A FEELGOOD trailer reveals a glimpse of new The Duke, starring Dame Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent, which was largely shot in Bradford.
The film, based on the real-life story of a taxi driver who stole a priceless portrait from the National Gallery, was shot in the city late 2019 and early 2020, before the pandemic. It was premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year and it will be released in cinemas on September 3.
Bradford locations - City Hall, Cartwright Hall, Little Germany, Upper Piccadilly and Cannon Mills - were transformed into 1960s settings. Upper Piccadilly was turned into a row of shops including a ladies fashion boutique and tie shop.
The Bradford UNESCO City of Film team worked with the production team on securing locations and involving students from the University of Bradford and Bradford College behind the scenes. 
A pathé, Ingenious Media and Screen Yorkshire presentation of a Neon Films Production, The Duke is set in 1961 and is the story of 60-year-old Kempton Bunton, played by Jim Broadbent, who stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first and only in the Gallery’s history.

Dame Helen plays Kempton’s wife, Dorothy, a role that sees the usually glamorous actress in dowdy cardigans and glasses. The cast also includes Motherland and Line of Duty star Anna Maxwell Martin. 
Police initially suspect a criminal gang is behind the art heist, then Kempton starts to send ransom notes declaring that he would only return the painting on condition the Government invests in care for the elderly, specifically bringing attention to his long-running campaign for pensioners to receive free television. 
It wasn’t until half a century later that the full story emerged.
While filming in Bradford, Dame Helen tweeted a photograph of Cannon Mills during a night shoot which she captioned: ‘The one and only Bradford with its own magic’. The Oscar-winning actress also enjoyed a curry at Mumtaz on Great Horton Road and went to the Alhambra to see Snow White, starring Billy Pearce and Faye Tozer from Steps, who tweeted a backstage photo of Dame Helen - wearing a flashing tiara she’d bought at the theatre - with the panto cast.
Bradford City of Film director David Wilson said: “It’s great to finally see the trailer for The Duke and spot so many Bradford locations. I very much look forward to the cinema release of the film which is based on a true story but has such an uplifting feelgood factor. It was a great production to work with, made even better by Dame Helen Mirren’s wonderful comments about Bradford and the fact that she spent time exploring parts of the city’s culture by attending the panto and going for a curry.”