Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Castle Notes
Castle's the Star
Castle on Camera
Castle plays star role
castle notes
Broughton played the part of the de Lessops family home – the house of Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow). Rooms used included the Great Hall for the dance scene, the Oak Room for Robert de Lessep's study, the south west corner of the house for the balcony scenes.
The balcony was built out of timber especially for the filming. John Madden and crew were friendly and professional – good people to have around.
The house also featured in a number of outside shots, notably one of the front of the house and another of Joseph running out through the gatehouse. The best was the Oscar-clinching (surely?!) shot of the house, gatehouse and moat taken from the park the morning after Joseph and Gwyneths' first night together (the bedroom scenes were not filmed at Broughton).
castle's the star in big hit shakespeare in love movie: excerpted from the article by peter Barrington in the bicester advertiser, 1july 1999
"The film director John Madden could not have been more pleasant, though I had some sympathy for the location manager who had to find accommodation for 100 people in the area. All the accommodation was of different standards for different people in the crew," said Lord Saye.
Apart from getting used to miles of cable snaking through the castle and gardens, he would be pleased to have more film units arriving on the doorstep.
"We were first used as a location for Three Men and a Little Lady and we were also in The Madness of King George with Sir Nigel Hawthorne.
"Unfortunately when looking at our maintenance budgets, we cannot allow for filming fees too much in advance. But when they come, they are most welcome," he said.
And film companies are most concerned too to replace and make good any damage. For example, for Shakespeare in Love the gravel driveway through the gatehouse and up to the castle door had to be scraped away and replaced by turf.
Just before the castle opened for the new season of visitors this year, the gravel and a foundation were put down and no one would realise it had been temporarily removed for Shakespeare's temporary wooing.
Incidentally, Joseph Fiennes, who was Shakesepare, and his actor brother Ralph, are cousins of Lord Saye and Sele.
Castle on Camera: excerpted from the article by simon hale in the lady magazine august 1999
Lord and Lady Saye have been so entranced by the film that they have been to see it four time and are looking forward to buying the video.
Joseph Fiennes on the cover of The Times Magazine at the height of the film's popularity
They have another special interest in the film because Joseph Fiennes (pictured left), who plays Will Shakespeare, is Lord Saye's third cousin.
"Joe and his twin brother used to play together at Broughton Castle when they were very young. It was wonderful to see him again and to have him stay with us," says Lord Saye.
Joseph Fiennes was among some 40 actors, including Colin Firth who plays Lord Wessex, Imelda Staunton as the Nurse, and the American star Gwyneth Paltrow, who won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Shakespear's inspiration, Viola de Lessops.
As the backdrop for the de Lessops home, Broughton Castle was able to show off its rich diversity in a number of scenes.
Crew members rolling up carpets
Carpets, furniture and light fittings were removed from the Great Hall, for instance and a Minstrel's Gallery was fitted for the stately dance scene.
Although the 16th century windows, which normally flood the room with light, were boarded up and its 18th century ceiling witrh pendants by Sanderson Miller was out of camera shot, the original 14th century stone walls were shown in all their glory.
The hall's largest chest was moved to the Oak Room to sit alongside its late 16th century wood panelling and splendid interior porch for the scene in which Wessex puts forward a marriage proposal to Viola's parents.
The Dining Room, with stunning 14th century vaulted ceiling and panelling, was used as a store, while in the adjoining passage corbel heads stare out as frighteningly as they do in the scene where Wessex threatens Shakespeare.
False yew trees were planted either side of the drive, which in turn had its gravel replaced by earth so that Wessex's horse could gallop up the house safely. And where the original wouldn't permit, the builders stepped in.
A crane lifts the false wooden balcony over the castle wall.
With the help of a crane to carry each section over a high wall, a false wooden balcony was created 20 feet from the ground for the scene where Will first proclaims his love.
My brother William (left) and Joseph Fiennes pictured watching the crane work
"The crew spent an afternoon below the balcony, putting together 150 cardboard boxes to cushion the stuntman for Will Shakespeare as he fell climbing the fake wisteria," said Lady Saye.
The balcony scene was filmed through a cold night with Gwyneth Paltrow having to be kept warm in a heavy duvet between takes. The director, John Madden, kept everyone out until early morning so that birdsong could be recorded without any interference from traffic noise."
Castle plays star role in Oscar Winner: excerpt from the article by John Revill in the Sunday Mercury, 28 March 1999
Broughton Castle was used as the backdrop for Viola's home and appeared in key segments like the ball where Will dances with Viola and the balcony scene where he proclaims his love.
Lord Saye said, "We first became involved last March when the film's location manager got in touch.
"They were looking for somewhere to shoot the De Lessop's house and had compiled a list of stately homes which could be used.
"Director John Madden came here and really liked it and so Broughton was chosen."
Both Lord and Lady Saye are delighted with the results.
Lord Saye, aged 78, said: "Many films have been made here but Shakespeare in Love has to be our favourite.
"It has pace and humour and is a great love story. It is a wonderful film for all ages.
"It was a bonus that Joe (Fiennes) stayed with us during filming. He had not been here since he was a little boy and it was wonderful to see him again."
Lady Saye, aged 63, said: "I have been to see Shakespeare in Love four times and my husband twice. We want to see it again.
"We recognised the parts of our home immediately and it was such a thrill to see them up there on the big screen."
Among the locations featured was the Great Hall which was the setting for the ball where Shakespeare chases Viola de Lessops.
Coats of armour, rapiers, furniture and portraits of ancestors – the barony dates back to 1447 – were all moved back ino the Dining Room to make way for the dance and the minstrels.
Scaffolding was set up to support the lighting, tape stuck to the floor to guide the actors into position and cables laid everywhere.
The Oak Room in the Tudor west wing was the backdrop for the proposal of marriage made by Viola's parents by Lord Wessex (played by Colin Firth) and the Groined Passage was seen when Wessex warned Will to keep away from Viola.
A fake wooden balcony was erected for the scene where Will attempts to climb a tree to see Viola and proclaim his love.
Lady Saye said: "There was no balcony in that wall so one was made and leaned against the wall in the Ladies' Garden.
"That scene was filmed at night and it was very cold. I remember blankets being passed up to Gwyneth Paltrow while she waited for filming to start.
"Joseph had to suck quite a lot of ice to cool his breath so it wouldn't be visible in the cool night air."
Throughout the filming, Lord and Lady Saye carried on living at the castle, mingling with the stars and technicians.
Lord Saye said: "There were about 40 actors, along with 40 technicians and backstage staff.
"They spent about five days setting up and another five filming. They carefully catalogued everything before moving it and nothing was damaged at all."
Lady Saye said: "It was lovely to have all the stars about. I spoke to them all but I was very conscious of not distracting them while they were working.
"All of the stars were really nice. Colin Firth was charming and even stood outside in the rain signing autographs one morning and Gwyneth Paltrow was very professional.
"But we tried not to get in the way of the filming. It wasn't a social occasion, they were doing a job, so we tried not to bother them.
"We got on very well with the technical staff too. It was very sad when they all had to go."
The excerpts are copyright to their authors and publications, the Bicester Advertiser, The Lady magazine, and The Sunday Mercury. The images are all from Lady Saye's private collection apart from the main picture which is a publicity still from the film.
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Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in the Great Hall at Broughton. The dance where Shakespeare falls for Viola de Lessops was filmed in the Great Hall which had all furniture removed and a Minstrel's Gallery fitted for the scene.
Castle Notes
- Castle's the star in big hit Shakespeare In Love movie
- Castle on Camera
- Castle plays star role in Oscar winner
