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You are here > Visitor Info > More Information > Visit Devon News > Enjoy a Devon-themed film marathon during lockdown
8th April 2020
Categories: Visitor News
Devon’s natural beauty has been inspiring film makers for years. One director that was particularly impressed with the region was Steven Spielberg who said that Devon had an “abundance of natural beauty” after being stunned by Dartmoor while filming there.
While we’re can’t physically enjoy Devon’s abundant natural beauty, we can see how many places we can spot while watching the following films that were filmed in the county.
Well, after mentioning the director, we had to start with this one. War Horse was filmed on Dartmoor which also inspired the original story by Michael Morpurgo. The moor was used for various backdrops throughout the film which follows the story of Joey, a horse that was requisitioned by the British Army during the first world war and his owner who wants the horse to return home safely.
You might think that a film adapted by a Daphne Du Murier book would be filmed in Cornwall, but much of My Cousin Rachel was shot on location at the Flete Estate in the South Hams region of Devon. Starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Caflin, the film follows a young man who wants to avenge the death of his cousin but love gets in the way.
This Tom Cruise blockbuster about a soldier who has to start his day all over again every time he dies in a battle with aliens features one of North Devon’s most beautiful beaches. The big battle scene where the humans launch an attack on Normandy is actually filmed at Saunton Sands.
Despite having Guernsey in the title, much of the film was made in Devon. Bideford stood in for the Guernsey town that the story is based in while Saunton Sands, Clovelly and Hartland also made appearances. Can you tell the difference between them and Guernsey while watching?
Following the Beatles over two normal days in their lives, A Hard Days Night features a scene while the Fab Four are making a train journey from London to Newton Abbot. Apparently word got out during filming that they were going to be appearing at Newton abbot station and the place was over run with Beatles’ fans!
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