Kent's starring role in big screen Hollywood blockbuster Les Mis out today
Russell Crowe filming Les
Miserable in Chatham's Historic Dockyard
by Rebecca Hughes
Medway's starring role in a film adaptation of one of the
world's most popular musicals hits the big screen today.
The feature film Les Miserables - partly filmed in
Chatham's Historic Dockyard - can now be seen in cinemas
across the UK.
The big screen blockbuster, starring Hollywood hunks Hugh
Jackman and Russell Crowe, is based on Victor Hugo's tale of
tragedy and redemption in early 19th Century France.
The star-studded cast - also featuring Anne Hathaway,
Amanda Seyfried and Helena Bonham Carter - descended on
the Historic Dockyard in March last year to film the
eagerly-anticipated movie.
Video: Watch one of
the Les Mis scene featuring Chatham's Historic Dockyard.
Courtesy of Universal
One month before, hundreds of people queued up for their chance
to become an extra when auditions were held at Chatham
Maritime.
Among them was Karol Steele, 50, who stood in the cold for more
than five hours to secure a role as a factory worker.
She saw herself on the big screen last month after attending a
special showing a day before its official world premiere in
London.
She said: "The film is fantastic, take a large box of hankies
with you. My husband hates musicals, but even he was crying when
Anne Hathaway sung I Dreamed a Dream.
"Standing in the cold for more than five hours waiting to
audition was definitely worth it."
Would-be extras queue for
Les Mis auditions at the University of Kent
The Historic Dockyard is hoping Les Mis fans will flock to
Chatham to see the site where the Hollywood blockbuster was
filmed.
The tourist attraction, which was selected as one of the main
locations for the movie, became home to A-list actors and hundreds
of crew and cast members early last year when filming started.
It was transformed into an authentic 19th Century French town
for the new flick, with the Ropery being used as the police station
of Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).
The Tarred Yawn Store was being used as a factory for scenes
featuring Anne Hathaway and the Cockloft becoming a hospital and
home to a fight scene between Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.
Les Mis filming
at Chatham Historic Dockyard
Nigel Crisp, estates surveyor at Historic Dockyard said: “We
were very honoured to be chosen as one of the locations and we were
all very excited when we found out.
"We have enjoyed working with all the films we've had here, but
I think this is certainly the biggest one I've been involved with
in all the years I've been on the site.
"We certainly hope visitor numbers are going to increase as they
come down to see the locations."
Vidoe: Nigel Crisp from
the Historic Dockyard hopes Les Mis fans will flock to
the venue
The Historic Dockyard has previously been used for Hollywood
hits including James Bond - The World is Not Enough, Sherlock
Holmes, The Bank Job, The Golden Compass, The Mummy and Children of
Men.
10/01/13
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