Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

Last night I watched the film "Last Orders" on BBC2. It is a film made in 2001, most of the film was shot in the present but there were many flashbacks to the sixties when the main characters were younger.
It was lovely to see the street scenes with many 50s and 60s cars around. Those scenes are not easy to create, all street signs, house fronts, clothing etc etc have to be period correct. For most of it it was done pretty good.

But what bothered me, and regrettably what you see all too often, is the use of black windscreen wipers. A Bedford Romany was shown close up with those ugly modern wipers.
Isn't there anyone on the set who notice this?

It is also something that you see on freshly restored cars. Why? Evil or Very Mad

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mikeC · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: black windscreen wipers

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Cheshire

My guess would be that as most of the vehicles used in stuff like this are supplied by agencies that either own the vehicles themselves, or contract with enthusiasts to supply their vehicles, the film-makers will probably assume that the owners go to the trouble to keep them as period correct as possible.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

I agree black is out and its not necessary to use them - I refill my chrome blades with the rubbers from £1 shop wipers blade sets. Basic cars and some cheap after market blades were silver paint so these are period
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MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Cheshire

Funnily enough I was watching "Place of Execution" on the box last night, and while I usually spend my time in flashback sequences looking out for satellite dishes, I now find my attention being drawn to the colour of the windscreen wipers. Cheers for that.

For the record - Wolseley police car - correct chrome (or perhaps stainless steel) wipers. Didn't get a decent look at the front of any of the others.

Ronniej · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: BLACK WINDSCREEN WIPERS

In the 2008 film The Stone of Destiny there are several anachronisms.
This is the story of the "recovery" of the stone from Westminster Abbey back to Scotland from whence it had been taken by Edward 1st in 1296.
The story is set in 1950 and the vehicles used (Wolseley 16, Riley RM, Beardmore Taxi, Albion Police bus, Armstrong Sidley Typhoon and Ford pop) are all in period but some of them have amber flashers fitted. The police cars use two tone horns although I believe they would have had bells at this time. Other issues are shots of Glasgow with high rise flats (built in the '60s) in the background and the Scottish Police shown wearing flat hats when I suspect helmets may still have been in use.
Having said that, I enjoyed the film but I could not help noticing these things. Perhaps I should get out more!!
Ronnie J

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

By definition anyone who looks at and especially contributes to these forums is an anorak. The man in the would never know and if he did would not care less. It is fiction and a film for entertainment not education - too Rose tinted for that
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52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

Danny Boyle says that you can't enjoy a film unless you are willing to look past these things....... "You are the audience, the most important role in the production."

Doesn't stop me looking for errors and my favourite is PVC windows in supposedly 60's houses.

Now of course, I'll be looking out for black windscreen wipers as well.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7213 Location: Edinburgh

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7094 Location: Derby

Surely the Downton Abbey Sunbeam must be the worst example of a car being out of period. Confused

Placing a 1920's car before the first world war is stretching the imagination I think.

Ronniej · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:01 am Post subject: BLACK WINDSCREEN WIPERS

BBC Scotland did a remake of The 39 Steps a few years ago.
The story is set immediately before The Great War but the cars used, Bullnose Morris, Wolseley and Talbot (?) were all late Vintage.
Putting that aside I enjoyed the show, particularly as I am familiar with many of the locations.
Peter compliments Foyle's War for paying attention to period detail.
I think we could add Heartbeat as well. The producers seem to put a lot of effort into keeping it in period but being of more recent setting this may not be as difficult.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7094 Location: Derby

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4235 Location: South Cheshire

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7094 Location: Derby

"shoddy"?
What most people who watch Downton don't realise is the desperate state that Highclere Castle was really in. The roof needed renewing and the top floor was uninhabitable. The great house needed £9 million spent!

The programme saved the family home.

(I knew the grand daughter of Lord Carnarvon. She grew up there. Formidable lady!)