Walter Charles Mycroft (1890 – 14 June 1959) was a British journalist, screenwriter, film producer and director. In the 1920s he was film critic of the London ''
Evening Standard
The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format.
In October 2009, after be ...
'', and a founder of the Londo Film Society before joining the film industry.
In 1928 he became Literary Adviser and Scenario Editor at the newly founded studio
British International Pictures
Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appr ...
at
Elstree
Elstree is a large village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England. It is about northwest of central London on the former A5 road, that follows the course of Watling Street. In 2011, its population was 5,110. It forms part of t ...
, sometimes working with his friend Alfred Hitchcock. He was by his own account the principal author of Hitchcock's first BIP film '' The Ring'' (1927), and credited as the author of the original story on which ''
Champagne
Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...
'' (1928) was based. Their friendship does not seem to have survived their collaboration.
Mycroft was elevated to head of production at Elstree during the 1930s, during which time BIP was reconstituted as the Associated British Picture Corporation. The company released many films on which Mycroft was credited as producer, with varying levels of actual involvement. His adopted son, David Rees Mycroft worked as assistant director on a number of Elstree productions.
David Mycroft, who isn't mentioned in Walter Mycroft's autobiography ''The Time of My Life'','The Time of My Life' on Google Books (limited view) /ref> edited by Vincent Porter and published posthumously, was an experimental filmmaker, poet and psychologist who studied with R.D. Laing. David Mycroft's daughter Ruth Novaczek is a British experimental film maker.
Walter's father was good friends with Arthur Conan Doyle, which is where the name Mycroft Holmes comes from.
Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the seas ( la, mare liberum, lit. "free sea") is a principle in the law of the sea. It stresses freedom to navigate the oceans. It also disapproves of war fought in water. The freedom is to be breached only in a necessary inter ...
'' (1934)
* ''
The Old Curiosity Shop
''The Old Curiosity Shop'' is one of two novels (the other being ''Barnaby Rudge'') which Charles Dickens published along with short stories in his weekly serial ''Master Humphrey's Clock'', from 1840 to 1841. It was so popular that New York r ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Give Her a Ring
''Give Her a Ring'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Clifford Mollison, Wendy Barrie, and Zelma O'Neal. The film was a remake of the 1932 German film ''Wrong Number, Miss'', and is sometimes known by the t ...
The Luck of a Sailor
''The Luck of a Sailor'' is a 1934 British romance film directed by Robert Milton and starring Greta Nissen, David Manners and Clifford Mollison. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.78
Cast
* Greta Nissen as Queen Helena
* David Manners ...
It's a Bet
''It's a Bet'' is a 1935 British comedy drama film directed by Alexander Esway and starring Gene Gerrard, Helen Chandler and Judy Kelly. It was made at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures.Wood p.82 The film's sets were designed b ...
Living Dangerously
In professional wrestling, Living Dangerously was a pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling
HHG Corporation, doing business as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), was a professional wrestling promotion and me ...
'' (1936)
* ''
Spring Handicap
''Spring Handicap'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Will Fyffe, Maire O'Neill and Billy Milton. The film was made by the Associated British Picture Corporation at their Elstree Studios and based on the pla ...
'' (1937)
* ''
The Dominant Sex
''The Dominant Sex'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Phillips Holmes, Diana Churchill and Romney Brent. The film was based on a play by Michael Egan. It was made by British International Pictures at its main ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Aren't Men Beasts!
''Aren't Men Beasts!'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Graham Cutts and starring Robertson Hare, Alfred Drayton and Billy Milton.
Premise
A number of people try to prevent a man getting married.
Cast
* Robertson Hare as Herbert Holly ...
'' (1937)
* ''
Premiere
A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition.
A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its first ...
Queer Cargo
''Queer Cargo'' is a 1938 British drama film directed by Harold D. Schuster and starring John Lodge, Judy Kelly and Kenneth Kent. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p. 99 It was based on a play of the same title by Noel Langley.
Cast
* John ...
'' (1938)
* ''
Jane Steps Out
''Jane Steps Out'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Diana Churchill, Jean Muir, Peter Murray-Hill and Athene Seyler. There was a television remake on BBC in 1957.
It was also remade in India as the Hindi fi ...
Murder in Soho
''Murder in Soho'' is a 1939 British crime film directed by Norman Lee and starring Jack La Rue, Sandra Storme, Googie Withers and Bernard Lee. It concerns a murder in the Central London district of Soho. It was released in the U.S. as ''Murder ...
'' (1939)
* ''
Hell's Cargo
''Hell's Cargo'' is a 1939 British adventure film directed by Harold Huth and starring Walter Rilla, Kim Peacock and Robert Newton.
It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.100 The film is a remake of the 1938 French hit '' Alert in the Mediterran ...
Just like a Woman
"Just Like a Woman" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan first released on his seventh studio album, ''Blonde on Blonde'' on June 20, 1966. It was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. A shorter edit was released as a singl ...
The Woman's Angle
''The Woman's Angle'' is 1952 British drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Edward Underdown, Cathy O'Donnell and Lois Maxwell. It is based on the novel ''Three Cups of Coffee'' by Ruth Feiner.
Premise
The film is the story of three ...
Spring Meeting
''Spring Meeting'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Walter C. Mycroft and Norman Lee and starring Enid Stamp-Taylor, Michael Wilding, Basil Sydney and Sarah Churchill. It was based on a 1938 play of the same title by M. J. Farrell an ...
Murder!
''Murder!'' is a 1930 British thriller film co-written and directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring and Edward Chapman. Written by Hitchcock, his wife Alma Reville and Walter C. Mycroft, it is based on the 192 ...
'' (1930) directed by Alfred Hitchcock
* ''
The Man from Chicago
''The Man from Chicago'' is a 1930 British crime film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bernard Nedell, Dodo Watts, Joyce Kennedy and Austin Trevor. It was produced at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures.
Synopsis
The scre ...
Keepers of Youth
''Keepers of Youth'' is a 1932 British drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Garry Marsh, Ann Todd and Robin Irvine. It was based on the 1929 play ''Keepers of Youth'' by Arnold Ridley, and marked the film debut of Ann Todd. It was ...
'' (1931)
* ''
Let's Love and Laugh
''Let's Love and Laugh'' is a 1931 British-German comedy film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Gene Gerrard, Muriel Angelus and Dennis Wyndham.Carmen'' (1931)
* '' Money for Nothing'' (1932)
* '' Love and Luck'' (1932)
* ''
The Phantom Shot
''The Phantom Shot'' is a 1947 British mystery film directed by Mario Zampi and starring John Stuart, Olga Lindo and Howard Marion-Crawford. It marked Zampi's return to filmmaking after he had been interned during the Second World War.Chibnall & ...