Where can I find when a British film was released in the UK?

[MonicaMC]

I ask because when I have looked on IMDb.com, I get the American release date.

[didi-5]

I'd like to know a definitive answer to this too - as you say, IMDb generally favours the US release, although some entries are more complete than others.

[CaptainWaggett]

More accurate that IMDB (which will often give a trade or festival screening) is to look at newspaper archives.

[Rick C]

I have my own newspaper archive 1965-1985 with the exact London/UK first run start/finish dates 1966-1976. Stephen Pickard on another thread is currently running the trade papers for the four/five years prior to me.

So give us a whirl, Monica; what's your title?

(Not too complicated though, please. LOL)

[MonicaMC]

So give us a whirl, Monica; what's your title?

Sorry - I'm looking at films from the 30s and 40s mostly.

I'm beginning to wonder whether a subscription to the London Times online would be worth the money...

[CaptainWaggett]

The Times will give sell you a day or month sub which is probably worth investigating if you can't get it through your library (unlikely from the US but worth asking)

[MonicaMC]

The Times will give sell you a day or month sub which is probably worth investigating if you can't get it through your library (unlikely from the US but worth asking)

Yes - I'm still waiting for the e-mail confirmation... $9 for a day - heck, I drop as much in parking when I go into the city.

[JamesM]

You only have to gain from letting us know the tiles you are referring to as suggested earlier.

[Arfur Teacake]

The Times will give sell you a day or month sub which is probably worth investigating if you can't get it through your library (unlikely from the US but worth asking)

The BBFC is much easier and cheaper ie .free :-)

Title « British Board of Film Classification

[CaptainWaggett]

The BBFC tells you when a film was classified which isn't the same as when it went on general release (three weeks later in the case of your example)

[Brief Encounter]

Thanks for confirming that, I thought so Captain...

Been a bit annoyed recently that I couldn't find UK release dates for some fairly big Hollywood musicals in the mid-50s - IMDB's info seems very hit and miss

[Steve Crook]

Been a bit annoyed recently that I couldn't find UK release dates for some fairly big Hollywood musicals in the mid-50s - IMDB's info seems very hit and miss

As I may have mentioned before, the IMDb is only as good as the information provided to it. The IMDb don't add much information to the database themselves, they just give us access to a database where we can record and share information about films & TV shows. For older films, like Hollywood musicals from the 1950s, there won't be any information provided by the studios - so it's up to us film fans to provide it

That's why it's a bit hit and miss. Film fans haven't provided enough information.

Steve

[Steve Crook]

The BBFC tells you when a film was classified which isn't the same as when it went on general release (three weeks later in the case of your example)

Or what about Smith (1939)? It wasn't given a public screening until 15 October 2004

Steve

[cassidy]

Try and get hold of a copy of British Sound Films The Studio Years 1928- 1959 by David Quinlan published by B T Batsford. It gives you every detail.

Sorry - I'm looking at films from the 30s and 40s mostly.

I'm beginning to wonder whether a subscription to the London Times online would be worth the money...

[Arfur Teacake]

The BBFC tells you when a film was classified which isn't the same as when it went on general release (three weeks later in the case of your example)

Ah now I see!
so it could be labourious task then ?

nevermind whats a couple of weeks in 1941 as we are all a long time dead

[TimR]

I ask because when I have looked on IMDb.com, I get the American release date.

Find a copy of this book: The British Film Catalogue 1895 - 1970 by Denis Gifford.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...LnlijA&cad=rja

It is in the reference section in a lot of libraries. I found one for a song when our library was bringing in editions that were in better condition and sold the old ones in a book sale. I have found the answers to just about any film question - as to data, that is. Release dates, cast and crew questions, etc. It is all there. It is an impressive accomplishment.

[CaptainWaggett]

Find a copy of this book: The British Film Catalogue 1895 - 1970 by Denis Gifford.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...LnlijA&cad=rja

It is in the reference section in a lot of libraries. I found one for a song when our library was bringing in editions that were in better condition and sold the old ones in a book sale. I have found the answers to just about any film question - as to data, that is. Release dates, cast and crew questions, etc. It is all there. It is an impressive accomplishment.

Does it actually have release dates? I thought it just gave the year.

[Film Man]

Yes Denis only researched the year...excellent book though. Why not try the BFI? They 'used' to have all publications for members to search through...I expect now though they won't let you through the doors!
Film Man.

[TimR]

Does it actually have release dates? I thought it just gave the year.

My copy has the month as well as the year - but it's true that the day of the month is not included. Sorry - my mistake - another case where I would like to delete a post!

My apologies to the OP. But if you are still interested, be sure to find the revised and updated version. Honestly I would think you would find all you would want to know. But the day is not included - that's true.

And I do also apologize for being careless with the title - I have the newest version and I should have used that for my response. I am careless at times with details - sorry.

This is from the Library Journal description, taken from the Amazon site for the revised edition:

This third edition of Gifford's catalog of British film expands on the voluminous material of the previous versions. In addition to documenting British feature films and shorts produced from 1986 to 1994, the late Gifford also revised and expanded existing entries and added more titles for 1888-1985. A cartoonist, screenwriter, and prolific writer on comic strips, old-time radio, and film history, Gifford includes a bibliography of the trade papers, fan magazines, catalogs, and directories he used as resources and acknowledges over 50 pioneer moviemakers he interviewed to glean more about the British film industry. In both volumes, the films are arranged chronologically by year and then by month of exhibition date. Entries provide such information as the length, the censor's rating, whether the film was silent or sound, the color system, production and distribution companies, the crew and cast with character names, the genre, a brief synopsis, awards, and cinematic innovations. Each volume contains its own title index, including alternative titles and serial episode titles. The impressive scope and excellent production value of these volumes far outweigh their limitations. One may quibble that the volumes would be better subtitled "Entertainment Film" and "Factual Film," since films about musicians and other performance artists are included under "Fiction Film." In addition, the "Non-Fiction Film" volume, predominantly newsreels and travelogs, does not have the research value of the "Fiction Film" volume. Finally, it is regrettable that animated films are not included here, but Gifford covered those in another book, British Animated Films, 1896-1985 (McFarland, 1987. o.p.). Recommended for large academic libraries. Vivian Reed, California State Univ., Long Beach
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.