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Virgin Films
Virgin Films was a film production company of the early 1980s best known for making ''Nineteen Eighty Four'' (1984). It was part of the Virgin Group and was headed by Al Clark.Alexander Walker, ''Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984–2000'', Orion Books, 2005 p11 Nik Powell worked for the company before going over to Palace Films. History Virgin Films first came to attention distributing '' The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle'' (1980), in which they invested £150,000. They expanded into film production in the early 1980s, investing in the short, ''A Shocking Accident'' (1982) with Jenny Seagrove and Rupert Everett. This film wound up winning an Oscar and encouraged Richard Branson to expand into filmmaking, appointing Al Clark head of production. In 1983 Virgin announced they would invest £14 million in a series of movies. Among their productions were '' Electric Dreams'' and ''Secret Places''. Their best known movie was an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 and based in Beverly Hills, California. MGM was formed by Marcus Loew by combining Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and Louis B. Mayer Productions, Louis B. Mayer Pictures into one company. It hired a number of well known actors as contract players—its slogan was "more stars than there are in heaven"—and soon became Hollywood's most prestigious film studio, producing popular musical films and winning many Academy Awards. MGM also owned film studios, movie lots, movie theaters and technical production facilities. Its most prosperous era, from 1926 to 1959, was bracketed by two productions of ''Ben-Hur (1959 film), Ben Hur''. After that, it divested itself of the Loews movie theater chain, and, in the 1960s, diversified ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Absolute Beginners (film)
''Absolute Beginners'' is a 1986 British musical film adapted from Colin MacInnes' book about life in late 1950s London, directed by Julien Temple. The film stars Eddie O' Connell, Patsy Kensit, James Fox, Edward Tudor-Pole, Anita Morris, and David Bowie, with featured appearances by Sade Adu, Ray Davies, and Steven Berkoff. It was screened out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival. It received coverage in the British media but was panned by critics and became a box office failure, although modern reviews have been more favourable. Bowie's theme song was very popular in the UK, spending nine weeks on the charts and peaking at number two. The commercial failure of ''Absolute Beginners'' and two other films is blamed for the collapse of British film studio Goldcrest Films. Plot Taking place in 1958, popular culture in London is transforming from 1950s jazz to a new generation on the verge of the rock and roll 1960s. Young photographer Colin is in love with aspiring ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Captive (1986 Film)
''Captive'' is a 1986 Anglo-French cinema film loosely based on the experiences of Patty Hearst. Plot Gregory Le Vay is a wealthy business man whose daughter, Rowena is kidnapped by a terrorist group. Through manipulation psychologically she is subordinated by them and led from the cultural and emotional imprisonment of her former life to the liberation of theirs. Cast * Irina Brook as Rowena Le Vay * Oliver Reed as Gregory Le Vay Soundtrack The soundtrack was provided by Michael Berkeley, the Edge and Michael Brook Michael Brook (born 1951) is a Canadian guitarist, inventor, music producer, and film music composer. He plays in many genres, including rock, electronica, world music, minimalism and film scores. His collaborations with musicians around the worl ... working with Sinéad O'Connor. References External links * 1986 films British drama films Films with screenplays by Paul Mayersberg Films about kidnapping Films directed by Paul Mayersberg 1980s Englis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gothic (film)
''Gothic'' is a 1986 British psychological horror film directed by Ken Russell, starring Gabriel Byrne as Lord Byron, Julian Sands as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Natasha Richardson as Mary Shelley, Myriam Cyr as Claire Clairmont (Mary Shelley's stepsister) and Timothy Spall as Dr. John William Polidori. It features a soundtrack by Thomas Dolby, and marks Richardson's and Cyr's film debut. The film is a fictionalized retelling of the Shelleys' visit to Lord Byron in Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, shot in Gaddesden Place. It concerns their competition to write a horror story, which ultimately led to Mary Shelley writing ''Frankenstein'' and John Polidori writing "The Vampyre." The same event has also been portrayed in the films ''Mary Shelley'' (with Elle Fanning as Mary Shelley), ''Haunted Summer'' (1988) (with Alice Krige as Mary Shelley) among others, and alluded to in ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935) (with Elsa Lanchester as Mary Shelley and the Bride of the Monster). The film's po ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Whoops Apocalypse (film)
''Whoops Apocalypse'' is a 1986 British comedy film directed by Tom Bussmann and starring Loretta Swit, Herbert Lom, and Peter Cook. The film shares the same title as the TV series ''Whoops Apocalypse'', but uses an almost completely different plot from the series. Plot The beginning of the film parodies the Falklands War when a small British colony is invaded by its neighbour, the fictional country of Maguadora, whose dictator General Mosquera is played by Herbert Lom. The new president of the United States, Barbara Adams, tries to sort out the mess, but the peace talks are sabotaged by Lacrobat (Michael Richards), the world's leading terrorist. The British, under the leadership of PM Sir Mortimer Chris, send in a task force to seize the islands back. For revenge, Mosquera hires Lacrobat to kidnap the British Princess Wendy, to hold her for ransom to get the British out. Sir Mortimer then threatens that unless she is returned in 48 hours, he will release a nuclear strike. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loose Connections
''Loose Connections'' is a 1984 British film starring Stephen Rea. Plot A feminist travels through Europe with a male chauvinist. Cast *Stephen Rea as Harry *Lindsay Duncan as Sally *Jan Niklas as Axel *Carole Harrison Carol Harrison (born 8 February 1955) is an English actress and writer. She is known mostly for her work on British television, in particular her role as Louise Raymond in BBC's ''EastEnders''. Career Harrison made her acting debut in 1976, in ... as Kaya *Gary Olsen as Kevin *Frances Low as Larie *Ken Jones Production Three quarters of the budget came from the NFFC with the rest coming from Virgin Films. Release The film was not released in New York until 1988. The ''New York Times'' said "Nothing happens in ''Loose Connections'' that isn't announced ahead of time, but the movie is very decently acted by Mr. Rea and especially by Miss Duncan... The film... is bright, articulate, gentle and completely unsurprising." References External links * 1984 f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1984 (1984 Film)
''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', also known as ''1984'', is a 1984 British dystopian dark drama film written and directed by Michael Radford, based upon George Orwell's 1949 novel of the same name. Starring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, and Cyril Cusack, the film follows the life of Winston Smith, a low-ranking civil servant in a war-torn London ruled by Oceania, a totalitarian superstate. Smith (Hurt) struggles to maintain his sanity and his grip on reality as the regime's overwhelming power and influence persecutes individualism and individual thinking on both a political and personal level. The film, which was Burton's last screen appearance, is dedicated to him. The film was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Art Direction, and won two Evening Standard British Film Awards for Best Film and Best Actor. Plot In a dystopian 1984, Winston Smith endures a squalid existence in the totalitarian superstate of Oceania under the constant surveillance of the Thought Police ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Executioner's Song
''The Executioner's Song'' (1979) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning true crime novel by Norman Mailer that depicts the events related to the execution of Gary Gilmore for murder by the state of Utah. The title of the book may be a play on "The Lord High Executioner's Song" from Gilbert and Sullivan's ''The Mikado''. "The Executioner's Song" is also the title of a poem by Mailer, published in '' Fuck You'' magazine in September 1964 and reprinted in ''Cannibals and Christians'' (1966), and the title of one of the chapters of his 1974 novel ''The Fight''. Notable for its portrayal of Gilmore and the anguish generated by the murders he committed, the book was central to the national debate over the revival of capital punishment by the Supreme Court in ''Gregg v. Georgia'', 428 U.S. 153 (1976). Gilmore was the first person to be executed in the United States since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. Background In April 1976, Gilmore, aged 35, was released from prison after ser ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Space Movie
''The Space Movie'' is a documentary film produced in 1979 by Tony Palmer at the request of NASA, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the ''Apollo 11'' Moon landing. The 78 minute film was released theatrically in 1980, on VHS in 1983 and on DVD in 2007. Richard Branson and Simon Draper's Virgin Films produced the film. Ed Bishop provided some narration for the film. Soundtrack The music for ''The Space Movie'' was produced by the English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield who was then signed to Virgin Records. The film included pieces from Oldfield's released works, including ''Tubular Bells'' and ''Hergest Ridge'', ''Ommadawn'' and "Portsmouth". It also featured excerpts from what was Oldfield's then-new album, ''Incantations''. The film also made use of the orchestral arrangements of Oldfield's first two albums, ''The Orchestral Tubular Bells ''The Orchestral Tubular Bells'' is an orchestral version of Mike Oldfield's album ''Tubular Bells'', arranged by David Bed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virgin Produced
Virgin Produced is the film, television and entertainment division of the British Virgin Group. The Chief Executive Officer is Jason Felts and Chief Creative Officer is Justin Berfield. History Virgin Produced was launched in 2010. It is the film and television development, packaging and production arm of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, led by Co-Founder / CEO Jason Felts and Chief Creative Officer Justin Berfield. Virgin Produced has projects in development at broadcast and cable networks. Virgin Produced Channel In April 2012, Virgin Produced launched its own digital network, the Virgin Produced Channel, with programming of lifestyle, music, travel, technology and comedy content currently available on Virgin America, Virgin Australia, and in Virgin Hotels. Virgin Produced India In 2013, Virgin Produced launched Virgin Produced India, which develops, packages, produces and distributes film and television content in Bollywood. Filmography * '' Limitless'' – Mar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PolyGram
PolyGram N.V. was a multinational entertainment company and major music record label formerly based in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1962 as the Grammophon-Philips Group by Dutch corporation Philips and German corporation Siemens, to be a holding for their record companies, and was renamed "PolyGram" in 1972. The name was chosen to reflect the Siemens interest Polydor Records and the Philips interest Phonogram Records. The company traced its origins through Deutsche Grammophon back to the inventor of the flat disc gramophone, Emil Berliner. Later on, PolyGram expanded into the largest global entertainment company, creating film and television divisions. In May 1998, it was sold to the alcoholic distiller Seagram which owned film, television and music company Universal Studios. PolyGram was thereby folded into Universal Music Group, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment was folded into Universal Pictures, which had been both Seagram successors of MCA Inc. When the newly forme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variety (magazine)
''Variety'' is an American media company owned by Penske Media Corporation. The company was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933 it added ''Daily Variety'', based in Los Angeles, to cover the motion-picture industry. ''Variety.com'' features entertainment news, reviews, box office results, cover stories, videos, photo galleries and features, plus a credits database, production charts and calendar, with archive content dating back to 1905. History Foundation ''Variety'' has been published since December 16, 1905, when it was launched by Sime Silverman as a weekly periodical covering theater and vaudeville with its headquarters in New York City. Silverman had been fired by ''The Morning Telegraph'' in 1905 for panning an act which had taken out an advert for $50. As a result, he decided to start his own publication "that ouldnot be influenced by advertising." With a loan of $1,500 from his father- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
