Where Was 1917 Filmed? Sam Mendes’ Oscar-Winning War Film!!

If you enjoy the profound works of the celebrated director Sam Mendes, then keep reading this article. As today I will acquaint you with Sam’s critically acclaimed war film, 1917. Furthermore, I’ll also let you in on where was 1917 filmed, later in this article

The British action-drama film, 1917, released in 2019 was inspired by the true-events of World War I. Director Mendes showcased the horrors of the Great War through the story of this film. The basic premise of 1917 depicts the gruesome condition of the allied forces initially struggling against the much more powerful German troops on the battlefield.

1917 performed astoundingly well, commercially. This awe-inspiring film grossed over $384 million at the box office exceeding the expectations of the makers, against a production budget of $90 million. The critics and audiences too were highly satisfied with the overall inspiring performance of the actors. 1917 also went on to earn a number of nominations and prestigious awards over the years, including the coveted Academy Awards.

Now, before I acquaint you with the plot of the film, let’s discuss where was 1917 filmed in-depth. So that you can take a closer look at the gorgeous filming locations.

Where Was 1917 Filmed? Let’s Know This War-Drama Flick Closely!

Sam Mendes is no stranger to making blockbuster films, which have a class of their own. But, Mendes consciously decided to deliver a certain kind of war film, which would be starkly different from other movies of the same genre like Dunkirk and Hacksaw Ridge.

Thus in the initial stages of making 1917, the director categorically asked the production unit members to scout for untapped potential filming locations within England. However, after a few days, the team did come up with a bunch of shooting locations in and around Britain, but also added a few sites from Scotland to the list.

Mendes was satisfied with the filming locations and decided to finalize them. The principal photography began in the summer of 2019 and continued till the end of June, of the same year. The majority of the shooting took place in different parts of England, while some minor sequences were filmed in Scotland, as well. 

The filming schedule remained unchanged for the most part, as the crew managed to remain on top of the filming dates. So without waiting any longer, let’s have a detailed discussion about where was 1917 filmed and find out more about the specific shooting locations.

England | UK

The opening scene of the movie, where we see the appointed corporals from the Western Front reporting at the army base, was filmed in the neo-metropolitan County of Durham. This county is located in the northeastern part of England, was abundant with open and wide fields, and proved easier for the production members to recreate the look of 1917. Exterior shots of the army base were filmed just outside of Barnard Castle. The crew took several days to create the look of the surroundings, contemporary to the 1917s. 

Some other pivotal scenes were captured near the Low Force Waterfall and Tees Barrage International White Water Centre situated at Tees Barrage Way. The production members then moved to the other filming locations in England to shoot the remaining scenes of 1917.

After arriving at the county of Hertfordshire, located in the southern part of England, the members prepared to capture the sequence of the trenches. Thus make-believe trenches were dug near Bovingdon Airfield and then filmed the outdoor sequences. Although in order to depict the area behind the German line of control the crew traveled to Wiltshire and captured the scenes there.

Scotland | UK

After completing the majority of the filming in different parts of England, the production members then traveled to the neighboring country of Scotland. A few pivotal outdoor sequences were filmed in Glasgow City. The filming crew faced some challenges while filming a pivotal sequence depicting the soldiers crossing the canal at Govan Graving Docks. But later managed to maneuver through the issue after attaching special camera equipment.

The members then returned to England and captured the interior sequences of the film inside Shepperton Studios. After the completion of the entire filming process, the crew began working on the promotion of 1917.

Alright guys, now let’s briefly discuss the plot of 1917, so that you can get a clear idea about the basic premise of the film. Meanwhile, you can also look into The Woman King, Outlander and Burning Patience which I think you’d love watching as well.

Plot Of 1917 | What’s It About

The central story of 1917 covers the courageous mission of two soldiers of the allied forces, who were tasked to deliver a message behind the enemy lines. At the start of the film, Lance Corporal Blake and Schofield, are summoned by the General at the army base.

Soon, the brief of the covert mission is given to the young soldiers, as they gear up to deliver a secret message to the allied forces. Later in the film, when Schofield and Blake reach the German trenches, they somehow rescue the mission from getting compromised after a German troop spots them. Nevertheless, after narrowly escaping they continue to penetrate deep inside the enemy territory. Watch 1917 to know what happens when Scholfield and Blake encounter a grave danger, just before delivering the message.

Final Words

Ok friends, now that you know where was 1917 filmed, I hope you liked the read and found what you were looking for. Do let us know in the comments section below if you’d want us to add/change anything. And be sure to check out other amazing articles on Viebly.