CASTLE Howard has been the backdrop to many movies and TV dramas over the years.
Today, we are turning back the clock 60 years to March 1965 when Hollywood star Sophia Loren caused a media frenzy when she starred in the film Lady L, shot at the magnificent Ryedale country pile.
At that time, the Italian star was the toast of Tinseltown having won an Oscar in 1960 - the first performer to ever win an Academy Award for a non-English-language performance.
In the movie Lady L, the story is narrated in flashback by Loren who plays 80-year-old Lady Louise Lendale. It tells the story of Lady L's life and loves. It co-starred other Hollywood giants: Paul Newman and David Niven and was directed by Peter Ustinov.
The MGM blockbuster sees Loren, heavily made up to look in her 80s, recounting the story of her life to her biographer, Sir Percy.
Newman, meanwhile, was the swashbuckling French anarchist she fell in love with as a young prostitute in France – and Niven the English aristocrat who fell in love with and married her.
The movie turned out to be an expensive flop – but it was an early example of Hollywood's interest in Yorkshire as a filming location.
Loren (who was 30 at the time of filming, but spent much of the shoot made up to look like an octogenarian) brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the region.
Keith Massey, who went on to be an award-winning TV cameraman, was a 20-year-old photographer with the Yorkshire Evening Press back then.
He was sent out by the Evening Press to photograph Loren at Castle Howard - and then, a week later, went back, this time as a film extra playing the part of a press photographer.
He took some brilliant photos - some of which we are sharing today.
Another local photographer, Ian Wright, recalls taking photos of the star on set at Castle Howard.
He was invited to a press call orchestrated by Ustinov. The purpose was to unveil the film’s leading lady to the media, ensuring a smooth shoot over the next two days while exterior scenes were filmed amid the grandeur of Castle Howard.
Ian said: "And then she appeared: the star of the film, Miss Sophia Loren.
"For two hours, we were granted the privilege of photographing and interviewing the Italian screen goddess.
"Sophia Loren, with her timeless beauty and commanding presence, was every bit the epitome of Hollywood royalty.
"Draped in elegant attire befitting her iconic status, she exuded charisma that captivated everyone present.
"Despite the chilly March air, she radiated warmth and poise, enchanting the assembled reporters and photographers with her effortless charm."
One particularly heartwarming detail of the day was the presence of four-year-old Guy Willoughby, a pageboy in the film.
Ian said the day was a career highlight. "Covering such a high-profile event allowed us to witness first-hand the confluence of Hollywood glamour and the stately elegance of Castle Howard.
"It was a day to remember, not just for the interviews and photographs but for the rare opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes of a major motion picture."
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