This is Fire Prevention Week, so what better time to feature some fire engines?

That’s what Bruce Clark of North Wales thought, and we agree.

Today we feature two photos related to the film, “The Trouble With Angels.”

As Clark noted:

“It is a little-known fact that Hollywood came to Ambler in 1965 to film a much-loved comedy, ‘The Trouble With Angels.’ The film starred Rosalind Russel, Hayley Mills and June Harding. The story involves two teens as they attend St. Francis Academy boarding school for girls. The story covers three years along with the antics of the girls and the problems they cause for Mother Superior (Rosalind Russell).

“Released in 1966, local residents must have recognized the castle at St. Mary’s Villa in Ambler as the exterior setting for the Catholic school in the film.

“In one scene, Mills and Harding sneak into the castle basement to catch a smoke. They didn’t realize that they generated so much smoke that it could be seen coming out of the window, and a fire alarm was sounded. The fire trucks arrive and they are from the Fort Washington Fire Company No. 1, along with a half-dozen of their volunteers.”


Clark notes that the photos he has shared show Russell posing on the truck at St. Mary’s Villa. The other photo shows the castle and film director Ida Lupino (in hat) staging a scene.

Clark also has created a website to honor the local filming, wwwTheTroubleWithAngels.com, where he shares photos and information about the production.