Pictures: Elstree 1940s cast and crew

[schroder]

Re: http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/as...se-actors.html

Ever obliged to Hugo and wadsy in 2008 for pointing me to the identities of an unknown actor and director in which picture includes a mysterious deceased uncle who was on the crew at Elstree. Someone in the family thinks he was on cameras, although I think he was in set production.

Have only just unearthed more of his pictures, all contained in two large battered suitcases including thirty or so autographed pictures from prominent actors of the day.

These are some cast and crew pictures from Thunder Rock, Top Secret, Escape and High Pavement.

Click the links to larger images, below this.



Birthday Ustinov 01 http://i56.tinypic.com/2ylo0m1.jpg
Birthday Ustinov 02 http://i56.tinypic.com/359eryu.jpg
"Thunder Rock" http://i55.tinypic.com/112h6o0.jpg
"Top Secret" http://i55.tinypic.com/oqaf5i.jpg
? Maybe this is from "Escape" http://i51.tinypic.com/2namh05.jpg
"High Pavement" http://i51.tinypic.com/2ds39l0.jpg
Unknown; which can this be http://i55.tinypic.com/2eeio9u.jpg

[Nick Dando]

In the Unknown one, I have a feeling that we're looking at Deborah Kerr (in uniform with her hands on the chap sitting on the floor to the left of the picture). Next to her is Alfred Junge. The other person I think I recognise is Michael Powell, who is leaning on the picture, and standing to the left of the cake.

I could be entirely wrong of course…

Nick

[penfold]

That is Powell; that's the "Bull" set of Colonel Blimp.....3rd left in the wraparound dress is the waitress in that sequence, in costume, as is Miss Kerr....great find...

[Steve Crook]

Yes, and the framed picture that Micky Powell is holding looks like one of Alfred Junge's design sketches. He was the production designer on many of the Powell & Pressburger films through the 1940s. It looks like someone's birthday but it isn't Alfred's. That's in January and they filmed Blimp in the summer.

The code down in the bottom left hand corner tells me that it is one of the photos taken for Blimp (They all have an "M-P-M 3-##" code)
See Collecting Stills

It's odd that it's in a collection from Elstree. Blimp was mainly made at D&P Studios, Denham

Steve

[Nick Dando]

Is there a larger version of the photo that seems to be of a band stand - third down on the left?

Nick

[Windyridge]

This is a photo I took of a page of Deborah Kerr's personal photo album which shows her surprise 21st birthday party on the set of Blimp. The unknown picture is indeed also taken on the set, but whether it's DK's birthday (you'd think she would be sitting behind the cake and the 'star' of the photo, but she's not...so maybe someone else's birthday as has been said.) Also the cake is different!

IMG00064-20101003-1449.jpg

[schroder]

"Is there a larger version of the photo that seems to be of a band stand"

oOps

Vice Versa http://i52.tinypic.com/2llbqs9.jpg

"odd ... D&P Studios, Denham"

Most likely my error and I will check

[paul welsh]

sounds like a fascinating find of photos. except for top secret, the films you mention were not elstree. it may be your uncle was a freelancer rather than on staff at one particular studio ? are the photos all from a specific period eg mid 40s to mid 50s ? i may be able to check on his name in elstree records - what was his name ? paul welsh, elstree studios historian

[Gerald Lovell]

"Is there a larger version of the photo that seems to be of a band stand"

oOps

Vice Versa http://i52.tinypic.com/2llbqs9.jpg

"odd ... D&P Studios, Denham"

Most likely my error and I will check

Definitely Vice Versa (1947), which was indeed filmed at Denham.

[schroder]

My error. It was Denham. His papers include this change of address card.

His name: Cyril Beach.

I will look again at the autographed pictures.

Q: Do you think it is relevant to post those on these pages

[Brief Encounter]

Definitely Vice Versa (1947), which was indeed filmed at Denham.

Yes. But maybe Petula wasn't filming that day, as I can't find her in the photo!

[Steve Crook]

"Is there a larger version of the photo that seems to be of a band stand"

oOps

Vice Versa http://i52.tinypic.com/2llbqs9.jpg

"odd ... D&P Studios, Denham"

Most likely my error and I will check

Definitely Vice Versa (1947), which was indeed filmed at Denham.

With Anthony Newley & Roger Livesey on either side of the clapper board and writer/director Peter Ustinov just behind them to the left a bit

Steve

[Stephen Pickard]

Thank you Shroder for these very interesting pictures. There are a couple of people I can identify.
In the picture captioned Birthday Ustinov 01, the well dressed gentlemen on the right is producer George H. Brown. You can see more pictures of him at the premiere of "Guns At Batasi" in the latest segment of In Production 1964.
In the "Vice Versa" photo, sixth from the right, front row is Director of Photography, Arthur Ibbetson. I met him on "Where Eagles Dare" at MGM. On "Vice Versa" he was the Camera Operator.
I believe the person third from right, front row is Continuity Lady Tilly Day.