Adelphi Films Limited was a British film production company. With its sister company Advance, it produced over 30 films in the 1940s and 1950s and distributed many more. Adelphi linked

Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, east London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The co ...

and the raw “

kitchen sink Kitchen sink may refer to: * A sink in a kitchen for washing dishes, vegetables, etc. * ''Freaks of Nature'' (film), a 2015 comedy horror film, also known as ''Kitchen Sink'' * ''Kitchen Sink'', a 1989 horror short directed by Alison Maclean * '' ...

” dramas of the early 1960s. Adelphi Films was founded in 1939 by Arthur Dent and is now managed by his granddaughter Kate Lees.

Films

Adelphi is an archive of British feature films. The Adelphi film collection comprises over 40

British films British cinema has significantly influenced the global film industry since the 19th century. The oldest known surviving film in the world, ''Roundhay Garden Scene'' (1888), was shot in England by French inventor Louis Le Prince. Early colour ...

, stored for decades in a London suburban garage. Dating mainly from the 1940s and 1950s, the Adelphi film collection features many British stars of the period, including

James Mason James Neville Mason (; 15 May 190927 July 1984) was an English actor. He achieved considerable success in British cinema before becoming a star in Hollywood. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, three Golden Globes (winning once) and two ...

Max Bygraves Walter William "Max" Bygraves (16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012) was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs. He made twenty ''Roya ...

Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British India, where he spent his ...

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van ...

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show''. Sellers featured on a number of hit comi ...

Petula Clarke Sally "Petula" Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She started her professional career as a child performer and has had the longest career of any British entertainer, spanning more than 85 years. Clark ...

Prunella Scales Prunella Margaret Rumney West Scales (''née'' Illingworth; born 22 June 1932) is an English retired actress. She portrayed Sybil Fawlty, the bossy wife of Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), in the BBC comedy ''Fawlty Towers'' and Queen Elizabeth ...

Sid James Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a South African–British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. Noted for his distinctive laugh, he was best known for numerou ...

Wilson, Keppel and Betty Wilson, Keppel and Betty formed a popular British music hall and vaudeville act in the middle decades of the 20th century. They capitalised on the fashion for Ancient Egyptian imagery following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The "Sa ...

and

Rolf Harris Rolf Harris (30 March 1930 – 10 May 2023) was an Australian musician, television personality, painter, and actor. He used a variety of instruments in his performances, notably the didgeridoo and the Stylophone, and is credited with the inventi ...

’ screen debut.

Dorothy Squires Dorothy Squires (born Edna May Squires, 25 March 1915 – 14 April 1998) was a Welsh singer. Her early successes were achieved with " The Gypsy", " A Tree in the Meadow" and " I'm Walking Behind You" by her partner Billy Reid, and " Say It w ...

’ only film appearance was in ''

Stars in Your Eyes ''Stars in Your Eyes'' is a 1956 British musical film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Nat Jackley, Pat Kirkwood and Bonar Colleano. Plot As the world of vaudeville gradually loses its attraction, more and more entertainers are losing th ...

'' (1956) which was co-scripted by

Talbot Rothwell Talbot Nelson Conn "Tolly" Rothwell, Order of the British Empire, OBE (12 November 1916 – 28 February 1981) was an English screenwriter. Life and career Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his earl ...

before he wrote scripts for the ''

Carry On Carry On may refer to: Film * ''Carry On'' (film), a 1927 British silent film * ''Carry On'' (franchise), a British comedy media franchise *''Carry-On'', a 2024 American action thriller film Music Albums * ''Carry On'' (Chris Cornell album) * '' ...

'' movies. The collection holds many long unavailable films including featuring

The Goons ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September ...

, first released in 1951, with

Harry Secombe Sir Harry Donald Secombe (8 September 1921 – 11 April 2001) was a Welsh actor, comedian, singer and television presenter. Secombe was a member of the British radio comedy programme ''The Goon Show'' (1951–1960), playing many characters, mos ...

Bill Kerr William Henry Kerr (10 June 1922 – 28 August 2014) was a British and Australian actor, comedian and vaudevillian. Born in South Africa, he started his career as a child actor in Australia, before emigrating to Britain after the Second World W ...

and

Alfred Marks Alfred Edward Marks (born Alfred Edward Touchinsky; 28 January 19211 July 1996) was a British actor and comedian. In his 60-year career, he played dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films. His self-title ...

('' Penny Points to Paradise'' and ''

Let's Go Crazy "Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album '' Purple Rain''. It is the opening track on both the album and the film '' Purple Rain''. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple fo ...

''). These films were released on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

in August 2009. Adelphi owns the

copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive legal right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, ...

of the collection, (although several were released by other associated companies). In 2009, the company donated 30 reels of film to the

BFI National Archive The BFI National Archive is a department of the British Film Institute, and one of the largest film archives in the world. It was founded as the National Film Library in 1935; its first curator was Ernest Lindgren. In 1955, its name became th ...

for restoration. Mainly shot in

black and white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white to produce a range of achromatic brightnesses of grey. It is also known as greyscale in technical settings. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, ...

, the

film 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, sinc ...

s generally run between 80 and 90 minutes.

People involved

The list of players reads like a ‘who's-who’ of

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad range of sk ...

and

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

talent of the period –

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

Dennis Price Dennistoun John Franklyn Rose Price (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) was an English actor. He played Louis Mazzini in the Ealing Studios film ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949) and the omnicompetent valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptation ...

Hermione Baddeley Hermione Youlanda Ruby Clinton-Baddeley (13 November 1906 – 19 August 1986) was an English actress of theatre, film, and television. She typically played brash, vulgar characters, often referred to as "brassy" or "blowsy".Folkart, Burt, "Note ...

Fred Emney Frederick Arthur Round Emney (12 February 1900 – 25 December 1980) was an English character actor and comedian. Emney was born in Prescot, Lancashire,GRO Register of Births Mar 1900 Frederick Arthur R Emney 8b 725 PRESCOT1901 Census: RG ...

Cardew Robinson Douglas John Cardew Robinson (14 August 1917 – 28 December 1992) was a British comic whose career was rooted in the music hall and Gang Shows. Early life and career Born in Goodmayes, Essex, Robinson was educated at Harrow County Schoo ...

, Freddie Frinton, Ted Ray,

Dora Bryan Dora May Broadbent (7 February 1923 – 23 July 2014), known as Dora Bryan, was an English actress of stage, film and television.Rachel Roberts,

Tommy Trinder Thomas Edward Trinder (24 March 1909 – 10 July 1989) was an English stage, screen and radio comedian whose catchphrase was "You lucky people!". Described by Cultural history, cultural historian Matthew Sweet (writer), Matthew Sweet as "a cocky ...

Brian Rix Brian Norman Roger Rix, Baron Rix (27 January 1924 – 20 August 2016) was an English actor-manager, who produced a record-breaking sequence of long-running farces on the London stage, including ''Dry Rot'', '' Simple Spymen'' and ''One for t ...

Vera Day Vera Day (born 4 August 1933) is an English film and television actress. She was born and grew up in Forest Gate, Essex (now London Borough of Newham). Early career Leaving school at 15, she had various jobs before finding employment in a hai ...

Joan Hickson Joan Bogle Hickson (5 August 1906 – 17 October 1998) was an English actress of theatre, film and television. She was known for her role as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series '' Miss Marple''. She also narrated a number of ...

Joan Sims Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress and comedienne, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for ...

Harry Fowler Henry James Fowler (10 December 1926 – 4 January 2012) was an English character actor in film and television. Over a career lasting more than six decades, he made nearly 200 appearances on screen. Personal life Fowler was born in Lambeth, so ...

, Diana Dors

John Gregson Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles. Gregson w ...

, and

David Tomlinson David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson (7 May 1917 – 24 June 2000) was an English stage, film and television actor, singer and comedian. Having been described as both a leading man and a character actor, he is primarily remembered for his roles wit ...

History

Aldephi was founded in 1939. In 1949 it was acquired by Arthur Dent, who ran it with his two sons, Stanley and David. Arthur Dent had been a salesman for Famous Players–Lasky and worked for producers and Sam Goldwyn, and produced ''Comin' Thro the Rye'' (1947) for Advance.

Select Films

*'' Law and Disorder'' (1940) - with Alistair Sim *''Fight – Giants of the mat'' (1944) (documentary) *'' Comin’ Thro’ The Rye'' (1947) *'' The Phantom Shot'' (1947) *''

High Jinks in Society ''High Jinks in Society'' is a 1949 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and Robert Jordan Hill and starring Ben Wrigley, Barbara Shaw, Basil Appleby, Peter Gawthorne and Moore Marriott. Plot After foiling a robbery, a window cleane ...

'' (1949) - directed by

John Guillermin Yvon Jean Guillermin (11 November 192527 September 2015), known as John Guillermin, was an English film director, writer and producer. Working both in the United Kingdom and the United States, he was most active in big-budget, action-adventure f ...

*'' Skimpy in the Navy'' (1949) - as Advance *'' Artful Dodgers'' (1949) *'' Torment'' (1949) - directed by John Guillermin, with Dermot Walsh *'' The Nitwits on Parade'' (1949) *''

Melody in the Dark ''Melody in the Dark'' is a 1949 British comedy film, with music. It was co written by John Guillermin. It starred Ben Wrigley and Eunice Gayson. Premise When an actress inherits a spooky old house and uses it for rehearsals with her theatre co ...

'' (1949) - written by John Guillermin *'' The Bait'' (1950) *'' A Ray of Sunshine'' (1950) *''

'' (1951) (short) - with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan *'' Penny Points to Paradise'' (1951) - with Sellers, Milligan and Harry Secombe *''

My Wife's Lodger ''My Wife's Lodger'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Dominic Roche, Olive Sloane and Leslie Dwyer. It was written by Stafford Dickens based on the 1951 play ''My Wife's Lodger'' by Roche. Plot Willie Higginbot ...

'' (1952) - as Adavance - with Diana Dors *'' Death is a Number'' (1951) *''Lads and Lassies on Parade'' (1951) *'' My Death Is a Mockery'' (1952) as Park Lane - with Donald Houston *''

Song of Paris ''Song of Paris'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and starring Dennis Price, Anne Vernon and Hermione Baddeley. It was shot at Walton Studios outside London. It was distributed in the United States by Lippert Pictures ...

'' (1952) - directed by John Guillermin with Dennis Price *'' I Was a Dancer'' (1952) *''

The Kilties are Coming ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...

'' (1952) *''

Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? ''Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary?'' is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Bonar Colleano, Diana Dors, David Tomlinson and Diana Decker. It was based on Vivian Tidmarsh's 1944 West End hit play by the same na ...

'' (1953) - directed by Maurice Elvey with Doris Dors *''Disobedient'' (1953) - as Advance aka ''Intimate Relations'' *''

The Great Game The Great Game was a rivalry between the 19th-century British and Russian empires over influence in Central Asia, primarily in Afghanistan, Persia, and Tibet. The two colonial empires used military interventions and diplomatic negotiations t ...

'' (1953) - as Advance, with Diana Dors *'' Alf's Baby'' (1953) for ACT Films - with Pauline Stroud *''

The Tell-Tale Heart "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. It is told by an unnamed narrator who endeavors to convince the reader of the narrator's sanity while simultaneously describing a murder the nar ...

'' (1953) *''

He Done her Wrong ''He Done Her Wrong'' is a wordless novel written by American cartoonist Milt Gross and published in 1930. It was not as successful as some of Gross's earlier works, notably his book ''Nize Baby'' (1926) based on his newspaper comic strips. ''H ...

'' (1953) *'' The Slappiest Days of Our Lives'' (1953) *'' Hands of Destiny'' (1954) *''

Shop Spoiled ''The Crowded Day'' (also known as ''Tomorrow Is Sunday''; U.S.A. title: ''Shop Spoiled'') is a 1954 British comedy drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring John Gregson, Joan Rice, Cyril Raymond and Josephine Griffin. The screenpla ...

'' (1954) aka ''The Crowded Day'' - directed by John Guillermin with John Gregson *''

Don't Blame the Stork ''Don't Blame the Stork'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ákos Ráthonyi and starring Veronica Hurst, Ian Hunter, Reginald Beckwith, and Patricia Laffan. The movie was adapted from an earlier German comedy film. It was shot at Walto ...

'' (1954) - as Advance-Objective *''

Wishing Well A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe water well, wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the notion that water housed deity, deities or had ...

'' (1954) as Advance) aka ''

The Happiness of Three Women ''The Happiness of Three Women'' is a 1954 British second feature ('B') drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Brenda de Banzie, Donald Houston and Petula Clark. It was adapted from Eynon Evans's Welsh-set 1946 play ''Wishing Well'' ...

'' *'' What Every Woman Wants'' (1954) - as Advance - directed by Maurice Elvey *'' Fun at St Fanny's'' (1955) *''

You Lucky People ''You Lucky People!'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Tommy Trinder, Mary Parker and Dora Bryan. Originally titled ''Get Fell In'', the film was renamed to match Trinder's familiar catchphrase. It was shot in ...

'' (1955) aka ''Get Fell In'' - as Advance - starring Maurice Elvey with Tommy Trinder *'' Dollars for Sale'' (1955) *'' Miss Tulip Stays the Night'' (1955) - as Jaywell - directed by Leslie Arliss with Diana Dors *''

'' (1956) - directed by Maurice Elvey *''

Fun at St Fanny’s ''Fun at St. Fanny's'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Fred Emney, Cardew Robinson and Vera Day. The film revolves around the teachers and students at St Fanny's private school. It was based on Robinson's "Ca ...

'' (1956)- directed by Maurice Elvey

References

{{reflist

External links

Official websiteAdelphi Films
at BFI

at BFI Screenonline 1939 establishments in the United Kingdom Mass media companies established in 1939 Film production companies of the United Kingdom