Violent Playground (1958)

[Bobj]

Can anyone tell me anything about the making of this movie which starred Stanley Baker and a young David McCallum. I'm aware of the plot having seen the movie some years ago on TV. The IMDB site isn't too forthcoming on this film. I know the movie was set in Liverpool I'd be interested to know if it was actually shot there and if so the locations. Any other info surrounding the shooting of the movie and whether it was a box office hit would be appreciated. When I saw it at the time I recall thinking it quite gritty and realistic apart from the odd cliche.

[YODELLER]

Violent playground which featured also Peter Cushing and a young Freddy Starr and Melvyn Hayes was shot in and around the tenement square of Gerard Gardens, where I later lived. The main streets used were Christian street, Hunter street and Islington, apart from the square itself. Pinewood studios were used for interior shots. Some scenes were shot in Holy Cross church to accommodate Peter Cushings role as the priest.

[DB7]

The (I think now demolished) Gerard Gardens in 1987.

[Rowdon]

That's a beautiful building DB7 (as these things go).

Is Violent Playground available on DVD? I had a quick look on amazon, and found only this ...

VIOLENT PLAYGROUND 1958 Stanley Baker UK 3-SHEET POSTER: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

which is certainly a thing to covet, but it's not a DVD.

[Dadwasinflame]

According to my Dads list i have i got he is credited in it, but according to IMBD, he is not in it, have watched it and cant see him anywhere, no idea how to check the entire list, only thing i can think of is the crowd scene at end when there were 100s of extras in it when the school was on fire ,

[DocRobertPepper]

VIOLENT PLAYGROUND DVD..STANLEY BAKER..1958 on eBay (end time 27-Mar-11 16:50:18 BST)

says its public domain but we all know what that means

[Rick C]

As i get about in my day job which includes Local History projects internationally, can I recommend two sources for extra information.

1. Our associates on Skyscraper City have an architectural viewpoint on the Violent Playground locations:
SkyscraperCity - View Single Post - Liverpool in Film

2. The cinema history team on the Liverpool Community website Yo!Liverpool have an extensive social narrative:
The Ultimate Pimped Myspace Yo!
and the following two thread pages.

[tavistock]

Link here from the BBC to Gerard Gardens BBC - Liverpool - Local History - Memories of Gerard Gardens

[Heinrich]

Violent playground which featured also Peter Cushing and a young Freddy Starr and Melvyn Hayes was shot in and around the tenement square of Gerard Gardens, where I later lived. The main streets used were Christian street, Hunter street and Islington, apart from the square itself. Pinewood studios were used for interior shots. Some scenes were shot in Holy Cross church to accommodate Peter Cushings role as the priest.

You made only one post back in June 2004, YODELLER, and that was the month you joined.
I hope all goes well with you.
Imagine you used to live where they made Violent Playground. I was a child when I saw it and I remember identifying with the boy at the end whose hand was taken by Stanley Baker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCa8VZZUZ_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKKa9FpBqzE&feature=related