‘The whistling on the theme tune? That’s Dickie Attenborough!’ Hayley Mills on Whistle Down the Wind
‘I’d just made two films in America. Shooting on a Lancashire farm was very different. There was mud everywhere – and we’d be eating dripping, jam butties and fried eggs in buns’
TL;DR
- The film "Whistle Down the Wind" was adapted from a novel by Mary Hayley Bell and directed by Bryan Forbes, with Richard Attenborough involved in its production.
- The story was moved from Sussex to Downham, Lancashire, near Pendle Hill, with many local children cast alongside experienced actors like Hayley Mills.
- Both actresses, Hayley Mills and Diane Poole, shared anecdotes about working with director Bryan Forbes, his methods, and their interactions with co-stars like Alan Bates.
- Key moments discussed include Mills being hit for a scene, Poole mispronouncing words, and the young actor Alan Barnes's humorous interactions with the crew.
- The cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson and Malcolm Arnold's music were highlighted for enhancing the film's atmosphere.