Today marks the 99th anniversary of John Maxwell joining Wardour Films and becoming chairman of the board — a move that effectively handed him control of British National Pictures and its principal asset: Elstree Studios. Maxwell was originally brought in as an intermediary between the company’s founders, J. D. Williams and Isidore Schlesinger, at a moment when internal tensions needed Continue Reading
On this day, 24 January, in 1979, as The Shining moved into its later months at EMI Elstree Studios, a fire broke out in Stage 3 — home to the vast Colorado Lounge set. Cast and crew were working nearby on Stage 4 when word came through, and within minutes thick black smoke was filling the service corridors between the Continue Reading
On 22 January 1999, the George Lucas Stages at Elstree Studios were formally opened by Prince Charles, marking one of the most significant moments in the studio’s modern revival. The two sound stages — jointly named in honour of George Lucas — formed part of a £10 million investment to rejuvenate the studios, following their rescue by Hertsmere Borough Council Continue Reading
On 31 January, the British Film Institute will screen Elstree Calling — a film that sits right at the beginning of British sound cinema, and one that tells us a great deal about Elstree’s ambitions at the dawn of the talkies. Made in 1930 at Elstree Studios, when the site operated as British International Pictures under managing director John Maxwell, Elstree Calling is often described as the first British musical film. Rather than Continue Reading
On this day in 2015, Paddington opened in US cinemas — following its UK (and Peruvian!) release in November 2014. While many parts of the film were shot on location — including forests in Costa Rica and London landmarks such as Paddington Station and the Natural History Museum — Elstree Studios also became home to the little bear from Darkest Continue Reading
In January 1966, 2001: A Space Odyssey moved its production to MGM British Studios, after a brief spell at Shepperton Studios where the Tycho Moon Crater excavation was filmed. What followed at Borehamwood was one of the most extraordinary concentrations of film craft ever assembled in British studios to create sets and effects which still are, 60 years later, among Continue Reading
When Shakespeare’s Globe came to Borehamwood! Our studios have twice rebuilt Shakespeare’s world — and both times, it did so with the skill of British production craft. The first Globe Theatre reconstruction was built in 1976 at ATV Elstree Studios for the television series “Will Shakespeare”, which starred Tim Curry in the title role. It stood on the lot previously Continue Reading
In our archive we have the Michael Balcon Productions press release and a cinema press campaign book as a set of promotional materials relating to The Long and the Short and the Tall — produced at ABPC Elstree Studios and released in 1961 (released as “Jungle Fighters” in the US). Adapted from Willis Hall’s hard-hitting stage play and directed by Continue Reading
One of the real pleasures of researching the films made in Borehamwood and Elstree is rediscovering just how ambitious some of these productions were, and Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969) is a perfect example. In our collection we have a beautiful original press book for the film, illustrated with colour production photographs and biographies of the cast and key creative crew. Continue Reading
We’re delighted to have just acquired a very rare and beautiful early-1960s publicity brochure produced by Associated British Studios — a wonderful piece of studio-era marketing design and a real time-capsule of Elstree in its ABPC heyday. The album is especially unusual: it contains 16 removable publicity photographs of British film stars, along with 5 removable film poster reproductions, each Continue Reading