This was the first film of A.C.T, Films Ltd. (Trade union Cooperative ser up by director Derek Twist, producer John Gossage and ex producer Phil Samuel) backed financially by the National Film Finance Corp. The Romney Marsh area was checked for locations and while New Romney was perfect for the town of Portenoy the snag was that the marshes were too well drained to use for the duck hunting scenes so these were shot on and around Hickling Broad in Norfolk. By drastic pruning and reducing the schedule by a week the budget was accepted. Fred Pusey was brought in as art director and the cast was picked on ability to give the right performance not on 'name'. A deal was made to use A.B.P.C. Studios at Elstree. Filming started 6th June 1950 in the High Street , New Romney. During the period at Romney there were only 3 days when exteriors couldn't be shot but these weren't wasted as due to Harry Waxman (cinematographer) and 'Dickie' Bird (sound) they were able to film in the local pub, the historic court and the town hall. The unit then moved to Hickling Broad and St Bennett's Abbey in Norfolk for the 'duck shooting' sequence then to Elstree Studios on July 1st for 4 weeks filming on a full sized set of a trawler and a farmer's cottage. It was just as well that 'time was no object' as the camera couldn't be on the studio floor. Instead each change of set up meant building rostrums for the camera, lining up the crane and moving the backing, etc. Shooting went one day over schedule with an average daily screen time of 2 minutes. Next to shoot was the storm sequences. During the 4th week Pinewood's travelling matte process with a 'split beam' camera was used for 5 major sequences and 2 small sections. The film was completed 2 days over schedule but under budget.
