Young Bess wanted to set film star fox free
Our recent feature throwing the spotlight on the local girl who was stand-in for Hollywood actress Jennifer Jones during the filming in Shropshire of Gone To Earth has sparked memories of the making of the movie, and information about what a stand-in actually did.
Mrs Bess Edwards, of Victoria Road, Shifnal, got in touch to say: "I was one of the extras. I've been sorting out a lot of old papers recently and by a strange coincidence I came across the programme I had for the provincial charity film premiere on October 15, 1950, at the Granada Theatre and Picture House, as it was then, in Shrewsbury.
"I was at Coalbrookdale High School from 1948 to 1954 and I remember a whole busload of us went to whatever the location was where they were making the film.
"I have quite a few memories of that and meeting Jennifer Jones who was absolutely beautiful. I'm sure some of my schoolmates still around must remember it."
Back then Mrs Edwards, who is 80, was the young Bess Harris, and lived at Nedge Hill, Stirchley.
"I remember being taken with other pupils by bus from school with our headmistress Miss Violet Temple to Much Wenlock to act as extras in the film.
"I can remember going to a big village hall or church hall, but don't remember whether it was in Much Wenlock or elsewhere. The silly things you remember about childhood are what you had to eat - lots of lemonade and beautiful fruit cake, and tea from large brown teapots dispensed by ladies in overalls.
"I remember the fox, which was in a cage and must have been a tame fox. That upset me very much, being a farmer's daughter. I didn't like to see him trapped. I felt sorry for him and wanted to set him free.
"I remember Jennifer Jones coming in to meet us all. She was like a fairy princess and took our breath away. At 11 or 12 you are very impressed by something like that."
Mrs Edwards however has little memory of what she actually did in the film.
"I remember we had to do a lot of shouting or cheering. There were a lot of extras.
"Miss Temple lived in Cound and was a friend of Edith Pargeter. She taught us English and this may have been one of the reasons we were chosen to go. Miss Temple went with us. She was interested in promoting our knowledge of literature and Mary Webb."
Her treasured programme is a four-page sheet for the provincial charity film premiere at The Granada and included a tear-out form to apply for tickets - 21 shillings in the grand circle, and 10s 6d in the dress circle and stalls.
"Those who had taken part and their families were offered tickets and my parents and I drove to Coalbrookdale to meet the coach which was laid on to take us to Shrewsbury and back afterwards."
Mrs Edwards has not viewed Gone To Earth recently and does not recognise herself in the film.
"There were so many of us, it would be a crowd," she said.
She was born in November 1937 and added: "My full name is Phoebe Elizabeth, and I was known at school as Bessie, which I loathed."
The stand-in for Jennifer Jones was Miss Joyce Duckett of Much Wenlock, who on marriage became Mrs Joyce Leach.
John Last emailed in to explain what a stand-in did.
"Actually it was a rather important role, albeit not very glamorous. In motion pictures especially, having a 'likeness' in terms of build and looks enables the technical folk to arrange the setup prior to the actual take. Often this embraces all manner of detail - lighting, position, composition, dealing with this or that 'shadow' and so on, which can take a lot of time.
"If you are lucky, you MIGHT get to enjoy some engagement with the 'star' in question as the movie is being shot."
