The Big silver screen

In the September of 1949 The location was St. Cross Hospital, Winchester. When Mr. R. F Leason took thirty boys including Johnny Leach, Kit Carson, Len Brotherwood, Len Mott, Brian Hurd, Jimmy Mainprice, George Bousefield, Bill Ostle, Bill Cotton, Keith Stevenson. To name but a few of the Goldings stars. The picture above shows Miss  Jean Kent signing the cricket bat used in the film with eyes only for Kit Carson, Len Brotherwood holding the Cricket bat and smiling but looking on in envey!

The Browning Version tells the story of an hour in the life of Andrew Crocker-Harris, an academically gifted Public School Master who has been forced to take a considerable step down his 'career ladder' and retire from his post. As the preparations for his and his wife's imminent departure come to a head, The film shows his has been a bitter, harsh life, full of disappointments and shattered illusions. But will a simple gift from one of his pupils be enough to prove to him that not all his efforts have been in vain?

Michael Redgrave is very believable in his performance of Crocker-Harris an embittered, middle-aged school master from Anthony Asquith's adaptation of The Browning Version which now is a classic of British realism and the winner of Best Actor and Best screenplay honours at the 1951 Cannes Film Festival.

From the House notes of 1950

We regard it a great privilege that so many bays from our House were selected to. attend the Pinewood Studios, for the shooting of the film entitled "The, Browning Version." In addition to. visiting the Pinewood Studios, one day early in September Mr. R. F. Leason took a party of over thirty boys from various Houses to. St. Cross Hospital, Winchester, for the shooting of a scene depicting the bays going into the School Chapel for service. In this scene the famous actor Michael Redgrave, who. plays the part of a science master, was seen amongst. other masters going into Chapel in academic gown and M.A. hood of Oxford University. On this occasion Mr. Leason was asked by the well-known film producer Mr. Anthony Asquith, to convey to all of us his very great appreciation for the admirable way we all followed his instructions and for our excellent behaviour. In another' scene our boys formed the school cricket team and needless to say they were all thrilled to have their photographs taken with Jean Kent. Many boys obtained autographs from Michael Redgrave, Jean Kent, Nigel Patrick, Linda Trevors and others.

A MASTER GOES TO THE FILMS

During September a number of our boys were invited to Pinewood Studios to act as "extras" in a film production. To the laymen this may sound a glamorous and exciting experience, but actually film making is a slow and tedious business. Many hours are spent in preparing a shot, which often lasts only a minute in actual film time.

However, the boys played their parts in more senses than one. They were always ready for yet another rehearsal, and waited patiently sometimes all day, for that elusive sun.

But perhaps the presence of stars compensated us for the absence of sun. Michael Redgrave was as impressive in reality as he is on celluloid. Jean Kent, W. Hyde White and Nigel Patrick were supporting stars, but glittered none the less.

Impressive, too, were the sets. One had an uncanny feeling of actually being in a school, until such things as arc lamps, cables and cameras recalled you to the reality of a make believe world.

How many boys will remember, when they actually see the film, those rubber cobble stones, the plaster rocks, the entrance to the cricket pavilion that led them into an open field! Not many, I am sure! That is the magic of films.

On the whole I think the boys did a grand job, and who knows?, “The Browning Version” may yet be known as the Goldings Classic.

F. W. O.

ANOTHER IMPRESSION

I wonder how many boys; before they visited the Pinewood Studios knew what a tedious job a film star has, well! If not the star himself, the stand in. Naturally I was delighted to be one of the boys chosen to visit Pinewood, and to act as a school boy in the new film “The Browning Version” My first visit was actually very short, in fact when we arrived at the studios, we did not leave the coaches, as we all had a long and tedious journey to make down to Winchester, where we were going to shoot two of the many outside shots. The coaches were very comfortable, which enabled us to enjoy the journey. On the ride to Winchester we passed many historic buildings: when we were nearing Windsor, we passed the gates and buildings of the famous Eton College, Windsor Castle, The Great Park, Ascot Race Course and the Military College at Camberley, and so into Winchester where we made our way through very narrow roads till we reached St. Cross Hospital, where we alighted from the coaches, really thankful that the journey was at its end.  I believe Mr. Leason was pleased, too.

The first thing we received when we arrived was a hot cup tea, and a roll served from a J. Arthur Rank tea Van. Having satisfied our ravening hunger, we were fitted out with black ties from the wardrobe manager. Some of us were very lucky enough to see the main star Michael Redgrave being made up.

The first scene was in the quadrangle of the old teachers and boys alike were to walk across or around the green. That shot took six takes for it to be perfect. After that another shot was taken, myself not being included in that one.

Work finished, we made our way back to the Tea Van, where this time we received a box of food, a plate of tart and custard, and another cup of tea. After we had eaten we made our way back to the coaches, and left the old city behind on our long journey over the Hants and Surrey country‑side back towards Pinewood, but this time we did not stop at the Studios, we came straight back to school, after a very interesting time.

I shall not continue to describe the Studio work itself, as no doubt one master and a prefect have done that already. But this I believe has been left untouched.

Roy S. DEAN

A BOY BECOMES A FILM STAR

This term a certain number of our boys, including myself, have been taking part in a film being made at Pinewood Studios, called the “The Browning Version” The film is about a school.

The first scene we took part in was near Windsor Castle. It was a cricket scene in which the popular sports master scores a century.

The second scene we took part in was prize-giving day, in which the Sports Master and the Latin Master made parting speeches.

In the dinner hour some of us had a look round the studios and workshops. In one studio they were building a French street scene for a film “Night Without Stars” The scenery is mostly made of wood and plaster. First, wood frames are made, which are then covered with wire netting. This is then covered with plaster, which is shaped and painted. Other scenery like the sky, trees, etc, is painted on large sheets of canvas.

Arc lamps are used for lighting effects for day or night scenes. In one shed there are stagecoaches, which are used for cowboy films. For inside filming the arc lamps are directed downwards from overhead foot walks. There is a network of these foot walks suspended over the studios. When they are shooting a scene, soundproof doors are lowered. The scenes are usually rehearsed many times before the films are taken.

Film stars have to work very hard, and if you would like to be a film star, here are three abilities you must have: First, the ability to act; secondly, a good memory; and thirdly patience.

Michael May

The Goldonian winter 1950

The first scene in which Goldings boys played a part a very funny event occurred during the cricket match between staff and boys when Bill Travers, playing the part of the school sports Master "Fletcher" who was also supposed to play for England, was taking his turn at bat, facing one of the boys from his school, but was in fact one of our better Goldings bowlers Ostle Senior, better known as "Big Oss".

They tried several times to have Travers hit a ball bowled by Ostle only to have the embarrassment of being bowled out each time.  Finally, they took two shots, one of Oss bowling which you will see in the film and then, a separate shot of Travers hitting a ball which was lobbed to him gently by one of the movie staff.

The good news all the boys that took no matter how small a part they played were all paid £2.00 into their bank account which when added to the weekly pocket money, there was some money spent in the coffee bar that year at summer camp, Dymchurch along with some tall stories told of being on the silver screen.

Goldings also received a new sound 16mm film projector that was used every Wednesday evening throughout the winter months, but the boys never did see "The Browning Version"  The funds also allowed the purchase of a piano and some silver bugles for the Army Cadet Band. Some time in the 60s the film night was moved to a Thursday evening.

The film became available when the DVD was given away with The Sunday Telegraph 19th Nov 2006 runtime 89minutes B&W prior to this it was only on VHS in the NTSC format.

For some information on who's who in The Browning Version click here
For some information on a housemaster view click hear
For some more information about the film shot on location at Goldings in 64 click here