. Its techniques of illusion are so perfect that it requires no contribution from the audience but a mouthful of popcorn.”
—Raymond Chandler (18881959)
“One reason writers write is out of revenge. Life hurts; certain ideas and experiences hurt; one wants to clarify, to set out illuminations, to replay the old bad scenes and get the Treppenworte saidthe words one didnt have the strength or ripeness to say when those words were necessary for ones dignity or survival.”
—Cynthia Ozick (b. 1928)