In April 1960, the Czech film director Karel Reisz and producer Tony Richardson came to
Nottingham to film Alan Sillitoe's best-selling novel "Saturday Night and Sunday
Morning".
Although much of the action takes place in the Radford area of Nottingham, a number of scenes
were filmed in and around Lenton and, interestingly, show views of Willoughby Street before
the demolition of the houses.
We recreate below the newspaper articles of the time and show something of the excitement
that gripped Nottingham.
If anyone has memories of the film crew in Lenton or have photographs taken during the
filming, we would be interested to hear from you.
Newscuttings | Photographs & Stills | Links | Memories
The Filming - March to May 1960
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Nottingham Evening News |
Nottingham Evening Post |
Nottingham Guardian Journal |
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Nottingham Evening Post |
Nottingham Guardian Journal |
Nottingham Guardian Journal |
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Nottingham Evening Post |
Nottingham Evening Post |
Nottingham Evening Post |
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Nottingham Evening News |
Nottingham Evening News |
Nottingham Evening News |
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Nottingham Evening News |
Before Release - Summer 1960
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Nottingham Evening News |
Bookseller |
Nottingham Guardian Journal |
After Release - October/November 1960
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Nottingham Guardian Journal |
Nottingham Evening Post |
Nottingham Evening Post |
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Illustrated London News |
Nottingham Guardian Journal |
Production & Pre-Release Publicity Shots
Shots during the filming; publicity shots in Nottingham; and shots taken at several of the premieres for the film
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A shot of the actual filming taking place in Radford |
The production crew aboard a boat - possibly filming the canal shots - Karel Reisz is seated bottom right |
In the film there are scenes set at 'Goose Fair' but the actual shooting shown here was carried out at a fair in London. Karel Reisz is standing next to Albert Finney. |
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Publicity shot taken in the Market Square - Albert Finney, Shirey Ann Field, Louise Dunn and Norman Rossington |
Shirley Ann Field and Albert Finney beside one of the Council House lions |
Another shot in the Square with Albert Finney, Norman Rossington and Shirley Ann Field |
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Albert Finney relaxing at one of the film's premiere showings |
Albert Finney, Shirley Ann Field and Alan Sillitoe seen at a premiere of the film at the Warner Theatre, London |
Rachel Roberts, Shirley Ann Field and Alan Sillitoe at a cocktail party held to celebrate the publication of the book in a Pan edition |
Lobby Cards
Similar to a cinema poster but smaller, lobby cards would be displayed in the foyer of a cinema to give patrons more images from the film they were about to see.
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Lenton Stills
Scenes from the film actually shot in Lenton
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Arthur Seaton in the Raleigh factory #1 |
Arthur Seaton in the Raleigh factory #2 |
Arthur Seaton in the Raleigh factory #3 |
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An interior shot of the Raleigh factory |
Workers leaving the Raleigh factory |
Travelling along Faraday Road with the main Raleigh building on the right |
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Homeward bound along Faraday Road heading for Derby Road |
Interior of the Savoy cinema, Derby Road |
A second shot inside the lobby of the Savoy cinema |
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Cycling over Clayton's Bridge with Lenton Lane stretching out in the distance |
Cycling down to the canal at Clayton's Bridge, Gregory Street |
Billy Hill's newspaper shop at the corner of Willoughby Street and Derby Road |
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A view along Willoughby Street looking away from Derby Road |
Entering the rear entrance of No.1 Willoughby Street |
Close-up of the rear entrance of No.1 Willoughby Street |
Radford and Elsewhere in Nottingham
Scenes from the film shot elsewhere in Nottingham
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A shot looking westward along Salisbury Street, Radford |
Albert Finney on his bike cycling along Salisbury Street towards its junction with Faraday Road |
Albert Finney cycling back up Salisbury Street |
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Rachel Roberts and Brian Pringle outside the back of their house in Radford |
Albert Finney emerging from the back of his house |
Albert Finney passing two curious biddies standing at the top of their communal passageway |
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Albert Finney running down Derby Road with Canning Circus in the far distance |
Derby Road looking towards the Nottingham City Centre |
A bus travelling past the roundabout at the bottom of Market Street and Long Row |
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Rachel Roberts on the pedestrian area outside Nottingham Castle Museum |
Albert Finney leaning on the railings at the Castle with the Castle Boulevard area below and the Wilford Power Station in the distance |
Scenes Shot Outside Nottingham
Scenes from the film shot in London or Twickenham Studios
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At home with the Seatons in Radford but actually shot on set in Twickenham Studios. |
Another interior scene which would have been shot in the studio. |
Shot outside the British Flag pub at the corner of Sheepcote Lane and Culvert Street in Battersea. |
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Looking along Culvert Street, Battersea. |
Supposedly Goose Fair Nottingham but actually shot at Battersea Fun Fair in London. |
Towards the end of the film the pair are pictured on the edge of Nottingham looking down on the site of new housing estate under construction but actually shot somewhere in Wembley. The builder's sign 'Simms, Sons & Cooke Ltd.' is actually a Nottingham-based company. |
A section of Ciaran Brown's extensive website features Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Click here to access this particular webpage.
For information on the cast and crew of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, see the Internet Movie Database.
For a detailed discussion of the film, see Wikipedia.
I lived in Newgate St, the first street off Willoughby St. It ran behind the Savoy Cinema. I remember the filming on Willoughby St, which took place when I was about thirteen. I saw a fabulous car parked near Billy Hill's, which at the time I thought came from outer space, but later was told it was a Ferrari belonging to one of the film crew or stars. Probably the first one ever seen in Lenton!
A few doors down from No.1 Willoughby St lived Marjorie Hart. She was my Morris Dancing partner at Lenton Juniors in the late 1950s.
Charles Twigger - Stratford upon Avon
I remember going up to the top of Willoughby Street to watch them film the part of Saturday
Night and Sunday Morning where Albert Finney's girlfriend goes [although I didn't realise
then] to the abortionist played by Hilda Baker. I remember the lights, the tatty doorway and
kids being paid a few bob to cycle past time and time again until they finally were satisfied
that they had it right. When I look at the film now it looks like part of ancient history and
is very dark and grim that I can hardly believe I lived through that era. I met Allan
Sillitoe once and asked him what he thought of the film and he said he thought Finney was
exactly right for the part - just how he imagined Arthur Seaton.
Keith Sisson (ex Allington Avenue)
I would like to point out a glaring continuity error at the beginning of the film. Albert
Finney is shown coming out of Gate 7 and crossing Faraday Road to the cycle sheds. He is then
pictured cycling along Faraday Road towards Derby Road and under the 'Raleigh Clock'. The
scene cuts to him cycling down Salisbury Street to where he lived in one of the terraces. The
point is Salisbury Street is about 50 - 100 yards to the right of Gate 7. In other words if
the continuity depicted the real world Albert Finney would have had to cycle up Cycle Road
and Dunlop Avenue to Lenton Boulevard, along to Ilkeston Road and then down Ilkeston Road and
into the top of Salisbury Street.
I was about sixteen at the time the film was made and my first job in industry was as a lab
assistant at Raleigh. We were situated in the Faraday Road factory and had an exit onto the
roof above Gate 7 where some of the filming was carried out. I grew up in Lenton and the film
continues to fascinate as it acts as a lovely memento of many of the places in and around
Willoughby Street.
Let us know your memories of the filming of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Do you have any historical information or other photographs? If so, email us with the details or write to us.