OF HUMAN BONDAGE

GB
1964
1hr 40mins
Dirs: Henry Hathaway, Bryan Forbes and Kenneth Hughes
Starring: Laurence Harvey and Kim Novak

A medical student becomes obsessed with his faithless lover

This was the third screen adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s 1915 novel of the same name, yet despite it forming part of the depressing ‘kitchen-sink’ genre popular at the time it was not well received. It was largely filmed in Ireland and features some good shots of CIE steam in its final years of operation. Ex-Great Southern Railways J15 Class 0-6-0’s dominate proceedings with some nice shots in Dublin Connolly station where class member No.187 is identifiable. Another J15-hauled train appears near the end of the film, passing by on an embankment behind the characters who are attending a funeral. Nonetheless, there are several night scenes filmed at an unknown Western Region station which is masquerading as ‘Battersea East’. In this instance a train of suburban stock is arriving in the hands of an ex-GWR 2-6-2 ‘Prairie’ tank.

J15 Class 0-6-0 No.187 forms the backdrop to this opening scene at Dublin Connolly
A general view down the platform at Dublin Connolly is dominated by the sign for the FIRST CLASS WAITING ROOM
As Kim Novak gets her ticket checked, another J15 0-6-0 (No.18?) stands to the right beyond the gate
The train leaves a deserted platform behind as it begins to pull away in this atmospheric night time view full of light and shade
This is ‘Battersea East’, the real identity of which currently remains a mystery
The approaching train seen in the above shot has now drawn up to the camera. The locomotive at the front has the unmistakable lines of a 2-6-2 tank engine. Although the CIE operated one ‘Prairie’ tank, its side tanks were straight and had a centrally mounted number plate. This, therefore, is a former GWR 2-6-2T so the station is somewhere on the Western Region of British Rail.
As mourners attend a funeral, a J15 0-6-0 slogs along the embankment behind making heavy weather of its load