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Bury St Edmunds & Beyond Goes to the Movies
From 1968 all the way through to today, Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding towns and villages have lit up the silver screen around the world, from the biggest blockbusters to independent gems...
Award-winning director Sir Ridley Scott definitely knew what he was talking about when he once said that, "choosing location is integral to the film: in essence, another character". After all, Scott himself filmed scenes for his 2017 crime/thriller All the Money in the World right here in Suffolk at Elveden Hall near Bury St Edmunds - but he wasn't the only one...
The Witchfinder General (1968)
This British-American historical horror follows a young soldier who relentlessly pursues a vicious witch-hunter after he terrorises his fiancée and executes her uncle.
What better way to achieve the film's authentic medieval setting than filming in England's best preserved medieval village of Lavenham!
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Arguably legendary auteur Stanley Kubrick's very best, Barry Lyndon picked up four Oscars including cinematography and set decoration and we like to think the stunning Lavenham Guildhall played a part.
This period drama recounts the early exploits and later unravelling of an Irish rogue who wins the heart of a rich widow to climb the social ladder and assume her dead husband's aristocratic position.
Yesterday's Hero (1979)
From the pen of Jackie Collins, Yesterday's Hero is largely based on the rollercoaster life of football star George Best. The film follows fictional character Rod Turner (Ian McShane), a has-been alcoholic former soccer star who is determined to make a comeback with help from his former girlfriend, now a rock star, and her partner.
The film was shot at multiple well-known football stadiums including Portman Road, just beyond Bury St Edmunds in Ipswich.
Laughterhouse (1984)
The legendary Ian Holm stars in Richard Eyre's independent feel-good flick that was partly shot in Long Melford, telling the tale of a farmer who becomes an unintentional celebrity when he has to walk his five thousand geese one hundred miles from Suffolk to Smithfield Market.
Princess Caraboo (1994)
This historical comedy-drama starring Phoebe Cates, Jim Broadbent, Kevin Kline and John Lithgow is based on the real-life 19th-century character Princess Caraboo.
The stately home of Elveden Hall in Suffolk played a vital role in helping the film acquire its regal backdrop, with some scenes shot on the estate.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Blockbusters don't come much bigger than Bond!
Pierce Brosnan returns as 007 in this action thriller as he sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage.
The scenes set in a US airbase in the South China Sea were actually filmed at RAF Lakenheath, while the high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) parachute jump was filmed at RAF Mildenhall. Brosnan even stayed at the historic Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds while filming.
The Wind in the Willows (1997)
The stunning Kentwell Hall in Long Melford doubles as Toad Hall in this reimagining of the classic family tale that sees the Monty Python gang, alongside Steve Coogan, Stephen Fry and many others, on top form.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
One stint in Suffolk wasn't enough for Stanley Kubrick. He returned with a stellar cast including Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman for his erotic mystery psychological drama and final film, Eyes Wide Shut.
Elveden Hall's gothic interior was the perfect setting for the Long Island mansion where the large-scale masked orgy scene takes place.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Like Pierce Brosnan, Angelina Jolie also opted to stay at The Angel Hotel during the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
The film brought the video game adventurer to life with Suffolk's Elveden Hall transformed into villain Manfred Powell’s exotic home in London. The interior scenes were filmed in the Indian style rooms at the Hall, built when the Maharajar Duleep Singh acquired the Elveden Estate in 1863.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
The wonky timber frame houses of glorious Lavenham double as the gothic Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
The film, which sees Potter return to his childhood home where the whole saga began, made the medieval village of Lavenham somewhat of a shrine for Potterheads around the world.
All the Money in the World (2017)
Elveden Hall's long-term relationship with the big screen is still going strong, as proven in Ridley Scott’s recent well-received thriller All The Money In The World.
The exotic architecture of the building helped Scott transport his audience to the heart of Morocco during this story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III, and the desperate attempt by his mother to convince his billionaire grandfather to pay the ransom.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
From Angel Hill and Chequer Square to Churchgate Street and the Theatre Royal, Armando Iannucci and his crew capitalised on Bury St Edmunds' rich history and beauty when filming comedy/drama The Personal History of David Copperfield.
This modern take on Charles Dickens' classic tale of a young orphan who triumphs over many obstacles was praised by critics and has a stellar cast of Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton and many more.
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