George Pearson

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, (19 March 1875 – 6 February 1973) was a pioneering

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

, producer and

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

, mainly in the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era. He was born in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

Biography

The only son of George Pearson, a silk tie cutter, George Pearson's first profession after Culham College, near Oxford (not a college of the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

) was teaching. He excelled in this role, becoming a headmaster by 1902 at the age of 26. His major post was at Staples Rd School

Loughton Loughton () is a suburban town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex. The town borders Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell, Chingford, and Buckhurst Hill, and lies north-east of Charing Cross. For statistical purposes ...

Essex Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...

, on which there is a

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...

. He was originally drawn to film making as an educational aid. In 1913 Pearson entered the film industry, initially as a script writer. Pearson worked for Gaumont and later joined the Colonial Film Unit (later the

Commonwealth Film Unit Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia in 1973. Its predecessors were the Cinema and Photographic Branch (1913–38), the Australian National Film Board (1939–1955, under differ ...

), remaining in employment until the age of 81. Though little of his work is known to have survived, Pearson is credited with pioneering the use of the moving camera shot.

Awards and personal life

In 1951, he was awarded the

. Pearson married Edith Stacey (1881-1961) in 1901. They had two sons and two daughters. One daughter, Winifred, worked as a film editor. He died in

Great Malvern Great Malvern is an area of the civil parish of Malvern, Worcestershire, Malvern, in the Malvern Hills District, Malvern Hills district, in the county of Worcestershire, England. It lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a designated Area of O ...

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...

in 1973, aged nearly 98, outliving Winifred and his elder son, Malcolm, a surgeon. In 1957, his

autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...

, ''Flashback'', was published.

Selected filmography

* ''

Peg Woffington Margaret Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760), was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Early life Woffington was born of humble origins in Dublin, Ireland yet excelled in playing women from the upper classes. Her f ...

'' (1912) * '' The Fool'' (1913) * '' Heroes of the Mine'' (1913) *''

A Study in Scarlet ''A Study in Scarlet'' is an 1887 Detective fiction, detective novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The story marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who would go on to become one of the most well-known detective ...

'' (

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as the First World War, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip ...

) * ''

John Halifax, Gentleman ''John Halifax, Gentleman'' is a novel by Dinah Craik, first published in 1856. Through hard work, the protagonist becomes a successful industrialist. The novel is set in the context of Britain's Industrial Revolution. The book sold well in th ...

'' (1915) * ''

A Cinema Girl's Romance ''A Cinema Girl's Romance'' is a 1915 British silent drama film directed by George Pearson and starring Agnes Glynne, Fred Paul and Alice De Winton. It was based on a novel by Ladbroke Black. The film was made at Isleworth Studios.Harris p.63 ...

'' (1915) *''Ultus and the Grey Lady'' (

1916 Events Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 1 – The British Empire, British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that has been stored ...

) *'' Sally Bishop'' (1916) * ''

The Kiddies in the Ruins ''The Kiddies in the Ruins'' is a 1918 British silent war film directed by George Pearson and starring Emmy Lynn, Hugh E. Wright and Georges Colin. It was released two days after the Armistice that halted fighting in the First World War and d ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Romance of Old Bill ''The Romance of Old Bill'' is a 1918 British silent film, silent comedy film, comedy war film, war directed by George Pearson (filmmaker), George Pearson and starring Charles Rock, Arthur Cleave and Hugh E. Wright. It was made at Twickenham Stud ...

'' (1918) *''

Nothing Else Matters "Nothing Else Matters" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in 1992 as the third single from their self-titled fifth studio album, ''Metallica''. The song peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Album Ro ...

'' (

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen in Finland, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its ow ...

) * '' Mary Find the Gold'' (1921) *'' Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep'' (

1922 Events January * January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes. * January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...

) * '' Mord Em'ly'' (1922) * ''

Squibs' Honeymoon ''Squibs' Honeymoon'' is a 1923 British silent comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Betty Balfour, Hugh E. Wright and Fred Groves. It was the last of the silent film series featuring the character, although Balfour returned to ...

'' (1923) * '' Squibs M.P.'' (1923) *'' Love, Life and Laughter'' (

1923 In Greece, this year contained only 352 days as 13 days was skipped to achieve the calendrical switch from Julian to Gregorian Calendar. It happened there that Wednesday, 15 February ''(Julian Calendar)'' was followed by Thursday, 1 March ' ...

) * ''

The Romany ''The Romany'' is a 1923 British silent adventure film directed by Floyd Martin Thornton and starring Victor McLaglen, Irene Norman and Harvey Braban. Cast * Victor McLaglen Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen (10 December 1886 � ...

'' (1923) *''

Reveille "Reveille" ( , ), called in French "Le Réveil" is a bugle call, trumpet call, drum, fife-and-drum or pipes call most often associated with the military; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from (or ), the ...

'' (

1924 Events January * January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after. * January 20–January 30, 30 – Kuomintang in Ch ...

) *'' The Little People'' (

1926 In Turkey, the year technically contained only 352 days. As Friday, December 18, 1926 ''(Julian Calendar)'' was followed by Saturday, January 1, 1927 '' (Gregorian Calendar)''. 13 days were dropped to make the switch. Turkey thus became the ...

) *''

Blinkeyes ''Blinkeyes'' is a 1926 British silent drama film directed by George Pearson and starring Betty Balfour, Tom Douglas, and Frank Stanmore. It was shot at Cricklewood Studios in London. It was the final collaboration between Pearson and Balfo ...

'' (1926) *'' Huntingtower'' (

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the BBC, British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, John Reith becomes the first ...

) *'' Love's Option'' (1928) *''

Auld Lang Syne "Auld Lang Syne" () is a Scottish song. In the English-speaking world, it is traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay/New Year's Eve. It is also often heard at funerals, graduations, and as a far ...

'' (

1929 This year marked the end of a period known in American history as the Roaring Twenties after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in a worldwide Great Depression. In the Americas, an agreement was brokered to end the Cristero War, a Catholic ...

) *''

Journey's End ''Journey's End'' is a 1928 dramatic play by English playwright R. C. Sherriff, set in the trenches near Saint-Quentin, Aisne, towards the end of the First World War. The story plays out in the officers' dugout of a British Army infantry com ...

'' (

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be on J ...

) *''

East Lynne on the Western Front ''East Lynne on the Western Front'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Herbert Mundin, Mark Daly and Alf Goddard. It was made at the Lime Grove Studios.Wood p.71 Plot During the First World War a group of B ...

'' (1931) *''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a Concert Party (entertainment), concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established hi ...

'' (

1933 Events January * January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...

) (associate producer) *'' A Shot in the Dark'' (1933) * ''

Whispering Tongues ''Whispering Tongues'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by George Pearson and starring Reginald Tate, Jane Welsh and Russell Thorndike. The screenplay concerns a son who seeks revenge by stealing valuables from the men who drove his father ...

'' (1934) *''

The Ace of Spades ''The Ace of Spades'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by George Pearson and starring Michael Hogan, Dorothy Boyd and Richard Cooper. It was written by Gerard Fairlie based on the 1919 novel of the same title by John Crawford Fraser. ...

'' (1935) *''

That's My Uncle ''That's My Uncle'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Mark Daly, Richard Cooper and Betty Astell. It was made at Twickenham Studios as a quota quickie for release by Universal Pictures.Wood p.88 Cast * Mark ...

'' (1935) *''

Jubilee Window ''Jubilee Window'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Sebastian Shaw, Ralph Truman and Olive Melville.Wood p.86 Cast * Sebastian Shaw as Peter Ward * Ralph Truman as Dan Stevens * Olive Melville as Marge ...

'' (1935) *''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' (1935) * '' Midnight at Madame Tussaud's'' (1936) * ''

Follow Your Star ''Follow Your Star'' is a 1938 British musical film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Arthur Tracy, Belle Chrystall and Mark Daly. It was made at Pinewood Studios.Wood p.94 Cast * Arthur Tracy as Arthur Tee * Belle Chrystall as Mary ...

'' (1938)

Bibliography

* ''Flashback: an Autobiography of A British Film Maker'', George Allen & Unwin (1957)

External links

George Pearson
entry at the National Record of Archives. *
Screenonline
entry

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, George 1875 births 1973 deaths 20th-century English educators 20th-century English memoirists 20th-century English screenwriters 20th-century English male writers English film directors English film producers Schoolteachers from Essex English male screenwriters Officers of the Order of the British Empire Writers from London People from Loughton English male non-fiction writers