Colin Robert Hunt
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 226
From: Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire
Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted August 11, 2005 04:59 AM
This release dates back to the late 70's. Released by Derann at the time when they were releasing some the Ealing films as well. These releases were slightly abridged due to conditions at the time if my memory is correct.
The Elstree Story is slightly short of the original running time, but I have not seen this film in the cinema or on television. It was released on 3 x 400ft reels so can be spooled up onto 1200ft with space to spare.
The film starts with the original censor certificate and original titles. The tour starts with a young Richard Todd speaking to us and leading us into the story of Elstree. We are then handed over to various people working at the studio the preview projectionist, makeup lady, etc. There are lots of silent clips from early productions like Charles Laughton's first film in Piccadilly with Anna May Wong. Then to Alfred Hitchcocks first sound film Blackmail. A early sound film called Number 17 involving a spectacular train crash. This follows more sound film clips to many to list here but contains musicals with Richard Tauber, Comedy's like Just William and Drama's like poison Pen with Flora Robson. Towards the end of the film we return back to a film in production and then back to Richard Todd and his final words promoting Elstree.
This print is realy top quality taken from I beleave a 35mm master with a soundtrack to match.
Made in 1950 in Black & White this super 8 print has a running time of appox 45 min, and dispite the cuts on the original running time it does not show. Worth a look out on secondhand film lists.
[ August 12, 2005, 05:31 AM: Message edited by: Colin Robert Hunt ]
| IP: Logged
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
