Allied Stars Ltd. was a

film production Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...

company created by Egyptian businessman

Mohamed Al-Fayed Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed (; 27 January 192930 August 2023) was an Egyptian businessman whose residence and primary business interests were in the United Kingdom from the mid-1960s. His business interests included ownership of the Hôtel R ...

in 1979. The firm was dissolved on March 3, 2020. The company was formed as a subsidiary of United Star Shipping, part of the Fayed group. Al-Fayed appointed his son,

Dodi Fayed Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Mena'em Fayed (; 15 April 195531 August 1997), commonly known as Dodi Fayed, was an Egyptian film producer and the eldest child of the businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. He was romantically involved with Diana, Princess of W ...

as the chief executive. Allied Star's first production was the 1980 British film '' Breaking Glass'', which starred

Hazel O'Connor Hazel Thereasa O'Connor (born 16 May 1954) is a British singer-songwriter and actress. She became famous in the early 1980s with hit singles " Eighth Day", " D-Days" and " Will You?" She also starred in the 1980 film '' Breaking Glass''. Caree ...

. The next production backed by Allied Stars was the drama ''

Chariots of Fire ''Chariots of Fire'' is a 1981 historical drama, historical Sports film, sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland and produced by David Puttnam. It is based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1924 Summer ...

'', in which Al-Fayed invested £3 million and purchased a 25% stake in the film. The film was also financed by

Twentieth Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

and distributed by

Alan Ladd, Jr. Alan Walbridge Ladd Jr. (October 22, 1937 – March 2, 2022) was an American film industry executive and producer. He was president of 20th Century Fox from 1976 to 1979, during which he approved the production of ''Star Wars'', on his confidence ...

The Ladd Company The Ladd Company was an American film production company founded by Alan Ladd Jr., Jay Kanter, and Gareth Wigan on August 18, 1979. In 1979, the three founders were executives with 20th Century Fox; Ladd was the president. They announced thei ...

. Before the completion of ''Chariots of Fire'', Al-Fayed sold his stake for a share of the profits if the film succeeded. The film was a huge success and earned Allied Stars $6 million. Keith Allen's 2011 documentary on the

death of Diana, Princess of Wales During the early hours of 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died from injuries sustained earlier that night in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, France. Dodi Fayed, Diana's partner, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz ...

, ''

Unlawful Killing In English law, Irish law and Northern Irish law, unlawful killing is a verdict that can be returned by an inquest in England and Wales and Ireland when someone has been killed by one or more unknown persons. The verdict means that the killin ...

'', was funded by Al-Fayed at a cost of £2.5 million, and produced by Allied Stars.

References

Film production companies of the United Kingdom El Fayed family Mass media companies established in 1979 1979 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UK-film-company-stub