Exploits at West Poley |
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Last Update: 30 October 2000 (You need a browser capable of viewing tables to see this page properly) |
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This is a children's adventure film. A motherless boy goes to stay with his widowed aunt and older boy cousin in West Poley. The two boys become friends and explore the local caves, finding a secret cave inside a larger one with an underground stream/river. They change the direction of this stream with disastrous results for West Poley, but much to the delight of East Poley's residents. Changing the stream back involves another young boy (apprenticed to the cruel miller) and two life threatening incidents. |
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Unlike Hardy's usual novels, everything ends happily! Sean Bean appears as Scarface (a resident of East Poley) in two scenes and in the second scene has several lines of speech. |
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Filming took place from 07 Oct 1985 until 01 November 85. Locations included the Chilterns, Maple Durham Estate (near Reading - where the Water Mill scenes were filmed); Woodstock; Iver Heath and Elstree Studios. Exploits at West Poley won 1st prize at the Portugal Film Festival and 2nd prize at the Chicago Film Festival. |
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS: Anthony Bale .............. The Man Who Has Failed Brenda Fricker ............ Aunt Draycott Charlie Condou ............ Leonard Jonathan Jackson .......... Stephen Jonathan Adams ............ Miller Griffin Noel O'Connell ............ Job Tray Frank Mills ............... Ned Jones Thomas Heathcote .......... Farmer Will Gant James Coyle ............... Millhand Jelena Budimir ............ Washerwoman Diana King ................ Old Woman Kelita Groom .............. Susan Brian Coburn .............. Branded Man Sean Bean ................. Scarface George Malpas ............. Shepherd Barry Dromfield ........... Fiddler Jacob Thomas .............. Young Boy |
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PRODUCTION CREDITS: Produced by............... Pamela Lonsdale Executive Producer........ Ian Shand .......................... Children's Film & Television Foundation Ltd. Written by................ James Andrew Hall Directed by............... Diarmud Lawrence Music by ................. Nigel Hess Editor ................... Chris Ridsdale Production Year........... 1985 Airdate................... 31 August 1990 (ITV) Based on the novel Our Exploits at West Poley by Thomas Hardy. |
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