Here are five of the best films shot in Northamptonshire

1 Les Misérables

Dir Tom Hooper, 2013

The big-screen, big-budget and star-studded cinematic adaptation of the musical theatre phenomenon may be set in France, but Northamptonshire has its own part in proceedings. The story tells of life in the early 19th century, when Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is released after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s son. But efforts to rebuild his life are threatened by former prison guard turned chief of police Javert (Russell Crowe). Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne), part of a group supporting the poor and plotting against the monarchy, falls in love with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), illegitimate daughter of Fantine (Anne Hathaway), one of Valjean's workers. Marius and Cosette marry at the Pontmercy estate - which is actually Boughton House near Kettering. It's a fitting choice, too - the grand stately home was designed in a French style and has been described as the 'English Versailles’.

2 Pride and Prejudice

Dir Joe Wright, 2005

Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen take the lead roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in this lush and sweeping adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Tom Hollander plays the pompous parson Mr Collins; his home is Montagu’s Hospital, a former almshouse in the village of Weekley, near Kettering.

3 Another Country

Dir Marek Kanievska, 1984

From one Darcy to another. Colin Firth made his film debut in Another Country, a romantic historical drama set in a public school. The story is loosely based on the life of the double agent Guy Burgess, exploring his homosexuality and exposure to Marxism. In the film, he's called Guy Bennett and is played by Rupert Everett; Firth plays his friend and protector Tommy Judd. The interior of the school - modelled on Eton and Winchester - is actually Althorp House.

4 Thunderball

Dir Terence Young, 1965

Sean Connery is on fine form as 007 in this, the fourth official Bond film. The story follows Bond's mission to find two atomic bombs stolen by master criminal network SPECTRE. Count Lippe, one of SPECTRE's plotters, is killed in his car by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by a masked motorcyclist; the incident takes place at Silverstone.

5 Kinky Boots

Dir Julian Jarrold, 2005

Finally, films get no more Northamptonian than Kinky Boots. Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) is trying to save the beleaguered family shoe factory While on a business trip to London to sell the company's extra stock, Charlie encounters a drag queen named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), whose own shoes are clearly not up to the job. Charlie realises the future of the business could look quite different from the past - and hires Lola as a consultant. The result is a feelgood story that became a smash-hit musical with songs by Cindi Lauper. Staying faithful to the true-life origins of the story, the film is shot in various locations in Northamptonshire, including Earls Barton, the site of the original factory, as well as Northampton and Wellingborough station.

* Information from various sources but especially movie-locations.com

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