10 Comedy Films Made in the Midlands

With all the stresses in the current world, we could all do with a bit extra comedy in our lives so we’re taking a look at some mirthful movies with sequences shot right here in the Midlands.

From food funnies to American capers, the Midlands has its own brand of humour but has also ben used many times for visiting productions from across the world. Some are old classics as well as some more recent comedy films to watch out for.



Whatever you may be looking for, the list has something for everyone. A few may only touch upon the area whilst others made the bulk of their film within our region but sit back, relax and let these witty, funny and sometimes silly flicks give you the pick me up you need!

Clockwise (1986) Directed by Christopher Morahan

Clockwise is a comedy road film starring John Cleese that sees his obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster setting out to give an important speech at a headmasters' conference. In the film, Menzies High School in West Bromwich was used to portray the fictional school and pupils from the school even served as extras alongside members of staff for sequences shot there. Now replaced by the Phoenix Collegiate, the school is also mentioned in the end credits. Many other scenes were filmed in the Midlands as well including the King Edwards School in Edgbaston for the conference scenes. And The Raven Inn in Shropshire can be seen near the telephone box scenes and further locations include Shrewsbury, Grimsby and The Guild of Students at the University of Birmingham.

Kinky Boots (2005) Directed by Julian Jarrold

This mid-2000s comedy is based on a true story and tells of a struggling British shoe factory's strait-laced owner who forms an unlikely partnership with a drag queen to save the business. Together they develop a plan to produce custom footwear for drag queens to keep the company afloat, rather than the men's dress shoes that the firm is known for. The film headed to the location of the real-life story in Northamptonshire and features the historic Tricker’s shoe factory in St Michael’s Road as its main location. The story’s origin in Earls Barton meant other scenes were filmed around the county including the film’s location of “Midland Railway Station” in Wellingborough. And it was this simple business project that not only created a well-received film, but the story’s interest also sparked BBC documentaries and hit Broadway and West End award winning musicals.

King Ralph (1991) Directed by David S. Ward

King Ralph stars John Goodman as a regular guy from America who becomes King of England after a royal wipe-out puts him next in line and of course, the filmmakers needed a suitable replacement for Buckingham Palace. The production team chose Belvoir Castle, a stately home in Leicestershire, as a stand in for the monarch’s home and can be seen in a scene where Ralph and Miranda (an exotic dancer King Ralph falls for played by Camille Coduri) enjoy a quiet evening playing Scrabble in front of a fire. This is the Withdrawing Room of Belvoir Castle, which is no stranger to the screen, as it has been used again as Buckingham Palace in The Young Victoria as well as a location in Young Sherlock Holmes and The Da Vinci Code. 

Top Secret! (1984) Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker

A real personal favourite of mine, Top Secret is an hilarious 80s comedy where Val Kilmer’s American rock and roll singer becomes involved in a Resistance plot to rescue a scientist imprisoned in East Germany. That scientist is Dr. Flammond (played brilliantly by Michael “Alfred from 1989 Batman” Gough) and he’s being held in Fleurgendorf Prison. However, it’s not in East Germany though, the exterior is actually Rockingham Castle - a former royal castle and hunting lodge 2 miles from the town centre of Corby in Northamptonshire. And a place I recommend a summer visit but for film and history fans (some photos here)!

Bronson (2009) Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn

Born into a respectable middle-class family, Michael Peterson is one of the UK’s most dangerous prisoners who in 1987 was monikered Charles Bronson by his fight promoter during his bare-knuckle fighting years. Whilst incarcerated, Bronson has been responsible for dozens of cases of hostage-taking and has spent periods detained in Rampton, Broadmoor and Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospitals. In the movie, Tom Hardy plays Bronson as he self-narrates, with self-deprecating humour, his life story as the narrative passes through moments of Bronson’s troubled life. Much of the movie was shot in and around Nottingham – specifically in the St. Ann’s and Sherwood areas and also in Worksop. In addition, Welbeck Abbey doubles as Rampton Psychiatric Hospital and Stanford Hall is used as Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital with many extras in the film also from Nottinghamshire itself.

Nativity! (2009) Directed by Debbie Isitt

Now part of a series of four family Christmas films (and recently a successful musical stage show too) the original Nativity was shot in and around Coventry and subsequent films have continued to shoot in the city too. The first film starred Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen where a teacher (Freeman) lies to his rival that Hollywood are coming to watch his school's Christmas nativity, but after the lie gets out of hand, he must resolve the issue fast. Partially improvised, the first film had its premiere at the SkyDome Arena in Coventry. All four films showcase multiple areas within the city but some of the main locations in the first flick include The Albany Theatre (as the Midlands Academy of Dramatic Art) and the historic Spon Street, whilst St. Bernadette's School is in reality the Holy Family Catholic Primary School on Penny Park Lane. And do go visit Coventry Cathedral ruins, an amazing Grade I listed historical site featured in many a musical moment in all the movies!

One More Time (1970) Directed by Jerry Lewis

Some of the infamous Las Vegas and Hollywood Rat Pack came to the Midlands? Well believe it or not, yes they definitely did! At the very end of the 1960s, Sammy Davis Jnr., Peter Lawford and Jerry Lewis came to Eastnor Castle near Ledbury in Herefordshire to shoot parts of One More Time. The film was a follow up to Salt and Pepper with Lawford having two roles playing Chris Pepper and his brother Lord Pepper with Sammy Davis Jnr as Charlie Salt. And there were even uncredited cameos from Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as Dracula. A little seen film, One More Time sees the duo lose a nightclub before turning to an aristocratic twin brother for help. The Plaid Cat pub in the movie was actually the Post Office in Eastnor whilst the castle itself was the Pepperworth Castle in the film.

And check out this amazing footage from the time

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-eastnor-castle-filming-1969-online

https://eastnorcastle.com/filming-at-eastnor

Brassed Off (1996) Directed by Mark Herman

Starring Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor, this British comedy-drama follows the troubles faced by a colliery brass band after the closure of their pit with the soundtrack provided by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. The plot is in fact based on the real-life struggles of that band as they faced pit closures at the time. Set in the fictional South Yorkshire town "Grimley" in the mid-1990s, the film was largely shot in Grimethorpe with just a few notable exceptions. The main one being the use of Birmingham Town Hall. This historic building was subtly used as a substitute for the Royal Albert Hall for the interior shots of the brass band finals and what a fantastic job it does too. The Midlands mimicry continues!

Jadoo (2013) Directed by Amit Gupta

Well, rather than a scene here or there or a well-known location standing in for a much more famous equivalent (I’m looking at you Lincoln “Westminster Abbey” Cathedral), Jadoo is a film that’s entirely filmed in my hometown of Leicester. The comedy stars Harish Patel (from Run Fatboy Run) and is described as a “food-feud family caper” where two chef brothers fall out and set up rival restaurants on opposite sides of Belgrave Road in Leicester. Belgrave Road is known as the Golden Mile in Leicester. Although an ancient road that follows the line of the Roman Fosse Way from Leicester to Lincoln the “Golden Mile” relates to the many businesses trading in gold and jewellery. It is also famous for its seasonal lights that celebrate Diwali and often said to be the largest outside of India. And Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Pratt (The End of the Affair) also returned to his hometown to shoot the film.