In 1927, Herbert
Wilcox and Nelson Keys, a well known comedian, formed British and Dominions
Film Corp with the initial intent to primarily produce comedy shorts. Wilcox
then leased some of the buildings from British National in Elstree that
he had just helped to build and called their new studio Imperial Studio.
He contracted with W & F Film Service for distribution.
They soon expanded from comedies into quota quickies
for Paramount.
Wilcox was one of the first producers to understand the importance of sound,
so Wilcox rushed to Hollywood to learn first hand how it was done. He even
made a short film in the US to gain the experience. Upon his return, Wilcox
installed Western Electric sound equipment. He also brought over American
actress Dorothy Gish to star in his first sound film, Wolves
in 1930.
With one of the first sound stages in the UK, Imperial
Studios became popular with smaller production companies wanting the use
their sound stages. While other studios were adding sound, the Imperial
Studios stages were utilized by major production companies such as Michael
Balcon at Gainsborough.
In 1932, Wilcox also signed to produce more quality
films for United Artists
in an attempt to lure more US actors and gain more of the US market. The
following year, he also signed a 10 year contract with Paramount British.
Being a sharp businessman, when Alexander Korda wanted to do several United
Artists films with US funding, Wilcox agree to make an exception in his
exclusive contract with United Artists IF Korda would make the films at
Imperial Studios.
In 1936, tragedy struck when Imperial Studios caught
fire and burned to the ground. At the time, the film London
Melody starring Anna Neagle (later to become his wife) was in the middle
of production. This hit at a time when funding was difficult and Wilcox
turned to J. Arthur Rank to help finish the project at his Pinewood Studios.
This move soon led to the merger of British & Dominion into the Rank
Organization.
Here are the films we have in our archive
on B
& D
Go back to British
Distributors
