Is Anyone out there interested n British films of the 1930s
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:13 am
I first became aware of this site a few days ago on the British equivalent Britmovies.Whilst I have always bn fond of American films of the 30s I have in the past few years become increasingly interested in British films of this era.Many British films from this era were distributed by American companies as support to the main American feature.Cinemas were required under the cinematograph act 1927 to show a quota of British films.most of these films lasted no more than 75 minutes,were made in a few days often after midnight and the producers were paid one poundper foot by the distributors.So a producer would be paid a flat fee of say 7 thousand pounds and his profit was the amount left over after the production had been completed.these films were held in contempt.the techniques are fairly obvious.little music,virtually no editing.Crime films are popular.You have a group of 5 people in camera.Actor 1 comes forward says his lines,goes away from the camera and is replaced by actor no 2 aand so on.One of the further problems is that since neither the producers or distributors cared much about them when they had done their job the prints would go to salvage the silver.Some companies such as Warners had their own studios at Teddington.It is reputed that all the orints of about 60 films were offered to the BFI at a time when cultural elitism ranrife .Warners were turned down and the prints wrere disposed of.About half still exisit.However I have seen 100 feet of Educated Evans which is sadly all that exists.Anyway what I am coming to is I know that there are a fair number of collctors in the states who have an interest in these films.In fact in the past the ironic situation has been that it has been easier to buy British films in the states tha it has been here.though thankfully this situation has at long last been rectified to an extent by the release by Network of any previously unviewable films.If there are people who read this site who would be interested in corresponding and trading in British films then please get in touch.