‘Dartmoor’ the Film Location
WARHORSE
Dartmoor has been used for may film locations the most famous at the moment being Warhorse due to be released January 2012
War Horse
Following phenomenal success as a West-End production, the War Horse story is now set to hit the big screen. The original War Horse novel was written by Devon-based author Michael Morpurgo, who was inspired to write the story after meeting WW1 veterans at his local pub in Iddesleigh, Mid Devon.
Filming took place on Dartmoor, predominantly around Meavy and Sheepstor, Widecombe in the moor and Coombestone Tor in August 2010 when director Steven Spielberg was quoted as saying of the area: “I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor ... And, with two-and-a-half weeks of extensive coverage of landscapes and skies, I hardly scratched the surface of the visual opportunities that were offered to me.”
Some of these locations are within a few miles from Newcott Farm Cottages and others a slightly longer journey of about 15 miles. This gives you a good opportunity to explore different areas of the moor and try out some of the old village pubs for a refreshment break. We can recommend the The Royal Oak at Meavy for a good pint of real ale and excellent food. This pub is very near to the Production Camp location at Natter Tor Farm, Sheepstor
"WAR HORSE," director Steven Spielberg's film epic, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. "WAR HORSE" begins with the amazing friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who trains him forming a strong bond of trust. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets-British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter-before the story reaches its very emotional climax in the heart of the hell of No Man's Land.
The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse-an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. "WAR HORSE" is one of the great stories of friendship and war- a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to the big screen in an adaptation by the great director Steven Spielburg.
Dartmoor - War Horse Country
“I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.”
Quote from Stephen Spielberg
We bought a zoo
Although this film is not filmed on Dartmoor, it is based on the true story of Benjamin Mee who brought the Dartmoor Zoo which is situated on the edge of Dartmoor at Sparkwell, jus a few miles outside Plymouth, The Zoo is about 20 miles from our Cottages and well worth a visit.
There was a documentary series a few years ago about how they got the zoo up and running again which created a lot of interest and now a film.
The film is a Based on a true story, Benjamin Mee is a recently-widowed father who moves his family to a beautiful estate miles outside the city. The only catch is that the estate is also a dilapidated zoo replete with 200 animals, and the purchase of the home is conditional on the new owner keeping the zoo and its entire staff. The Mee family subsequently sets out to rebuild and refurbish the zoo to its former glory, making new friends along the way.
Director: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, John Michael Higgins, Patrick Fugit
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Website: http://www.weboughtazoo.com/
