2. KEY MOMENTS
Sound was introduced to films First sound version of Pathe
Gazette
Alexander Korda creating London films in1932
In 1933 The film The Private Life of Henry VIII was the first
British production to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best
Picture
Produced by London films.
Color was brought in to films.
3. KEY FILM MAKERS
Michael Powell and Emmeric Pressberger worked together
Alfred Hitchcock confirmed his status as one of the UK’s leading
young directors with his influential thrillers The Man Who Knew Too
Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), and The Lady Vanishes (1938), before
moving to Hollywood.
Anthony Powell
4. KEY ACTORS
In the silent era, English actor Charlie Chaplin was it biggest star, he
was a silent actor.
Charles Laughton won the Best Actor Oscar for The Private Life of
Henry VIII in 1934
Robert Donat, starred in 39 steps and goodbye Mr. chips , so he was
considered a key actor at the time.
Tyrone Power began to star in many films from the 1930s
onwards, mainly romantic comedies.
5. P RO M I N E N T P RO D U C T I O N
C O M PA N I E S / M OV I E S T U D I O S
Gainsborough’s pictures and Gainsborough's studios were quite large in 1930
British Paramount studios founded in 1931 and late 1931 Alexander Korda
joined Paramount.
Alexander Korda establishes London Films in 1932 and in may 1932
Shepperton studios open.
The Good Companions (d. Victor Saville) in 1933
Pinewood Studios built at Iver, Buckinghamshire. In 1935
Michael Balcon becomes head of Ealing Studios, replacing Basil Dean, in 1938
6. BOOM OR RECESSION
In the 1930s there was a Boom in the film industry and many films
became successful , such as The private life's of Henry VIII (1933)
almost won an oscar.
Other successful films were, Song of Ceylon (d. Basil Wright)
(1935) Night Mail (d. Harry Watt, Basil Wright) (1936) , Elephant
Boy (d. Robert J. Flaherty, Zoltan Korda) (1937) The Drum (d. Zoltan
Korda) (1938) The Four Feathers (1939)
7. WERE THE FILMS
DISTINCTIIVE
In the 1930s all the British films were very distinctive and all
Actors were British and all accents were British. The settings were
also very British, there was nothing that would make it American,
Even the clothing in every film was very British and the names.
