British Film Studios: 763 (Shire Library)
£7.60£9.50 (-20%)
A beautifully illustrated introduction to the history of British film-making and the leading studios, such as Ealing, Pinewood, Shepperton and Elstree.
The British film industry was already well established when Hollywood sprang to life in 1911, and has remained at the forefront of film-making ever since; from Cecil Hepworth and Alfred Hitchcock to Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan, and all the innumerable artistic and technical titans in between, the UK has never been far from the cinematic vanguard. Originally flat theatrical sets on temporary stages (often in gardens!), early British studios could be found everywhere from Glasgow to Brighton, and by the 1920s elaborately lit indoor production stages had developed. Stiff competition from the ‘big five’ US studios led to seismic upheavals over the coming decades, yet names like Alexander Korda, Carol Reed, David Lean and Richard Attenborough attest to Britain’s enduring stature. From quintessentially British studios and productions – Gainsborough romances, Ealing comedies, Hammer horrors and many more – to the British role in blockbusting franchises like James Bond, Star Wars and Harry Potter, Kiri Bloom Walden here tells the century-long story of British film, illustrating it with colourful photographs of actors, directors and production staff at work.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Shire Publications (10 Oct. 2013) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 112 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0747812845 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0747812845 |
| Dimensions | 15.01 x 0.84 x 21.01 cm |
by Christina Vogt
Bought this for my father – a film buff. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
by John Inglis
Very good, prompt delivery, thanks!
by Peter baker
Excellent service as usual
by Sally
As described, fast delivery, thank you
by Keith Parkinson
Shire Books have maintained their high production values with the first book about British film studios for at least 10 years. The quality of the photographs is first class.
by London Lady
This is a terrific, informative and easy-to-read (if you are comfortable with smallish print) 112-page book printed on high quality paper, with a nice sheen. It’s a relatively short guide, but I won’t be reading it from cover to cover, although I’m dipping into it on train journeys and thumbing through over a hundred black & white and colour photos – one or two on practically every page; not just stills from films, but behind the scenes shots that I’ve never seen before. My only disappointment is that I can’t find any mention of some of my favourite smaller studios, particularly Merton Park, who produced, amongst others, the much-loved Edgar Wallace and Scotland Yard series of films. So no mention of Montgomery Tully or Lee Patterson either. Never mind, let’s focus on what the book does cover (very well indeed):
* Britain and Early Film – the British studios already well established by the time Hollywood came on the scene. Eg, Cecil Hepworth was experimenting with short films in 1896. Wish I could see ‘Rescued By Rover’, starring his own very small child and a Lassie type Alsation!
* Gainsborough – from Hitchcock to Melodramas
* Denham – Korda’s Dream, Powell and Pressburger, Jack Cardiff
* Pinewood, including more Powell and Pressburger, The Rank Organisation, James Bond
* Ealing – Comedies
* Shepperton, including indoor shots for The Third Man; Peter Sellers, Kubrick, Branagh
* Elstree – A British Hollywood
* Bray – Hammer Horror up to 2012. (No Hazel Court – spooky!)
* Onwards and Upwards – Modern films, including Harry Potter
NOTE: The studios above are the only ones covered.
One thing leads to another, so now I’ve ordered a documentary movie about the British silent era, which I hope will include a clip of ‘Rescued By Rover’ !
by Mrs. June Allen
Bought as a Xmas present, recipient loved it.
by J. Wise
As a committed viewer to Channel 81 TALKING PICTURES it’s nice to read information of the studios where they were made. A very readable detailed account of thee studios, with excellent photos.