The Secret Life of Ealing Studios: Britain’s Favourite Film Studio
£13.60£14.20 (-4%)
“This lively, funny, moving history of a movie studio and the people who made it feels uncannily like … an Ealing comedy.” Martin Scorsese
A behind-the-scenes account of life at Ealing Studios – one of the great cinematic success stories of post-war Britain, and a byword for a particular strain of comic film-making that continues to inspire imitators over half a century on.
This is the only full narrative history of Ealing, focusing on its output in the 1940s and ’50s, when the movies made there were in astonishing (and revealing) synchronicity with the national mood. Told through the memories of the people who worked and performed there, The Secret Life of Ealing Studios explores how a small group of maverick film-makers, some of Britain’s most fondly-remembered movie stars, and a lot of unsung backroom boys and girls created pictures that presented a unique and enduring view of British identity, and which have since become classics.
The films include such evergreens as Hue and Cry, Passport to Pimlico, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Whisky Galore, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit and The Ladykillers, along with war films such as The Cruel Sea.
At the heart of the story is the figure of Michael Balcon – perhaps the closest Britain has ever come to producing a movie mogul in the Hollywood mould – and iconic actors such as Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness, Margaret Rutherford and Sid James.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Dean Street Press (5 Dec. 2022) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 353 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1915393507 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1915393500 |
| Dimensions | 12.85 x 2.03 x 19.84 cm |
by Tin Tactoo
I found this book to be very informative but thankfully not clogged up with the now usual, so familiar photos that have been in the public domain since the year dot, so to actually get a book that is jam packed with words is very rewarding and so makes an enjoyable read. The author has done his research well with speaking to those who worked there, from the ‘lower ranks’ to the stars themselves or their descendants, as this book is quite an eyeopener in many respects. It’s not often I can honestly say that when I came to the end of the book itself, I felt as if I knew those involved. A delightful, well researched book and if you are a fan of the Ealing films, this is for you. Highly recommended.
by Mr. Andrew T. Finney
Excellent book giving the thoughts of those who worked there & the film’s they made. Great stories . Highly enjoyed it
by Michael Tate
It was informative
by Brian James
Although Elstree was never one of the ‘BIG’ players – like many American studios, it nontheless, seemed to one of the happiest. Everyone seemed to know everybody else in the studio, and frequently used first names
( as opposed to more formal Mr and Mrs. ).and although again, it seemed to have vey meagre and limited
studio space,its success perhaps lay in the choice of plots and films , which remain classics to this day.
Thousands and thousands of us will know : – ‘Passport to Pimlico’, ‘ Kinds Hearts and Coronets’, ‘Whiskey
Galore ‘, and ‘ The Ladykillers’, along with such war films as ‘The Cruel Sea ‘.Aided by some very talented
designers, camera crew and a large number of very loyal ‘ supporting staff’, Michael Balcon had every good reason, to be head of a small, but very successful and dynamic film company, and this book is a
fitting and warm tribute to him, and all who worked there.
by Tin Tactoo
I have read a couple of the reviews that gave this book a 1 star rating and couldn’t disagree more. Bought and read in 2016, I am nearly through reading it again in 2023 and it still holds the fascination of that first read. It’s accused of being titled incorrectly and should have been titled along the lines of ‘Former employees at Ealing’. Well, if you want to know what the studio was about and what went on in front and behind the camera what more would you need to be informed about? I expect some people understandably want all the star nitty gritty that isn’t the book. There is some and if you want more, then you probably you need to go out and buy your chosen star’s biography as this book is not about that.
It is honestly a cracking read and gives an insight to the daily goings on at Ealing Studios from the people who were there. That includes everyone from the studio floor and offices up to Balcon the head of studios himself. Well worth the money and well worth the read Don’t be put off by the negativity of some reviewers as you will not be disappointed.
by Michael Peters
Very knowledgeable on the subject well written
by trevor smith
There have been many books written about these studios.This however has to be one of the most timely and the best.Timely because the remaining employees are becoming rather old,and a couple of the people interviewed passed away before publication of the book.It gives a very good idea as to the manner in which the studio was run.What it is not so good on is getting to the rot cause of its demise.Why was the studio sold is not a question clearly answered.However this does not affect one’s enjoyment of reading this well written book.
by Ann Baxter
Very happy with the item and delivery. Will be using this service again.