Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Another thematic aspect of the use of postage stamps is their association with film and movie images, plays, players and the theatre, concerning both real and fictional stories and characters.
Buildings used in films, social movements, art and architecture are often used on stamps which have a relevance to film locations and screenplays.
Famous people, statesmen, royalty, authors and their works are all represented on stamps, as well as sports, public services, buildings, railways, aircraft, etc., etc., which can easily be linked to films and movies. And of course for films made in Australia, France, Italy, Singapore, and the South Sea islands there are stamps which link us to the locations used, and for a diversion I have listed some stamps and films and their associations.
For the moment, with less than 20 posts, I dare not give links to the sites where the film locations are stored, or else I’ll get a knee slapping from the moderators……….and you all know who I mean!
A UK issue, Frankenstein, Peter Cushing, Hammer Studios,
1975 Architecture, the Scottish house called a Fife Harling, seen in “Storm in a Teacup”, external stairs and all.
Blackpool, UK issue. Remember George Formby, “With Me Little Stick of Blackpool Rock”, Donald McGill used to draw the sauciest of the postcards, and the famous pier and tower appear in “A Taste of Honey”, “They Met in the Dark” and one of the versions of “Hindle Wakes”.
The Brontes lived in Haworth, Lancashire, the sisters wrote and the brother drank, or drugged himself to death, whilst father prayed. “Wuthering Heights” with Laurence Olivier was a famous black and white rendition, and a more recent film, “Rita, Sue, and Bob Too” has the girls wandering down the High street close to the Parsonage.
Edward Elgar wrote some fantastic music, Henry Wood invented the Promenade Concerts, held at the Royal Albert Hall, where parts of “The Knack”, “The Ipcress File” and “Brassed Off” were shot., and Elgar's music is played to this day. Pomp and Circumstance.

FILMS and STAMPS - part the second. John tunstill
Well, would you believe it, here I am struggling along to load my 20 posts, to stop being a newbie, and, lo and behold, I look at my profile, and now I have to load 25 posts. Who raised the bar or moved the goal posts?
More stamp / film associations, the Olympics and other games, have stamps by the score issued by dozens of countries. The film, “The Games” was truly international, with locations in Australia, China, Italy and UK.

FILMS and STAMPS part 3 - john tunstill

Cricket, lovely cricket. Remember the West Indian song? Well here's a UK issue showing W G Grace, the grand old man. SG 208. Long, long before Don Bradman, of my youthful memories. Lots of cricketing stamps from Commonwealth countries, and a notable film, with Jack Warner, "The Final Test".

Thomas Hardy, recorded on a UK issue, author of many novels that were made into films and movies, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Far From the Madding Crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge, Jude the Obscure and others

The British police force appeared on a UK issue, and were shown in hundreds of films and on TV. The "Blue Lamp" was set in West London, Harrow Road, Edgeware Road, Paddington etc (site link later when I've done my 25 posts). This film, with a resurected policeman, Jack Warner became the staple British weekly TV fare "Dixon of Dock Green".

POSTAGE STAMPS and FILMS/ MOVIES ………A few more……..john tunstill


1968 Queen Elizabeth I, SG 176, many of the films relating to this queen incorporate stately homes, Hatfield House is one of them. Films, so many, do a search on www.imdb.com


“Only Two Can Play”, was a film set in Swansea, South Wales. Peter Sellers played a randy, frustrated, librarian. The UK PO issued a stamp with a photo by Bill Brant, and in the film, Sellers, in one scene, is looking over a wall, in a very similar pose. All the outside scenes from this film appear on www.reelstreets.com the world-wide film location site with some 650 films and 19000 comparative then and now shots.


Social Reformers, a GB stamp, with poignant references to “The Mudlark” feature film.


Trade Union Council, another GB issue, and its connection with the film “Angry Silence” might stretch the little grey cells, but both are to do with workers rights, or the lack of them. “I’m Allright Jack” also explored this subject .



Trains on postage stamps reflect an interest in railways, “Train of Events” , “39 Steps” , “The Dresser” and “Ladykillers” have a few locos and there was a black and white photographic UK issue, 25p, with an unidentified loco and station. Another location to investigate.

john tunstill