DB7

I've just been preparing a new links directory and the oddest thing struck me, there are online homages ranging from the greats like Alec Guinness to lesser lights like Joyce Grenfell - but unless my searching has deceived me Sir John Mills remains pretty much unsung.

Anyhoo, I digress, can anybody recommend any books on early British silent cinema? And any that might cover Twickenham Studios?

Rob Compton

Hello DB7

Re Twickenham Studios: as mentioned in another post I have a book by Patricia Warren called British Film Studios: an illustrated history. The ISBN number is 0 7134 8644 9 and its published by Batsford. This says that originally there were two studios in Twickenham, one on Eel Pie Island on the Thames but that ceased around the 1st world war. The main studios have about 8 pages devoted to them with lots of info and pictures. Worth getting this book if you have an interest in the subject - I find it fascinating.

rgds
Rob

DB7

Cheers Rob, I'm sure I've got that book buried somewhere but I thought it was just a collection of film stills and captions down the decades - unless I'm confusing it with another Patricia Warren book.

dylan

Twickenham Studios is covered in an essay by Linda Wood in the anthology *The Unknown 1930s:An Alternative History of the British Cinema 1929-1939* ed. Jeffrey Richards, Taurus 1998.

It deals with the role of Julius Hagan in the running of the studio starting with a series of shorts featuring Lupino Lane at Eel Pie Island and covers the notorious *quota quickies* for which the studio was famous.

Steve Crook

Joyce Grenfell, a "lesser light"? :)

Yes, I suppose she didn't do all that much in films. A shame, she was a very talented lady.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

DB7

OK, erm.... Conrad Veidt?
btw, thanks Rob, just the book I was looking for and it arrived today.