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David Bradley, (aged 14) playing the part of Billy Casper, pictured with his Kestral
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David Bradley, (aged 14) playing the part of Billy Casper, pictured with his Kestral
David Bradley, (aged 14) playing the part of Billy Casper, pictured with his Kestral, on the film set of the film Kes.
Kes is a 1969 release drama film directed by Ken Loach and produced by Tony Garnett. The film is based on the 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave, written by the Barnsley-born author Barry Hines. The film is ranked seventh in the British Film Institutes Top Ten (British) Films and among the top ten in its list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14.
The film was shot on location around Barnsley, Yorkshire, including St. Helens School, Athersley South, later renamed Edward Sheerien School (demolished in 2011); and in and around the streets of Hoyland and Hoyland Common.
Fifteen-year-old Billy Casper has little hope in life. He is picked on, both at home by his physically and verbally abusive older half-brother, Jud, and at school, by his schoolmates and by abusive teachers.
One day, Billy takes a kestrel from a nest on a farm. His interest in learning falconry prompts him to steal a book on the subject from a secondhand book shop. As the relationship between Billy and " Kes", the kestrel, improves during the training, so does Billys outlook and horizons. For the first time in the film, Billy receives praise, from his English teacher after delivering an impromptu talk about training Kes.
Jud leaves money and instructions for Billy to place a bet on two horses, but, after consulting a bettor who tells him the horses are unlikely to win, Billy spends the money on fish and chips and intends to purchase meat for his bird (instead the butcher gives him scrap meat free of charge). However, the horses do win. Outraged at losing a payout of more than £ 10, Jud takes revenge by killing Billys kestrel. Grief-stricken, Billy retrieves the birds broken body from the waste bin and, after showing it to Jud and his mother, buries the bird on the hillside overlooking the field where he d flown.
Picture taken 15th July 1968
Sheppard
Daily Mirror
Mirrorpix
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
England
Y6868 - 1
Media ID 21807217
© Mirrorpix
A Kestrel For A Knave Anorak Barnsley Bird Birds Child Star David Bradley Drama Falcon Falconry Kestral Learning Teenager Yorkshire 1968
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a young David Bradley, aged 14, in his breakthrough role as Billy Casper, alongside his beloved kestrel on the film set of Kes. Directed by Ken Loach and produced by Tony Garnett, Kes is a powerful drama film released in 1969. Based on Barry Hines' novel A Kestrel for a Knave, this cinematic masterpiece ranks seventh in the British Film Institutes Top Ten Films and is included among the top ten films to watch before turning 14. Filmed on location around Barnsley, Yorkshire, including St. Helens School and the streets of Hoyland and Hoyland Common, Kes tells the story of fifteen-year-old Billy Casper's challenging life. Constantly bullied at home by his abusive half-brother Jud and facing mistreatment from both schoolmates and teachers alike, Billy finds solace when he takes an interest in falconry after acquiring a kestrel. As their bond strengthens during training sessions with "Kes". Billy's perspective begins to change positively. Encouragement finally comes when he impresses his English teacher with an impromptu talk about training his bird. However, tragedy strikes when Jud kills Billy's cherished kestrel out of spite after losing money on a bet that could have benefited them both financially. Overwhelmed with grief but determined to honor their connection, Billy retrieves Kes' broken body from the waste bin and buries it overlooking their favorite flying field. This poignant image captured on July 15th, 1968 by Sheppard from Memory Lane Prints serves as a timeless reminder of David Bradley's remarkable performance as well as the emotional journey depicted in this iconic film.
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