Pygmalion

It was reported in Kinematograph Weekly, 14 July 1938, that ‘Although shooting on the film’ was ‘completed at Pinewood some weeks ago, producer Gabriel Pascal has since decided to introduce additional scenes. These scenes, now being photographed with Leslie Howard, Wendy Hiller, Wilfrid Lawson and Marie Lohr, are all exteriors and are being shot on location in different parts of London under the direction of Anthony Asquith.’ The report continued that upon seeing  ‘”the first rough-cut of the film”‘ Pascal ‘”was very pleased with what we had done. But there was just one thing that worried me. The whole action of the story is laid in and around London, and I was not satisfied that we had made nearly enough use of authentic backgrounds. So I called my unit together and obtained permission from the authorities to shoot scenes in Piccadilly Circuit, along the Embankment, on Battersea and Chelsea bridges, in Regent’s Park, Portland Place and in Wimpole Street.” For the Piccadilly Circus senses the unit engaged the services of Old Polly, the Piccadilly flower-seller, who for years has been a familiar figure to passing Londoners.’ If scenes were shot on Battersea Bridge, Regent’s Park, Portland Place and Wimpole Street they ended up on the cutting room floor as did any location shots showing Wendy Hiller, Wilfrid Lawson or Marie Lohr.