Napoleon's Unexpected Hollywood Encounter in the English Heartland

Hollywood has been gravitating towards the heart of England, with various movies being filmed in Northamptonshire stately homes. Saltburn, a dark comedy set in 2006, and Napoleon, a biopic about the infamous French leader, were both shot at stately homes less than 10 miles apart. Even Brad Pitt filmed his latest movie at Silverstone this year. The producers of Napoleon chose Boughton House, known as the English Versailles, due to its resemblance to the French palace. Property manager Charles Lister explains that hosting a film crew involves a lot of work, but it brings publicity and generates income for the preservation of these estates. Boughton House was also featured in the 2012 adaptation of Les Misérables. Jonny Shelton, a production liaison manager, mentions that the abundance of historic houses in the county attracts film producers. The picturesque location of Boughton House, close to London, is an added advantage. Saltburn, directed by Oscar winner Emerald Fennell, was filmed at Drayton House. Unlike Boughton House, Drayton is not open to the public, and the owners chose not to comment on the filming. Brad Pitt's film, shot at Silverstone, is a collaboration with F1, providing the production with special access to racetracks and drivers. Shelton emphasizes that the main advantage of using filming locations is free advertising, but also notes that the sites receive payment for their services. Silverstone has previously been featured in a Disney documentary series and attracted attention when Keanu Reeves paid a visit. Meanwhile, Netflix hit The Crown filmed scenes in Northamptonshire for its final season, boosting film tourism in the area. Shelton highlights the significant economic impact that film productions have on the local economy, as they spend thousands of pounds per day. The trend of Hollywood landing in Northamptonshire is thriving, drawing attention and profit to the region.