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Elstree Group
The Elstree Group was a name given to a financing scheme that operated for British films made by Associated British Pictures Corporation in the early 1950s. Associated British would make movies with part of the fiance being provided by the National Film Finance Corporation. It was one of three such schemes that operated around this time, the others being British Film-Makers (which operated through the Rank Organisation) and Group 3 Films. The Elstree Group was the least prolific, making five films in all. What films were made had to be approved by Robert Clark of Associated British and James Lawrie of the NFFC. ABPC, unlike Rank, refused to establish a separate holding and management company for the NFFC-financed films. Films *''The Woman's Angle'' (1952) *''So Little Time'' (1952) *''Angels One Five'' (1952) *''Father's Doing Fine ''Father's Doing Fine'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Richard Attenborough, Heather Thatcher, and Noel Purce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Associated British Pictures Corporation
Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned approximately 500 cinemas in Britain by 1943, and in the 1950s and 60s owned a station on the ITV television network. The studio was partly owned by Warner Bros. from about 1940 until 1969; the American company also owned a stake in ABPC's distribution arm, Warner-Pathé, from 1958. It formed one half of a vertically integrated film industry duopoly in Britain with the Rank Organisation. History From 1927 to 1945 The company was founded during 1927 by Scottish solicitor John Maxwell after he had purchased British National Pictures Studios and its Elstree Studios complex and merged it with his ABC Cinemas circuit, renaming the company British International Pictures. The Wardour Film Company, with Maxwell as chairman, was the distributor of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Film Finance Corporation
The National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC) was a film funding agency in the United Kingdom in operation from 1949 until 1985. The NFFC was established by the Cinematograph Film Production (Special Loans) Act 1949 ( 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 20), and further enhanced by the Cinematograph Film Production (Special Loans) Act 1952 ( 15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 20), which gave the NFFC the power to borrow from sources other than the Board of Trade. The NFFC was abolished by the Films Act 1985 (c. 21). Overview The lawyer John Terry (from 1976, Sir John) served as the NFFC's manager for twenty years, from 1958 to 1978. During that time, he helped to secure the backing for hundreds of films launching the careers of director Ridley Scott and producer David Puttnam, among many others. The NFFC acted as a lender of last resort for the film industry however, in the early 1970s, the government reduced its funding so it started to operate as a consortium, including with banks, with Nationa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
British Film-Makers
British Film-Makers (BFM) was a short lived production scheme that operated in Britain in the early 1950s as a co operative venture between the Rank Organisation and the National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC). Its notable films included ''The Card'' and ''The Malta Story''. Background BFM was formed in January 1951. Its nominal capital was divided between General Film Distributors (GFD) (Rank’s distribution company) and the NFFC. Earl St John represented Rank, James Lawrie (managing director of the NFFC) represented the NFFC while Sir Michael Balcon was chairman BFM was one of three production groups involving the NFFC and all operated under similar lines - the others were Elstree Group and Group 3 Films. GFD would distribute and guarantee 70% of finance, with the NFFC to provide the balance. Each producer/director team was, in theory, given artistic freedom. They received a fixed annual production fee to enable them to carry out the preparatory work, which was absorbed into th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Group 3 Films
Group 3 Films was a short lived British film production company that operated from 1951 to 1955. Background It was set up by the National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC) to help finance movies from newer filmmakers. Its films were to be distributed by the Associated British Film DIstributors (ABFD) subsidiary of Associated British Picture Corporation and mostly financed by the NFFC with ABFD to make up the balance of finance. Michael Balcon and James Lawrie (film executive), James Lawrie sat on the board and the company was run by John Grierson and John Baxter (director), John Baxter. They produced over 20 films and lost half a million pounds before the NFFC brought the company to a halt. There were two other companies with similar financing: British Film-Makers and the Elstree Group. Critical appraisal ''FilmInk'' wrote "are there any decent Group 3 pictures?" Select Films *''Judgment Deferred'' (1951) - directed by John Baxter starring Joan Collins *''Brandy for the Parson ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Woman's Angle
''The Woman's Angle'' is 1952 British drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Edward Underdown, Cathy O'Donnell and Lois Maxwell. It was written by Arliss, Mabbie Pool and Frederick Gotfurt based on the 1940 novel ''Three Cups of Coffee'' by Ruth Feiner. Plot The film is the story of three love affairs of a man who belongs to celebrated family of musicians, culminating in divorce and his final discovery of happiness. Cast * Edward Underdown as Robert Mansell * Cathy O'Donnell as Nina Van Rhyne * Lois Maxwell as Enid Mansell * Claude Farell as Delysia Veronova * Peter Reynolds (actor), Peter Reynolds as Brian Mansell * Marjorie Fielding as Mrs. Mansell * Anthony Nicholls (actor), Anthony Nicholls as Doctor Nigel Jarvis * Isabel Dean as Isobel Mansell * John Bentley (actor), John Bentley as Renfro Mansell * Olaf Pooley as Rudolph Mansell * Ernest Thesiger as Judge * Eric Pohlmann as Steffano * Joan Collins as Marina * Malcolm Knight as shepherd boy * Fred Berger (actor) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
So Little Time (film)
''So Little Time'' is a 1952 British World War II romantic drama film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Marius Goring, Maria Schell and Lucie Mannheim. The film is based on the novel ''Je ne suis pas une héroïne'' by French author Noëlle Henry. ''So Little Time'' is unusual for its time in portraying its German characters in a mainly sympathetic manner, while the Belgian Resistance characters are depicted in an aggressive, almost gangster-type light. So soon after the war, this was not a narrative viewpoint British audiences and critics expected in a British film and there was considerable protest about the film's content. Marius Goring considered it as one of his favourite films and was a rare romantic leading role for him, though one of several films in which he played a German officer. Plot In occupied Belgium during World War II, the chateau where Nicole de Malvines lives with her mother is partially requisitioned for use by German forces. Among those billeted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Angels One Five
''Angels One Five'' is a 1952 British war film directed by George More O'Ferrall and starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond and Veronica Hurst. Based on the book ''What Are Your Angels Now?'' by Pelham Groom (who was also technical adviser to the film under his full title of W/Cdr. A. J. C. Pelham Groom), the plot centres on a young fighter pilot immediately before and during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Some scenes in the film were shot at RAF Uxbridge, where there was a wartime operations room. "Angels One Five" refers to RAF radio procedure from the Second World War. Angels stands for altitude. One Five means 15,000 feet. The film was the first British post-war production to deal with the Battle of Britain.Pendo 1985, p. 175. Plot In 1940, a newly qualified pilot, Pilot Officer T. B. "Septic" Baird (John Gregson), is delivering a replacement Hawker Hurricane (and himself) to "Pimpernel" Squadron's airfield. Just as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Father's Doing Fine
''Father's Doing Fine'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Richard Attenborough, Heather Thatcher, and Noel Purcell, and featuring Sid James. It was written by Anne Burnaby based on the 1948 play ''Little Lambs Eat Ivy'' by Noel Langley. Plot Eccentric upper-class widow Lady Buckering lives in splendour in Hampstead, but behind the scenes is struggling with poverty and bringing up four demanding daughters, one of whom is about to have a baby. Also of concern is the very nervous father-to-be and how exactly to deal with her light-fingered butler. All problems disappear in a happy ending and Lady Buckering marries the family doctor. Cast * Richard Attenborough as Dougall * Heather Thatcher as Lady Buckering * Noel Purcell as Shaughnessy * George Thorpe as Dr Drew * Diane Hart as Doreen * Susan Stephen as Bicky * Mary Germaine as Gerda * Virginia McKenna as Catherine * Jack Watling as Clifford Magill * Peter Hammond as Roly * Bria ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Yellow Balloon (film)
''The Yellow Balloon'' is a 1953 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Andrew Ray, William Sylvester, Kathleen Ryan, Kenneth More and Hy Hazell. It was Thompson's second feature as director. It was distributed by Associated British and produced by the company's Marble Arch Productions. It was made at Elstree Studios with sets designed by the art director Robert Jones. Location shooting took place around Bayswater and Chelsea including Queensway tube station. Plot The film is set in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, in London's East End, amongst the bomb sites. 12-year-old Frankie Palmer loses the sixpence his father has given him to buy a large yellow balloon from a street seller which the boy has set his heart on. He sees that a friend of his, young Ronnie Williams, has already bought one and Frankie snatches it off him and runs off with it, with Ronnie in hot pursuit. Ronnie chases Frankie into a large, bombed-out house and they are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Film Production Companies Of The United Kingdom
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since the 1930s, synchronized with sound and (less commonly) other sensory stimulations. Etymology and alternative terms The name "film" originally referred to the thin layer of photochemical emulsion on the celluloid strip that used to be the actual medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist for an individual motion-picture, including "picture", "picture show", "moving picture", "photoplay", and "flick". The most common term in the United States is "movie", while in Europe, "film" is preferred. Archaic terms include "animated pictures" and "animated photography". "Flick" is, in general a slang term, first recorded in 1926. It originates in the verb flicker, owing to the flickering appearance of early films. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
