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The History of British Cinema: 1939 |
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1/9 - |
The BBC Television Service closes in preparation for war with Germany. The last programme shown is a Mickey Mouse cartoon, Mickey’s Gala Premiere, which finishes with the line, spoken by a Greta Garbo caricature, ‘Ah tink ah go home.’ [ADD] |
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3/9 - |
Cinemas are closed throughout Britain after declaration of war to avoid large concentrations of people in confined spaces. While cinemas in London remain closed, all others re-open within two weeks as expected air-raids fail to materialise. An immediate 30% dip in admissions is turned around by November. [ADD] |
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Sep - |
A further three Gaumont-British cinemas in London are equipped with Baird large-screen televisions. [ADD] |
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Oct - |
The Ministry of Information creates the Colonial Film Unit as a propaganda initiative to explain the war to British subjects in the colonies and enlist their support. [ADD] |
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3/11 - |
Alexander Korda’s hastily produced flag-waver The Lion has Wings, directed by Adrian Brunel and Brian Desmond Hurst, is released. An immediate success, it is considered to have played a major part in persuading the government to allow film production and exhibition to continue throughout the war. [ADD] |
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31/12 - |
Film production in the UK in 1939 totals 40 films compared to 228 in 1937. [ADD] |
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– Various studios are requisitioned by the Ministry of Works: Beaconsfield Studio is used by Rotax as an aircraft engine magneto factory. [ADD] Walton-on-Thames studio is used by Vickers-Armstrong for production of Spitfires and Wellingtons after the Vickers factory suffers a direct hit. [ADD] Shepperton Studios is used to make dummy aircraft and decoy scenery. [ADD] Bushey Film Studios are used as an Air Raid Precaution (ARP) depot, and for storage of nitrate film. [ADD] The Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) is requisitioned by the Royal Ordnance Corps. [ADD] Amalgamated Studios are used for storage by the Ministry of Works. [ADD] MP Studios at Elstree and Worton Hall Studios at Isleworth are requisitioned. [ADD] Pinewood Studios are used for accommodation for Lloyds of London, the Royal Mint, the Crown and RAF film units. [ADD] Teddington Studios are closed. [ADD]
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– The Rank Organisation buys the Amalgamated Studios at Elstree after they default on mortgage payments. [ADD] |
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– Only 16% of films registered in the UK in 1939 are British. [ADD] |
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Other Key British Films of 1939 |
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Cheer Boys Cheer (Walter Ford) [ADD] |
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The First Days (Humphrey Jennings, Harry Watt, Pat Jackson) [ADD] |
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The Four Feathers (Zoltan Korda) [ADD] |
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A Girl Must Live (Carol Reed) [ADD] |
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Jamaica Inn (Alfred Hitchcock) [ADD] |
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Shipyard Sally (Monty Banks) [ADD] |
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| Spare Time (Humphrey Jennings) [ADD] | ||||
The History of Cinema: 1939 |
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| Argentina - Macedonia | ||||
| France | ||||
| Mongolia - USSR | ||||
| USA January - September | ||||
| USA October - December | ||||
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