The Home-Made Car
The Home Made Car (1963) is a short film directed by James Hill about a young man who rebuilds a vintage car and finds love. The film was nominated for an Academy Award (Short Subjects, Live Action Subjects). Made in and around Farnborough, Hampshire, it became a cult success when regularly broadcast as a trade test colour transmission on the run up to the start of BBC2 colour transmissions.[1] Originally screened from September 1968 until August 1973, it was one of a series of short films broadcast to help television engineers set up new colour television sets. Other popular offerings were The North Sea Quest, Overhaul, Crown of Glass, Roads to Roam, The Small Propeller, The Cattle Carters, Prospect for Plastics, A Journey into the Weald of Kent and Evoluon.
Blackwell Cottage, where the car was built, is on Cambridge Road West, Farnborough. The house remains, although the garage has been replaced by a detached house. The house where the little girl lived, next-door, is still there. As well as Farnborough, parts of the film was made in Bucks Horn Oak, Hampshire and Seale, Surrey. The owner of the Bullnose Morris in the film still [2009] has the car. Production of the film was sponsored by the British Petroleum company (BP), and the Bucks Horn Oak scenes were based at a petrol filling station. BP continues to distribute the film.[2]
The music was by Ron Grainer and it includes a pastiche of the theme from Steptoe and Son when an old rag and bone man tries to steal the wheel arches from the still incomplete car.
Cast
- Ronald Chudley - Young man
- Caroline Mortimer - Young woman (daughter of John Mortimer)
- Sandra Leo - Little Girl with ray gun
References
- ^ Keys, Andrew (2007). "The Statistician's Guide to Trade Test Colour Films", webpage of the "Test Card Circle" website archived at WebCite from this original URL 2008-06-18.
- ^ "BP Video Library", webpage retrieved 2008-06-18.
External links
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