Central Park in New York holds the record for the most popular filming location in the world. It has 532 location credits and appears in countless popular films including When Harry met Sally, Spiderman, Elf, and Home Alone 2, to name a few.
But did you know that Chobham also has an impressive list of movie credits? Over the years, areas that you may walk through on a daily basis have played host to world-famous detectives, superheroes, and horror icons.
Read on to learn about five blockbuster movies that were filmed in Chobham.
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia is an all-time classic that tells the story of T.E Lawrence. The archaeologist-turned-war hero was famed for his role in the Arab Revolt and the campaign against the Ottoman Empire during the first world war.
The film, which won seven Oscars and was nominated for three more, follows the life of Lawrence of Arabia and his exploits during the war.
The opening scene depicting Lawrence’s untimely death in a motorbike accident in 1935 was filmed right here in Chobham, cementing the village’s place in film history.
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective in the world, has appeared in numerous TV adaptations and films over the years.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is perhaps the most famous of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories and the first colour adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, released in 1959, was filmed in Chobham.
In the picture, Chobham Common doubled for Dartmoor as Holmes and Watson investigated reports of a monstrous hound terrorising the locals.
3. Superman II (1980)
Modern superhero movies are often filmed in front of a green screen, spending millions on clever digital trickery to create awe-inspiring action sequences.
But the classic sequel Superman II took a more practical approach. The studio built an entire mock-up of an American town on Chobham Common. The filmmakers used the set for several key scenes featuring supervillain Lex Luthor terrorising the citizens.
Fortunately, Superman arrived to save the day and restore order to Chobham Common.
4. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
Bray Studios, just half an hour’s drive from Chobham, was used to film many of the Hammer Horror movies that terrified audiences from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
Their films depicting iconic beasts such as Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, and Dracula are considered a crucial part of horror history. Modern directors including Tim Burton and Guillermo del Toro cite Hammer Horror films as a huge influence on their award-winning work.
Frankenstein Created Woman was the fourth film in Hammer’s Frankenstein series and the gory opening scene showing somebody being guillotined was filmed on Chobham Common. The filmmakers chose the location as it was close to Bray Studios and the sometimes eerie common was the perfect backdrop for the shocking opening to the film.
While Frankenstein Created Woman is considered by many to be one of the weaker Hammer Horror films, world-class director Martin Scorsese maintains it’s one of his favourites.
5. Children of Men (2006)
Film production has changed over the years and the prevalence of ready-made studio sets and digital backgrounds means there isn’t as much demand for location shoots anymore. Consequently, Chobham hasn’t appeared in as many films recently.
However, the area was still used as one of several quaint villages that appeared in 2006 dystopian thriller Children of Men.
The film follows Theo Faron as he attempts to transport the only known pregnant woman in the world across the country in the hope of curing humanity’s infertility. The characters pass through several villages on their dangerous journey, including Chobham. A number of important scenes were filmed at Chobham test track where the control tower featured prominently.
Have you ever noticed familiar locations around Chobham when watching these famous films?
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