Reelstreets | Hell Drivers
- ️Silver Monkey
Date: 1957
Director: Cy Endfield
Production Company: Rank
Stars: Stanley Baker, Patrick McGoohan, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummings, Sydney James, Jill Ireland, Alfie Bass, Gordon Jackson, William Hartnell, Wilfred Lawson, Sean Connery
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, London, Middlesex, Sussex
Region(s): London H-L, South East E-L
Storyline:
An ex-convict gets a job driving ballast lorries and exposes a racket being run by the boss and his top driver.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson.
Peter Morse advises that other locations used in this film include the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal, Fulmer, Small Dole Quarry and Ford Aerodrome.
Yvonne Johnson who’s father Reg was a camera operator on this film started a book that she is now trying to finish. She has kindly given us an extract relative to this film: “I used to mount the Vista Vision camera into the camera car and chase along Buckinghamshire lanes at well over 70miles an hour to get the back projection plates and Stanley Bakers action scenes for the exciting chases in the film. I used to cross my fingers and hope the assistant director had warned traffic approaching in the opposite direction. On the same film we had a Lorry going over a cliff near Brighton and catching fire for a scene required in the picture.” Yvonne believes that the lorry scene was filmed at Shoreham by Sea.
Jimmy Snow worked on special effects at both Pinewood and Denham Studios but a name that often remained uncredited, as with this film. An interesting Biography and her Memories of him has been written for us by his granddaughter Brigitte, all of which can be read here.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 01 Jun 2015
During the titles, the view from the cab of a speeding truck is seen. Peter Morse advises that much of the route is along the B470 between Langley and Shreding Green in Buckinghamshire.
Langley Park Road now. SD
- Capture 2
- 01 Jun 2015
Langley Park Road, Shreding Green near Iver in Buckinghamshire with the Red Lion public house coming into view to the left.
The old road is now a footpath. SD
- Capture 3
- 01 Jun 2015
Langley Park Road at the junction with Wood Lane in Shreding Green.
The truck turns left, in the direction of Pinewood Studios. SD
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
When he's given a job driving for Hawletts, Tom Yately is accompanied by Ed on his trial run.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
Paul Hilton provides this capture in which, during his driving test, Tom meets Red chasing Johnny along Billet Lane in Iver, Buckinghamshire. This is to the north of the junction with Bellswood Lane, alongside Langley Country Park.
- Capture 6
- 20 Aug 2018
After ballast is collected from the gravel pit, Tom heads to the building site. The junction of Windsor Road and Mount Hill Lane near Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. John Stean advises that the gravel pit was on Clockhouse Lane, Ashford in Middlesex.
I finally got around to replacing an extremely similar Google image. (PW)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Tom is told to drive as fast as he can by Ed.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
The truck arrives at it's destination with the full load.
- Capture 9
- 21 Jul 2015
'Red' Redman takes the shortcut past Warren Hill Quarry that allows him to remain the top driver. Truleigh Hill, Upper Beeding in Sussex.
The same spot as seen from South Downs Way. Replaces Google Streetview image. SD
- Capture 10
- 21 Jul 2015
Lorry number 1 makes it's way along the top of the quarry. Truleigh Hill in Sussex confirmed by Peter Morse and Alan Mitchell.
The quarry now. SD
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Lucy (Peggy Cummins) calls to Tom Yately (Stanley Baker) outside 'The Pull Inn' transport cafe. A studio set at Pinewood included for completeness.
- Capture 12
- 29 Nov 2022
With Gino Rossi in truck 3 preventing Red from catching him, Tom speeds towards the gravel pit. Kevin Rayner identifies this as Hawkswood Lane near the junction with Alderbourne Lane to the south east of Fulmer in Buckinghamshire, very close to Pinewood Studios. The location can be seen in 'Take a Chance', 'The Final Test', 'Don't Talk to Strange Men', 'Genevieve' and 'Poet's Pub'.
Antony Blair captured the Alderbourne in full flood.
- Capture 13
- 05 Oct 2019
Tom takes time off to visit his brother. Robert Trimmer locates this as High Street in Brentford, Middlesex. The trolley bus on route 657 to Hounslow is stopping outside the Brentford Gas Light & Coke Company.
Antony Blair took this view of Brentford High Street, still on a bus route but with a much changed backdrop.
- Capture 14
- 05 Oct 2019
After getting of the bus, Tom walks over to his mother's shop. Robert adds that everything on the High Street has since been demolished.
Confirming that the buildings have all gone and the road widened, Antony captured the same location 62 years on.
- Capture 15
- 05 Oct 2019
Robert Trimmer goes on to say that the camera was facing east towards Kew Bridge. The distant section of High Street appears in 'Up the Junction'.
A much leafier scene greeted Antony Blair on Brentford High Street.
- Capture 16
- 25 Oct 2014
An establishing shot of the station seen when Tom decides to leave town. West Ruislip station on Ickenham Road between Ickenham and Ruislip, Middlesex.
The same redesigned location. (PW)
- Capture 17
- 10 Jul 2019
When Red and Cartley set off to ambush Tom they drive west along Bellswood Lane in Iver before turning right at the junction with Billet Lane. Additional capture by Paul Hilton.
The same junction now taken by Paul.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
Red's truck passes over a hump back bridge on the way to the short cut.