Perrys Shepperton Studios Tour

[Mike Newell]

Another mystery title. I have seen similar Perrys titles. Any details of content out there. Just curious


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/388590050180

[Alan Paterson]

I never knew this film existed. I worked in Shepperton Studios for a few years in the late 80's. I wanted to produce a film about the history of the studios but the owners (Lee International) were not very enthusiastic. They kept saying 'We're just not ready'. All was explained when the studio was sold to Ridley Scott & his brother. I'd moved out by then so my film never happened.

[Mike Newell]

I never knew this film existed. I worked in Shepperton Studios for a few years in the late 80's. I wanted to produce a film about the history of the studios but the owners (Lee International) were not very enthusiastic. They kept saying 'We're just not ready'. All was explained when the studio was sold to Ridley Scott & his brother. I'd moved out by then so my film never happened.

Hi Alan

i think I remember seeing it for sale somewhere but am not really aware of the content. I suspect it is amateur footage stripped and recorded. Similar to Cinema of our Time. Still available on eBay follow the link.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/388590050180


Mike

[John Armer]

Hi Mike, being a Perry's title I have this of course, as film collectors who know me will expect.

I've not watched it for a little while, but it was filmed, I think, by Wilf Watters, so it's a semi-professional production. Perry's put quite a lot of Wilf's films out - mostly railway / tram oriented, but this is also one of his.

I suspect filmed on 16mm, it's quite a nice print and will be on LPP.

[Mike Newell]

Thanks John for the update and information.

Mike

[John Armer]

So I watched this last night to remind myself of the content. It was filmed in 1974 when Shepperton had been sold off to a housing developer and production was winding down. There was shots of the soundstages (including shots of the filming of Tommy), the construction area and plaster workshop, and the backlot, including a rather decrepit-looking street from Oliver!

There were interviews with some of the technicians, including a screening room projectionist and sound dubbing engineer. They were working on dubbing The Land that Time Forgot when the documentary was filmed, and it was to be Shepperton's last production.

The film ends rather depressingly with an auctioning-off of props stating that all was to be demolished to make way for housing in a year's time or so. But as we know, that didn't happen and Shepperton is still a working studio.