British Film History

1930’s

·      1935-Arrival of Hitchcock with The 39 steps

·      Alexander Korda influenced the industry and led it through the decade. Created London Films production company-1933

·      One of his films, The Private Life of Henry VIII won an Oscar nomination as Best Film

·      British Film Institute and the National Film Archives founded

·      The Associated British Picture Corporation and Gaumont British Picture Corporation also founded.

1940’s

·      The Rank Organisation started to expand with Gaumont British company included Gainsborough Studios, Odeon Cinema, Pinewood Studios and Denham Studios

·      Ealing Studio started making comedies

·      Laurence Olivier came to screen with six nominations for acting and directing.

·      British Film Academy, later became Bafta, was founded.

1950’s

·      International co-production begins. Big-budget pictures aimed at international market.

·      Films like Mogambo and Moby Dick mix British and American themes and stars.

·      British actors like Laurence Harvey and Richard Burton start to find success in the US.

·      Carry On Sargent made, starting the long running series. The Quatermass Experiment launches successful Hammer horror series.

·      Also saw return to World War II themes with films like The Dam Busters and Reach for the Sky.

1960’s

·      First James Bond movie, Dr. No, is released. Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago also released.

·      1967 Hitchcock award Oscar for Lifetime achievement.

·      Cinema attendance collapses from 501 million in 1960 to 193 million in 1970.

1970’s

·      Considered worst decade for British film.

·      Associated British Picture corporation taken over by EMI and financed successful US films.

·      Rank funded thrillers like The Eagle has Landed and remade classics like All Quiet on the Western Front.

·      The Society of Film and Television Arts changes name to Bafta.

1980’s

·      Raise the Titanic released, was a big commercial and critical failure.

·      Chariots of Fire released, to great acclaim. It won 4 Academy Awards,

·      Gandhi got eight awards and 11 nominations.

·      Channel Four launched in 1982 with pledge to invest in film.

1990’s

·      Saw rebirth of British films.

·      Films like Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient and The Full Monty released.

·      While made in Britain, with British stars and production crew much of the finance was American.

·      Hugh Grant establishes himself as on of few British stars with international appeal.

·      Nine British films received best picture nominations in seven years.

·      1999 Bafta spilt award ceremonies for film and TV to raise profile of awards and the organisation.

2000’s

·      The Film Council set up with promise to fund fewer films better. National Lottery gave millions for film production, but few movies proved to be box office successes and little money was got back.

·      Harry Potter franchise began, became global hit. Money was American, but stars, setting and source material was British.

2002 Channel 4 announced was closing Film Four after failing to establish itself as profit-making independent film company.