Gainsborough melodramas
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The Gainsborough melodramas were a sequence of films produced by the British film studio
Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, north London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The com ...
between 1943 and 1947 which conformed to a
melodramatic A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exce ...
style.Brooke, Michael. (2014)
Gainsborough Melodrama
Screenonline Screenonline is a website about the history of British film, television and social history as documented by film and television. The project has been developed by the British Film Institute and funded by a £1.2 million grant from the National Lo ...
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...
. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
The melodramas were not a
film series A film series or movie series (also referred to as a film franchise or movie franchise) is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series. This article explains what film series are ...
but an unrelated sequence of films which had similar themes that were usually developed by the same
film crew A film crew is a group of people, hired by a production company, for the purpose of producing a film or motion picture. The crew is distinguished from the cast, as the cast are understood to be the actors who appear in front of the camera o ...
and frequently recurring actors who played similar characters in each. They were mostly based on popular books by female novelists and they encompassed
costume Costume is the distinctive style of dress or cosmetic of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, profession, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch. In short costume is a cultural visual of the people. The term also was tradition ...
dramas, such as ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943) and ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1945), and modern-dress dramas, such as '' Love Story'' (1944) and ''
They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...
'' (1945). The popularity of the films with audiences peaked mid-1940s when cinema audiences consisted primarily of women. The influence of the films led to other British producers releasing similarly themed works, such as ''
The Seventh Veil ''The Seventh Veil'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Compton Bennett and starring James Mason and Ann Todd. It was made by Ortus Films (a company established by producer Sydney Box) and released through General Film Distributors i ...
'' (1945), ''
Pink String and Sealing Wax ''Pink String and Sealing Wax'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Robert Hamer and starring Mervyn Johns. It is based on a play with the same name by Roland Pertwee. It was the first feature film Robert Hamer directed on his own. The ti ...
'' (1945), ''
Hungry Hill Hungry Hill or Knockday ( ga, Cnoc Daod) is the highest of the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula in Munster, Ireland. Etymology The first part of the Irish name ''Cnoc Daod'' means "hill". The second part may be a dialectal variant of ...
'' (1947), ''
The White Unicorn ''The White Unicorn'' is a 1947 British drama film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Margaret Lockwood, Joan Greenwood, Ian Hunter and Dennis Price. Kyra Vayne appeared as the singer. It was made at Walton Studios by the independent p ...
'' (1947), ''
Idol of Paris ''Idol of Paris'' is a 1948 film based on the novel ''Paiva, Queen of Love'' by Alfred Schirokauer, about a mid-19th century French courtesan Theresa who sleeps her way from poverty to the top of Second Empire society. It was an attempt by its ...
'' (1948), and '' The Reluctant Widow'' (1950) and often with the talent that made Gainsborough melodramas successful.


History

During the mid-1940s, with many of the men fighting in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, and many of the children evacuated to rural areas, women attained more financial responsibility and independence by having to work, and
Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, north London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The com ...
took advantage of this by providing films with powerful images of female independence and rebellion that resonated deeply with audiences.
Maurice Ostrer Maurice Ostrer (1896–1975) was a British film executive. He was best known for overseeing the Gainsborough melodramas. He was head of production at Gainsborough Studios from 1943–46. He resigned from the studio in 1946 after a disagreement wi ...
, who was head of production at Gainsborough, pushed forward
escapism Escapism is mental diversion from unpleasant or boring aspects of daily life, typically through activities involving imagination or entertainment. Escapism may be used to occupy one's self away from persistent feelings of depression or gener ...
, in contrast to Ealing's focus on the war, as he contended that the public did not need to see "patriotic war settings" for enjoyment, since many could find it "too near home", and that audiences wanted "good themes and good laughs". Previously, Gainsborough had made films in a variety of
genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...
s during its twenty-five year existence, and had been particularly known for its comedy films; however, with the advent of war, and the paying viewing public consisting mainly of women, the studio rapidly became closely associated with melodrama, to the extent that these films have become synonymous with the studios, in a manner resembling the
Ealing Comedies The Ealing comedies is an informal name for a series of comedy films produced by the London-based Ealing Studios during a ten-year period from 1947 to 1957. Often considered to reflect Britain's post-war spirit, the most celebrated films in the ...
(1947-1957) and the Hammer Horrors (1955-1974). Gainsborough also produced other films during the war which featured strong women as the protagonist, such as the Launder and Gilliat "unofficial trilogy", ''
Millions Like Us ''Millions Like Us'' is a 1943 British propaganda film, showing life in a wartime aircraft factory in documentary detail. It starred Patricia Roc, Gordon Jackson, Anne Crawford, Eric Portman and Megs Jenkins. It was co-written and co-directed ...
'' (1943) ''
Two Thousand Women ''Two Thousand Women'' is a 1944 British comedy-drama war film about a German internment camp in Occupied France which holds British women who have been resident in the country. Three RAF aircrewmen, whose bomber has been shot down, enter the c ...
'' (1944) and '' Waterloo Road'' (1945). '' The Huggetts'' (1947-1949) film series were also notable in this regard. However, it was the melodramas that were the biggest financial success for Gainsborough. The dynamics of the paying viewing public changed in 1946, with men returning from war, and this brought about a change in the successful formula of the previous melodramas, in that, on the release of '' Caravan'' (1946) and ''
The Magic Bow ''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Stewart ...
'' (1946), there was more focus on men and masculinity, rather than on women, who were relegated to supporting roles.Brooke, Michael
Caravan (1946)
(2014).
Screenonline Screenonline is a website about the history of British film, television and social history as documented by film and television. The project has been developed by the British Film Institute and funded by a £1.2 million grant from the National Lo ...
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...
. Retrieved 18 April 2020
However, 1947 would see a return to the previous formula of putting the women front and centre, which had been central to the previous films' success.


Reception

The critics had a scathing analysis upon their initial reception of the films, and they were not alone, as some of the films' stars also expressed their dissatisfaction with the releases. Stewart Granger described '' Love Story'' (1944) as "a load of crap - and a smash hit!", while calling ''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945) and '' Caravan'' (1946) "terrible films" and saying that he "didn't like" '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) because of its "drippy characters". Meanwhile,
Phyllis Calvert Phyllis Hannah Murray-Hill (née Bickle; 18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002), known professionally as Phyllis Calvert, was an English film, stage and television actress. She was one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1 ...
said in a 1983
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...
interview "I hated the films ..in retrospect, they're even worse now than they seemed at the time. I find it very difficult to say anything nice about them." Despite this, the films were popular with the public to an extent that they catapulted Granger, Calvert and their co-stars
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, Order of the British Empire, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes (1938 ...
, James Mason,
Patricia Roc Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) and '' The Wicked Lady'' (1945), though she only ...
, and
Jean Kent Jean Kent (born Joan Mildred Field; 29 June 1921 − 30 November 2013) was an English film and television actress. Biography Born Joan Mildred Field (sometimes incorrectly cited as Summerfield) in Brixton, London in 1921, the only child of va ...
into stardom, and in subsequent years the films have become the subject of more favourable study.Burton, Alan & Chibnall, Steve. (2013)
Historical Dictionary of British Cinema
The Scarecrow Press. p178. . Retrieved 1 April 2020 via Google Books
Following the positive reception by the public of ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943), a number of similar pictures were made, often based on melodramatic
period Period may refer to: Common uses * Era, a length or span of time * Full stop (or period), a punctuation mark Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (or rhetorical period), a concept ...
novels. The films dominated the British box office, out-grossing top Hollywood productions and breaking a number of records. In 2004, the British Film Institute compiled a list of the 100 biggest UK cinematic hits of all time, based on audience figures, as opposed to gross takings. Two Gainsborough melodramas appeared on this list: ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1945) was placed 9th, with an estimated attendance of 18.4 million people, while '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) was placed 40th, with an estimated attendance of 11.7 million people.The Ultimate Chart: 1–100
(28 November 2004).
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...
. Archived 3 August 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2020 via
Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by the Internet Archive, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, California. Created in 1996 and launched to the public in 2001, it allows the user to go "back in time" and see ...
,
Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
In regards solely to British productions, the same list identified that the most popular films were ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1945), which was ranked second of all time, just behind ''
Spring in Park Lane ''Spring in Park Lane'' is a 1948 British romantic comedy film produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding and Tom Walls. It was part of a series of films partnering Neagle and Wilding. It was the top film a ...
'' (1948), and '' Fanny by Gaslight'', ranked as 13th in the twentieth century and 15th in the all-time ranking. The first
Daily Mail National Film Awards The National Film Awards (also known as the Daily Mail National Film Awards, Daily Mail Film Awards, British Film Oscars, Britain's Oscars, and Silver Star) were the first ever national film awards held in Britain. They were sponsored by the '' Da ...
in 1946, which are seen as the predecessor to the British Film Academy Awards (later BAFTA) and inspiration for the current
National Film Awards UK The National Film Awards UK are presented in an annual award show hosted by the National Film Academy (NFA). As of 2015, it has taken place in Central London at the Porchester Hall. The 5th National Film Awards UK was held on 27 March 2019. Hi ...
, saw ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943) voted second in the category for "Best Film" made between 1939 and 1945,British Poll Most Popular Stars: James Mason and Margaret Lockwood
(26 April 1946). Perth. p13.
The West Australian ''The West Australian'' is the only locally edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia. It is owned by Seven West Media (SWM), as is the state's other major newspaper, '' The Sunday Times''. It is the second-oldest continuous ...
. Retrieved 4 March 2013 via National Library of Australia
behind ''
The Way to the Stars ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' (1945) (which was directed by
Anthony Asquith Anthony William Landon Asquith (; 9 November 1902 – 20 February 1968) was an English film director. He collaborated successfully with playwright Terence Rattigan on ''The Winslow Boy'' (1948) and '' The Browning Version'' (1951), among oth ...
).Daily Mail Film Awards 1946
(1946)
British Pathe British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
Wilson, Cecil. (1948). Film Votes For The Million. in Jeffrey Truby (ed), The Daily Mail Film Award Annual 1948. Winchester Publications Ltd. Two other Gainsborough melodramas, ''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945) and ''
They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...
'' (1945), were voted third and fourth, respectively.Truby, Jeffrey. (ed). (1948) The Daily Mail Film Award Annual 1948. Winchester Publications Ltd.Noble, Peter. (1948). Films of 1946. in Peter Noble (ed), The British Film Yearbook 1947-48. London, Skelton Robinson
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, Order of the British Empire, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes (1938 ...
took the honour of "most popular and outstanding British actress during the war years", ahead of
Phyllis Calvert Phyllis Hannah Murray-Hill (née Bickle; 18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002), known professionally as Phyllis Calvert, was an English film, stage and television actress. She was one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1 ...
in second place, and
Patricia Roc Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) and '' The Wicked Lady'' (1945), though she only ...
, who was third. James Mason was voted as the "most popular and outstanding British actor during the war years", with Stewart Granger in third place. In the 1947 awards, ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1945) came second behind ''
Piccadilly Incident ''Piccadilly Incident'' is a 1946 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Coral Browne, Edward Rigby and Leslie Dwyer. Wilcox teamed his wife Anna Neagle with Michael Wilding for the first time, e ...
'' (1946) for the "Best Film Award",Reid, John Howard. (2009)
Film Noir, Detective and Mystery Movies on DVD: A Guide to the Best in Suspense
Lulu Books. p259. Retrieved 17 April 2020 via Google Books
with Lockwood and Mason claiming the renamed "Best Actress Award" and "Best Actor Award"Daily Mail Film Awards 1947
(1947).
British Pathe British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
for their roles in the former film.Truby, Jeffrey. (ed). (1948) British Films of 1947. Winchester Publications Ltd.Noble, Peter. (1948). The Year in British Films. in Peter Noble (ed), The British Film Yearbook 1947-48. London, Skelton Robinson Lockwood would attain the "Best Actress Award" for a third time in a row in 1948,Daily Mail Film Awards 1948
(1948).
British Pathe British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
for her role in '' Jassy'' (1947), while her co-stars in the film, Patricia Roc and
Dennis Price Dennistoun Franklyn John Rose Price (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) was an English actor, best remembered for his role as Louis Mazzini in the film '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949) and for his portrayal of the omnicompetent valet Jeeve ...
, were voted third and fourth in their respective Best Actress Award and Best Actor Award categories .Truby, Jeffrey. (ed). (1949) The Daily Mail Film Award Annual 1949. Winchester Publications Ltd. Despite the film coming in fourth in the "Best Film Award" category behind ''
The Courtneys of Curzon Street ''The Courtneys of Curzon Street'' (also titled ''The Courtney Affair'' or Kathy's Love Affair, in the U.S.) is a 1947 British drama film starring Anna Neagle and Michael Wilding. It is a study of class division and snobbery in Britain in the la ...
'' (1947), '' Great Expectations'' (1946), and ''
Odd Man Out ''Odd Man Out'' is a 1947 British film noir directed by Carol Reed, and starring James Mason, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack, and Kathleen Ryan. Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it follows a wounded Nationalist leader who attempts to evade polic ...
'' (1947), ''Jassy'' was officially the final Gainsborough melodrama film, and the only one to be made in
Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...
.


Melodramas

The first film in the sequence, ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943), was based on a novel of the same name by Eleanor Smith. It tells the story of a young woman and a cold aristocrat who enter into a
marriage of convenience A marriage of convenience is a marriage contracted for reasons other than that of love and commitment. Instead, such a marriage is entered into for personal gain, or some other sort of strategic purpose, such as a political marriage. There are ...
. When the young woman falls in love with a strolling actor, her hopes of eloping to happiness are constantly wrecked by the aristocrat who cares more for the reputation of the family name, and by an old school friend who has designs on marrying her husband. The film proved to be a major success on its release. It was the seventh most popular movie at the British box office in 1943. Phyllis Calvert later recalled it "had two West End premieres. It had one premiere, got terrible notices, went through the provinces and made so much money that it had to come back to London". On the film's release in Australia in 1945, it was the only British film listed in the top ten most popular films.Armitage, Mary. (4 January 1947)
Australia's Favorite Stars And Movies of the Year.
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(Sunday Magazine) Vol.35.(1,806).p9 Retrieved 21 March 2020.
'' Love Story'' (1944) was adapted from the short story "Love and Forget" by J. W. Drawbell, although director and co-screenwriter
Leslie Arliss Leslie Arliss (6 October 1901, London – 30 December 1987, Jersey, Channel Islands) was an English screenwriter and director. He is best known for his work on the Gainsborough melodramas directing films such as ''The Man in Grey'' and ''The Wi ...
would later say he was also inspired by two other short magazine stories, "The Ship Sailed at Night" and "A Night in Algiers". The film explores a contemporary rivalrous love triangle between a concert pianist (Lockwood) who, due to a heart condition, has months to live, a former
RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
pilot who is going blind from a wartime injury (Granger), and the pilot's childhood friend (Roc), who is secretly in love with him. The film was a huge success at the British box-office.Gaumont-British Picture: Increased Net Profit (04 Nov 1945).
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the ...
(1901- 2003) ondon (UK) p3.
Murphy, Robert. (2003)
, ''Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48''
London. Routledge. p207. Retrieved via Google Books
The third film in the sequence, and the second of the
costume drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...
s, was '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944). Adapted from the novel of the same name by
Michael Sadleir Michael Sadleir (25 December 1888 – 13 December 1957), born Michael Thomas Harvey Sadler, was a British publisher, novelist, book collector, and bibliographer. Biography Michael Sadleir was born in Oxford, England, the son of Sir Michael ...
, the film details the obstacles a young woman, who is born
illegitimate Legitimacy, in traditional Western common law, is the status of a child born to parents who are legally married to each other, and of a child conceived before the parents obtain a legal divorce. Conversely, ''illegitimacy'', also known as '' ...
and raised by her birth mother and step father, encounters to marry the man she loves, who is defined as "well born". Upon its release, the film was a big hit, and claimed the accolade of being the second most popular film in Britain during 1944, after ''
This Happy Breed ''This Happy Breed'' is a play by Noël Coward. It was written in 1939 but, because of the outbreak of World War II, it was not staged until 1942, when it was performed on alternating nights with another Coward play, '' Present Laughter''. The ...
'' (1944). However, it performed very badly at the box office in the US. Due to the success of the previous three films over the two years, Gainsborough released four melodramas in 1945. The first, ''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945), was adapted from the novel by
Margery Lawrence Margery Lawrence (8 August 1889 – 13 November 1969) (pseudonym of Mrs. Arthur E. Towle) was an English romantic fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction and detective fiction author who specialized in ghost stories.Stefan Dziemianowicz, "Lawre ...
. The film tells the story of a woman who developed dual personalities as a result of having been raped as a young girl, and unbeknownst to her and her loved ones, leads a double life: the first as a respectable wife and mother, the second as the mistress to a jewel thief in the house of the Seven Moons. The film was very popular at the British box office, being one of the most seen films of that year. When it was released in Australia in 1946, it was the only British film among the ten most popular films. The next film in the sequence, ''
A Place of One's Own ''A Place of One's Own'' is a 1945 British film directed by Bernard Knowles. An atmospheric ghost story based on the 1940 novel of the same title by Osbert Sitwell, it stars James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price and Dul ...
'' (1945), was adapted from a novel by
Osbert Sitwell Sir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet CH CBE (6 December 1892 – 4 May 1969) was an English writer. His elder sister was Edith Sitwell and his younger brother was Sacheverell Sitwell. Like them, he devoted his life to art and ...
, and tells the story of a newly retired elderly couple who purchase a house that has been vacant for many years. The house is haunted by its previous occupier, who may have died under suspicious circumstances, and now takes
possession Possession may refer to: Law * Dependent territory, an area of land over which another country exercises sovereignty, but which does not have the full right of participation in that country's governance * Drug possession, a crime * Ownership * ...
of the couple's newly employed companion, Annette, who resembles the spirit physically. Despite the film performing well at the British box office, it was viewed as a financial disappointment, considering that it starred two of the most popular actors in British cinema at the time, James Mason and Margaret Lockwood.Thumim, Janet. (1991). The 'Popular', Cash and Culture in the Postwar British Cinema Industry.
Screen Screen or Screens may refer to: Arts * Screen printing (also called ''silkscreening''), a method of printing * Big screen, a nickname associated with the motion picture industry * Split screen (filmmaking), a film composition paradigm in which mul ...
. vol. 32(3). pp245-271. Retrieved from
Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
The next film, ''
They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...
'' (1945), fared much better, and was one of the biggest hits of the year. The story was adapted from the popular novel by
Dorothy Whipple Dorothy Whipple (née Stirrup) (26 February 1893 – 14 September 1966) was an English writer of popular fiction and children's books. Her work gained popularity between the world wars and again in the 2000s. Personal life Dorothy Stirrup was ...
, and explored the diversity of marital relationships of three sisters and the effect on their children. The first sister is in a loving, but childless marriage; the second sister, who has a child, is
egocentric Egocentrism is the inability to differentiate between self and other. More specifically, it is the inability to accurately assume or understand any perspective other than one's own. Egocentrism is found across the life span: in infancy, early chi ...
and indulges in multiple flirtations (sometimes in front of her husband) and an
extramarital affair An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of ...
to relieve her of her
boredom In conventional usage, boredom, ennui, or tedium is an emotional and occasionally psychological state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, is listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occup ...
; while the third sister, who also has children, is in an
emotionally abusive Psychological abuse, often called emotional abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another person to a behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumat ...
marriage to a brutal,
sadistic Sadism may refer to: * Sadomasochism, the giving or receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation * Sadistic personality disorder, an obsolete term proposed for individuals who derive pleasure from the s ...
, and controlling man. The final melodrama released by Gainsborough in 1945 was ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
''. The film was adapted from the novel ''Life And Death of the Wicked Lady Skelton'' by Magdalen King-Hall and tells the story of a selfish, manipulative and vindictive woman who engages in a double life, as noble lady and highwaywoman, for excitement and gratification Released in December 1945, ''The Wicked Lady'' was not only the most popular film at the British box office in 1946, but also the most successful film Gainsborough Pictures produced overall.Murphy, Robert. (2003)
, ''Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48''
London. Routledge. p209. . Retrieved via Google Books
It was shortlisted for the "Best British Film" award for 1946 at the
Daily Mail National Film Awards The National Film Awards (also known as the Daily Mail National Film Awards, Daily Mail Film Awards, British Film Oscars, Britain's Oscars, and Silver Star) were the first ever national film awards held in Britain. They were sponsored by the '' Da ...
which were held in 1947,Britain's Best Films
(16 February 1947).
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, w ...
. Perth. p12. (Supplement) Retrieved 2 February 2014 via National Library of Australia
finishing second behind ''
Piccadilly Incident ''Piccadilly Incident'' is a 1946 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Coral Browne, Edward Rigby and Leslie Dwyer. Wilcox teamed his wife Anna Neagle with Michael Wilding for the first time, e ...
'' (1946) and claiming the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" awards for James Mason and
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, Order of the British Empire, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes (1938 ...
respectively. Head of Production at Gainsborough
Maurice Ostrer Maurice Ostrer (1896–1975) was a British film executive. He was best known for overseeing the Gainsborough melodramas. He was head of production at Gainsborough Studios from 1943–46. He resigned from the studio in 1946 after a disagreement wi ...
wanted to capitalize on the success of the film by making a
sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
; however, J. Arthur Rank, whose company owned Gainsborough, was not in favour, and subsequently vetoed any plans to make a follow up film. Leslie Arliss did go on to write a sequel for the film, titled ''The Wicked Lady's Daughter'', in 1950, but it was never made into a film. Ironically, Arliss's last film credit was as screenwriter for the remake of ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1983), which was directed by
Michael Winner Robert Michael Winner (30 October 1935 – 21 January 2013) was a British filmmaker, writer, and media personality. He is known for directing numerous action, thriller, and black comedy films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including several c ...
and starred
Faye Dunaway Dorothy Faye Dunaway (born January 14, 1941) is an American actress. She is the recipient of many accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award. In 2011, the government of France mad ...
. However, the film was not successful, and it received a " Worst Actress" ''
Razzie The Golden Raspberry Awards (also known as the Razzies and Razzie Awards) is a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements. Co-founded by UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, ...
'' nomination for Dunaway. Gainsborough released two melodramas in 1946 which took a change in the direction from the previous melodramas, in that both were more focused on men and masculinity. The first film, '' Caravan'', was adapted from the novel of the same name by Eleanor Smith. It was the second novel by Smith to be transformed into a Gainsborough melodrama after ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943). The film tells the story of a love triangle that begins in childhood and concludes with a double love triangle in adulthood, involving violence and
larceny Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking or theft of the personal property of another person or business. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of Eng ...
. Following a young aspiring writer's intervention in an attempted robbery of a valuable necklace from its guardian, he agrees to transport the item to its owners in Spain, so that he can earn the money he requires to marry his childhood sweetheart. However, while in Spain, he is robbed, injured, and left for dead by his love rival's agent, and is saved from death by a young
gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
girl. ''Caravan'' was a notable box office attraction at British cinemas in 1946, becoming the sixth most successful film after ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'', ''
The Bells of St Marys ''The Bells of St. Mary's'' (1945) is an American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a pr ...
'', ''
Piccadilly Incident ''Piccadilly Incident'' is a 1946 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Coral Browne, Edward Rigby and Leslie Dwyer. Wilcox teamed his wife Anna Neagle with Michael Wilding for the first time, e ...
'', ''
The Captive Heart ''The Captive Heart'' is a 1946 British war drama, directed by Basil Dearden and starring Michael Redgrave. It is about a Czechoslovak Army officer who is captured in the Fall of France and spends five years as a prisoner of war, during which ti ...
'' and ''
Road to Utopia ''Road to Utopia'' is a 1946 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1946, ''Road to Utopia'' is the fourth film of the "'' Road to ...
''. It was shortlisted for the "Best British Film" for 1946 at the 1947 Daily Mail National Film Awards. The second melodrama released by Gainsborough in 1946, ''
The Magic Bow ''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Stewart ...
'', was adapted from the biographic novel, ''The Magic Bow: A Romance of Paganini'' by
Manuel Komroff Manuel Komroff (September 7, 1890 – 10 December 1974) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, editor and translator. He was born in New York where he began his working life as a journalist. He also spent some time in Russia dur ...
. The film tells the story of the Italian violinist and composer
Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices fo ...
before he becomes famous, and deals with his determination to attain the admiration that he feels he deserves. However, on his journey to greatness, he engages in an affair with a French noble lady, whose parents wish for her to marry a respectable high ranking French military officer, rather than a common musician. The film was again successful at the British box office. It was the only new release British film to be entered into the
1946 Cannes Film Festival The 1st annual Cannes Film Festival was held from 20 September to 5 October 1946. Twenty-one countries presented their films at the "First Cannes International Film Festival", which took place at the former Casino of Cannes. Only one year after t ...
. The final three Gainsborough melodrama films, released in 1947, reverted to placing women as the protagonist. The first, ''
The Root of All Evil Root of all evil or Root of evil may refer to: Music * ''The Root of All Evil'' (album), a 2009 album by Swedish death metal band Arch Enemy * ''The Root of All Evil'' (EP), Japanese work by all-female tribute band Iron Maidens * "The Root of Al ...
'', was adapted from the J. S. Fletcher novel of the same name, and tells the story of a woman who vows to never again face the public ignominy from a man's duplicity and ruthlessness, following being jilted by her fiancé at the behest of his wealthy grocer father, and his father's inaction to prevent the eviction of her and her family from their farm. However, the more wealthy she becomes, the more her behaviour resembles that of her antagonist. Despite the film having a big budget, it could not entice an audience at the box office, and subsequently made big financial losses.Gillett, Philip. (2003)
The British Working Class in Postwar Film
Manchester University Press. P200. . Retrieved 20 April 2020 via Google Books
The penultimate Gainsborough melodrama, '' The Brothers'' (1947) did not fare any better, and made massive losses for Gainsborough at the box office,Spicer, Andrew. (2006)
, Sydney Box
Manchester University Press. p210. . Retrieved 20 April 2020 via Google Books
although the film has been reviewed more favourably in more recent years. Adapted from the novel of the same name by
L. A. G. Strong Leonard Alfred George Strong (8 March 1896 – 17 August 1958) was a popular English novelist, critic, historian, and poet, and published under the name L. A. G. Strong. He served as a director of the publishers Methuen Ltd. from 1938 to 1958. ...
, the film tells the story of a young
orphaned An orphan (from the el, ορφανός, orphanós) is a child whose parents have died. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents due to death is called an orphan. When referring to animals, only the mother's condition is usuall ...
woman, who, after leaving the
convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglic ...
where she was raised from childhood, arrives on the Isle of Skye to become a servant to a
clan chief The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard c ...
and his two sons. Whilst there, she discovers life to be austere, and she is treated no better than
livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animal ...
. She soon becomes embroiled in an old clan feud between her employer and a rival clan, and is at the centre of a
tug of war Tug of war (also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war, rope pulling, or tugging war) is a sport that pits two teams against each other in a test of strength: teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal being to bring the rope a certa ...
battle between the two brothers. The next film, '' Jassy'' (1947), marked the official end of the Gainsborough melodrama period, and was the only one of the sequence of films to be made in
Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...
. Adapted from the novel of the same name by
Norah Lofts Norah Lofts, ''née'' Norah Ethel Robinson, (27 August 190410 September 1983) was a 20th-century British writer. She also wrote under the pen names Peter Curtis and Juliet Astley. She wrote more than fifty books specialising in historical fi ...
, the film tells the story of a young
gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
woman pursued by superstitious villagers as a witch, due to her being gifted with
second sight Extrasensory perception or ESP, also called sixth sense, is a claimed paranormal ability pertaining to reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses, but sensed with the mind. The term was adopted by Duke Universit ...
, and how she is saved from persecution and employed as a housekeeper by the son of a
country gentleman ''The Country Gentleman'' (1852–1955) was an American agricultural magazine founded in 1852 in Albany, New York, by Luther Tucker.Frank Luther Mott (1938A History of American Magazines 1850–1865"The Country Gentleman", page 432, Harvard Unive ...
and his family. However, the family has lost their stately country home due to the father's drinking and gambling, and the young woman plans to use her talent to raise her social standing and return the property to the son, whom she loves. Gainsborough described the box office performance of the film as "excellent", and it was the seventh most popular movie at the British box office upon its release in 1947; by 1953, it had accumulated a net revenue of £200,000.


Problems with the US Censor

A number of the melodramas encountered problems with the US censor code, which required significant portions of the films to be cut, modified or reshot, and in some cases, this resulted in delays in their US release dates. The
Motion Picture Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...
, referred to as the
Hays Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...
after
Will H. Hays William Harrison Hays Sr. (; November 5, 1879 – March 7, 1954) was an American Republican politician. As chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1918–1921, Hays managed the successful 1920 presidential campaign of Warren G. Ha ...
, the then president of the
Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is an American trade association representing the five major film studios of the United States, as well as the video streaming service Netflix. Founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distribu ...
(MPPDA), was not law, but rather an agreement between MPPDA members' studios and theatres to censor in order to clean up the image of
motion pictures A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
viewed by the American public, and to avoid Federal and/or State legislators becoming involved in the film industry.Prince, Stephen. (2003)
Classical Film Violence: Designing and Regulating Brutality in Hollywood Cinema, 1930–1968
Rutgers University Press.
Films that did not adhere to the code were denied a certificate from the Production Code Administration (PCA), and therefore could not be released in American theatres.Jacobs, Lea. (1997)
The Wages of Sin: Censorship and the Fallen Woman Film, 1928–1942
Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
In contrast to the PCA's written code, the
British Board of Film Censors The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organization, non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national clas ...
(BBFC) model, which was established in 1912 for similar reasons to why the MPPDA had set up the PCA,Robertson, James C. (2013)
The British Board of Film Censors: Film Censorship in Britain, 1896-1950
Routledge
was not a written code, and producers considered it to be abstruse, with violations transmitted after the film was submitted for certification.Aldgate, Anthony. (1995)
Censorship and the Permissive Society: British Cinema and Theatre, 1955-1965
Clarendon Press.
However, the BBFC strove to provide some clarity for producers in the forthcoming years; first in 1916, during the National Council of Public Morals: Cinema Commission of Inquiry, when the then president of the BBFC,
T.P. O'Connor Thomas Power O'Connor (5 October 1848 – 18 November 1929), known as T. P. O'Connor and occasionally as Tay Pay (mimicking his own pronunciation of the initials ''T. P.''), was an Irish nationalist politician and journalist who served as a ...
, listed forty-three infractions from the BBFC 1913-1915 annual reports, where a cut in a film may be required;BBFC
1912-1949: The Early Years at the BBFC: 1916 - T. P. O’Connor
Retrieved 14 May 2020
and secondly in 1926, when the BBFC annual report outlined grounds in seven broad categories that justified censorship, including issues related to religion, politics, military, social themes, and questions of sex, crime and cruelty. There are suggestions that these clarifications to the BBFC model had an effect on the authors of the Motion Picture Production Code, whereby they had practically adapted the BBFC model to suit their cultural tastes; however, the PCA would go on to influence the BBFC model, to such an extent that both codes would go on to look very similar to each other, and regarded similar acts as constituting violations to their codes. The significant difference between the two models was that the BBFC were more inclined to be lenient on American films with issues that were culturally relevant to Americans, because they assumed the British public would understand this cultural difference, such as with issues related to
gangsters A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from '' mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...
and bootlegging. On the other hand, the PCA were not so lenient on British or other foreign productions that featured themes of cultural importance, and were more likely to seek changes to the film before it could be viewed by the American public.Slide, Anthony. (1998)
Banned in the U.S.A.: British Films in the United States and Their Censorship, 1933-1960
Bloomsbury Academic.
European film executives, including those from Britain, had long complained that Hollywood deliberately utilized the code to stifle foreign competition (which increased the financial burden of foreign studios) and poach talent, to therefore dominate the film industry. Amongst the British big-budget films to encounter frivolous or questionable problems with the PCA were '' Black Narcissus'' (1947) and '' Oliver Twist'' (1948), both due to religious and moral grounds; ''
Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1 ...
'', for the use of the word
bastard Bastard may refer to: Parentage * Illegitimate child, a child born to unmarried parents ** Bastard (law of England and Wales), illegitimacy in English law People People with the name * Bastard (surname), including a list of people with that na ...
, and '' Bad Lord Byron'' (1949), not for the film itself, but because the PCA objected to
Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...
as a character. However, more recent analysis by film historians has concluded that the PCA were sympathetic towards British productions, and tried to help them succeed in the American market. '' Love Story'' (1944) ran into trouble with the PCA on the use of language the censors deemed provocative. Although this was mild in comparison to what other Gainsborough melodramas would encounter, the PCA would become much stricter on language, such as what they deemed to be lines containing a
double meaning A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially ...
, and were insinuating sex. The PCA refused to grant ''Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) a certificate for its US release until the title of the film was changed, the illegitimacy of Fanny was altered, scenes set in a brothel were changed to a dancehall or a gambling house, the scene of Fanny as a little girl talking to two
prostitutes Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...
on the street was deleted, and the scenes of Fanny and Somerford living together outside of marriage were removed, as they perceived these issues violated the Hays purity Code, whilst also normalising
fallen women "Fallen woman" is an archaic term which was used to describe a woman who has "lost her innocence", and fallen from the grace of God. In 19th-century Britain especially, the meaning came to be closely associated with the loss or surrender of a w ...
and immoral behaviour.Barefoot, Guy. (2016)
Gaslight Melodrama: From Victorian London to 1940s Hollywood
Continuum pp63-64. . Retrieved 1 May 2020 via
Google Books Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical ...
Breen's Nix
(7 May 1947).
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
. vol. 166 (9). p29. Retrieved 1 May 2020 via
The Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
The film's US release was delayed by three years, with Gainsborough changing the title to the PCA's recommended title ''Man of Evil'', the deletion of eighteen minutes of the film, including the scene of Fanny talking to the two prostitutes, fewer scenes of Fanny and Somerford living together outside of marriage, and the lowering of the tone of the scenes concerning the brothel. Changes had also to be made to ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) before it could receive its US release. These included the toning down of the rape scene, in which the sections with the perpetrator removing his belt and the close up of young Maddalena's face filled with fear as she is running from the pursuing man were cut, and shortened to the preceding scene, in which the man is seen following her out of the audience's view. The subsequent scene with Maddalena returning to her room was also shortened. Rather than see her cry, fall onto her bed and clasp her stomach in pain, the US viewers see her cry and fall onto her bed. Calvert was critical of the interference by the PCA on alterations to lighting: whereas scenes between Maddalena and Nino were darkened, in contrast to scenes with Maddalena and her husband Giuseppe, as the censors deemed, despite Maddalena having a mental illness that impacted on her cognitive awareness, that she was still committing adultery, and adulterous women were
taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...
.Laitila, Johanna. (2018).
Melodrama, Self and Nation in Post-War British Popular Film
" Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 3 March 2020 via Google Books
Another act that ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' was adjudged to have violated the Hays code was two people being on a bed with no feet on the ground, as the PCA perceived this indicated sexual intercourse. Of one such incident, Calvert says "we weren't allowed to be two on a bed without somebody's feet being on the floor. And so when Granger and I had the bedroom scene in ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'', we did in fact do it on a bed with all our feet off the ground - but they showed it very dark with just two cigarettes, so the audience wouldn't know where we were." However, the BBFC had the same violation in their code of conduct in films, which the American comedian
Fred Allen John Florence Sullivan (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956), known professionally as Fred Allen, was an American comedian. His absurdist, topically pointed radio program ''The Fred Allen Show'' (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and for ...
would also recall in a letter to Groucho Marx. In the scene between Maddalena's daughter Angela and Nino's brother Sandro, Allen wrote "I hope you noted the item that involved the reshooting of a scene in the film "Madonna of the seven Moons", the scene was an attempted rape of the chaste Angela and the actor kept forgetting that the British Board of Censors will not pass any seduction scene unless the seducer has one foot on the floor, apparently sex in England is something like snooker." Scenes of rape and adultery in ''The Wicked Lady'' (1945) were also highlighted by the PCA, which led them to define the film as "making adultery look like too much fun".Cleavage & the Code (August 5, 1946). Time: the Weekly News Magazine. Vol.48, (6). P 98 While the ending of the film complied with the BBFC's code stipulating that criminals should get their comeuppance, it did not go far enough for the PCA, who added that the villain showed no remorse for her crimes and "died as she lived, happy and unrepented". However, the biggest criticism the PCA had was for the women's dress bodices (appropriate for the era portrayed), which they perceived to be very low-cut, and showing too much cleavage for their
Motion Picture Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...
. This was the first time the word cleavage had been applied in reference to an area of a woman's
anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having it ...
; previously, the PCA had utilized the term
décolletage Cleavage is the narrow depression or hollow between the breasts of a woman. The superior portion of cleavage may be accentuated by clothing such as a low-cut neckline that exposes the division, and often the term is used to describe the low neck ...
when assessing films. The American media were also outraged by the design of the dresses, declaring "Americans do not want half naked women like Patricia Roc in this movie". To remedy the situation, extensive re-shooting was required before the film could be released in the United States;Strutton, Bill. (15 November 1947)
Margaret Lockwood's Fame Brings Problems
The Australian Women's Weekly ''The Australian Women's Weekly'', sometimes known as simply ''The Weekly'', is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by Mercury Capital in Sydney. For many years it was the number one magazine in Australia before being outsold by ...
. Vol 15 (23). p32. Retrieved 3 April 2016 via National Library of Australia
however, the damage was done, and exhibitors later publicised that the film had "suffered too much from the censors to be entirely satisfactory". The stars of the film were furious at the response of the PCA, with Margaret Lockwood saying "We had to do nine days of retakes to satisfy the censor on that film and it all seemed very foolish". James Mason added "I don't like it now", referring to the film after the changes. Meanwhile, Patricia Roc highlighted inconsistencies with the PCA's treatment of the film to that of an American feature of the same year (1945), saying that "The Breen Office, which was responsible for code enforcement was ever vigilant, but inconsistent if you consider the scantily dressed
Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...
and
June Haver June Haver (born Beverly June Stovenour, June 10, 1926 – July 4, 2005) was an American film actress, singer, and dancer. Once groomed by 20th Century Fox to be "the next Betty Grable", Haver appeared in a string of musicals, but she never achie ...
in the American film '' The Dolly Sisters'', which slipped through their own censorship". The British film industry were also confused at the inconsistencies of the PCA's decisions, which they believed were an attempt to exclude British films from the US market.Macnab, Geoffrey. (1993)
J. Arthur Rank and the British Film Industry.
London, Routledge. pp69-71. Retrieved 5 May 2020 via Google Books
J. Arthur Rank invited
Joseph Breen Joseph Ignatius Breen (October 14, 1888 – December 5, 1965) was an American film censor with the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America who applied the Hays Code to film production.Staff report (December 8, 1965). Joseph I ...
, the then head of the PCA, to Britain for a meeting with the British Film Producers Association to advise them on how they could modify their films to be US code compliant before the films were released in the United States.Doherty, Thomas. (2007)
Hollywood's Censor: Joseph I. Breen and the Production Code Administration
Columbia University Press pp264-265.
The British press pressured Breen on the PCA's treatment of British films during his interviews with them, which they concluded was evidence of anti-British sentiment. They argued the PCA's
double standards A double standard is the application of different sets of principles for situations that are, in principle, the same. It is often used to describe treatment whereby one group is given more latitude than another. A double standard arises when two ...
when it came to British films, such as ''The Wicked Lady'', ''
Pink String and Sealing Wax ''Pink String and Sealing Wax'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Robert Hamer and starring Mervyn Johns. It is based on a play with the same name by Roland Pertwee. It was the first feature film Robert Hamer directed on his own. The ti ...
'' (1945), and '' Bedelia'' (1946, starring Lockwood), in comparison to American films, such as '' Double Indemnity'' (1944), ''
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek ''The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'' is a 1944 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton, and featuring Diana Lynn, William Demarest and Porter Hall. Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamir ...
'' (1944), ''
Scarlet Street ''Scarlet Street'' is a 1945 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang. The screenplay concerns two criminals who take advantage of a middle-aged painter in order to steal his artwork. The film is based on the French novel ''La Chienne'' (literal ...
'' (1945), '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'' (1946) and specifically '' Forever Amber'' (1947) (which was due to be released) equally contained similar themes of adultery, premeditated murder, suicide, and rape to their British counterparts. However, whilst the American films seemed to get warnings, the British films were instructed to re-title films, alternate storylines, and perform cuts and/or reshoots of scenes to a degree whereby the film lost its appeal to the general public, and which impacted financially on the British film studios. Despite these protestations, another British film and Gainsborough melodrama, ''
They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...
'' (1945), was treated much more leniently in comparison to other Gainsborough melodramas by the PCA on similar issues that they had previously deemed as being extremely offensive. The PCA recommended a toning down of infractions to their code in scenes related to adultery by the character of Vera, the suicide by Charlotte, and the inferred incestuous fantasies Geoffrey harboured towards his eldest daughter Margaret. The most serious infringement for the PCA was that the marital single beds of Lucy and William were too close to each other, a violation which Lockwood claimed her film ''
The White Unicorn ''The White Unicorn'' is a 1947 British drama film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Margaret Lockwood, Joan Greenwood, Ian Hunter and Dennis Price. Kyra Vayne appeared as the singer. It was made at Walton Studios by the independent p ...
'' (1947) was said to have also incurred. The impact of the scrutiny by the PCA on British films had an effect upon the direction of Gainsborough Pictures, with
Maurice Ostrer Maurice Ostrer (1896–1975) was a British film executive. He was best known for overseeing the Gainsborough melodramas. He was head of production at Gainsborough Studios from 1943–46. He resigned from the studio in 1946 after a disagreement wi ...
capitulating to the US censor's norms in his final three Gainsborough melodramas, ''Caravan'' (1946), ''The Magic Bow'' (1946) and ''The Root of All Evil (1947 film), The Root of All Evil'' (1947), which resulted in an easier transition to the US market, and fewer modifications required to be made to the films. While making ''The Magic Bow'', producer R. J. Minney said that "We are doing it as delicately as possible, as a study of sacred and profane love. Paganini's relationship with Bianca is rather a tricky business to get past the Hays Office, but we hope, with tact, to manage it." ''Caravan'' was also required to deviate from its script to satisfy the US censor; however, the final product retained some scenes that may suggest either a relaxation by the PCA, or negligence on behalf of the reviewer in comparison to previous complaints by the PCA. Examples of this are Francis inviting a group of prostitutes to dinner to humiliate his wife Oriana, and the interaction between his assistant Wycroft and Richard, which includes the way Wycroft feels Richard's bicep during the voyage from England to Spain. The latter example is more pronounced, as it suggested homosexual motives by Wycroft, played by
Robert Helpmann Sir Robert Murray Helpmann CBE ( Helpman, 9 April 1909 – 28 September 1986) was an Australian ballet dancer, actor, director, and choreographer. After early work in Australia he moved to Britain in 1932, where he joined the Vic-Wells Ballet ( ...
(himself a gay actor), and homosexuality was deemed to be deviant in nature. It was also illegal in both Britain and the United States during the year of the film's release.
Sydney Box Frank Sydney Box (29 April 1907 – 25 May 1983) was a British film producer and screenwriter, and brother of British film producer Betty Box. In 1940, he founded the documentary film company Verity Films with Jay Lewis. He produced and co- ...
's first film during his period in charge at Gainsborough, ''Jassy'' (1947), passed through the PCA with relative ease, despite some public outcry that the film glorified witchcraft. However, this would prove to be the exception rather than the norm for Box, who encountered numerous battles with the US censor, even after he had left Gainsborough.Spicer, Andrew. (2006)
Sydney Box
Manchester University Press. .
The director of ''The Brothers'' (1947), David MacDonald, knew before the film's release that it would be in trouble with the censor due to the film containing, as he put it "Rape, murder and nature, that's about all", but added that "We hope to get by in the French way." One such scene was the one in which Patricia Roc's character is skinny dipping. A precedent was established by the BBFC's assessment of the Gainsborough film ''
Two Thousand Women ''Two Thousand Women'' is a 1944 British comedy-drama war film about a German internment camp in Occupied France which holds British women who have been resident in the country. Three RAF aircrewmen, whose bomber has been shot down, enter the c ...
'' (1944), whereby viewers see Phyllis Calvert's naked back and Roc's naked back and side of breast, which they passed without cuts.Hodgson, Michael. (2013)
Patricia Roc: The Goddess of the Odeons
AuthorHouse. p113 .
However, the PCA were not so lenient with the latter title, and held up the film's release in the United States for seven years, until the film was retitled to ''House of 1,000 Women'' with sixteen minutes of the film cut, including amongst others, scenes showing Calvert's and Roc's naked backs. Box cited the rulings by
Lord Cromer Earl of Cromer is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, held by members of the Baring family, of German descent. It was created for Evelyn Baring, 1st Viscount Cromer, long time British Consul-General in Egypt. He had already been cr ...
, the then
Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom while also acting as the main c ...
and censor for all theatrical performances in London, in regard to the ''Windmill Girls'' show in the
Windmill Theatre The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude '' tableaux vivants'', which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians o ...
, and the New York Censor Review Board in relation to the
pre-code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...
film '' Four Frightened People'' (1934), when arguing for the inclusion of the skinny dipping scene in his film. In regards to the ''Windmill Girls'', Lord Cromer found that nude statutes or paintings in museums were not considered as obscene, but art, and therefore a live nude woman standing stationary, as a
Tableau vivant A (; often shortened to ; plural: ), French for "living picture", is a static scene containing one or more actors or models. They are stationary and silent, usually in costume, carefully posed, with props and/or scenery, and may be theatrica ...
, could not be considered as obscene, but instead also as art, unless there was movement by the nude woman, in which case it would be rude and obscene. Meanwhile, the New York Censor Review Board permitted a scene with
Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictures ...
bathing under a jungle waterfall nude, following director Cecil DeMille's prevaricated intervention, highlighting that it was only shot in extreme long shot, and a flesh-coloured body suit was worn. Box argued the scene with Roc was not perversion or
pornographic Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults,
, but rather it was art, and that the scene was filmed in extreme long shot, which provided context to the isolation of the film's setting, while also minimising Roc, who was shot with her back to the camera. The BBFC were satisfied with Box's explanation, and certified the film with the skinny dipping scene intact, whilst the PCA were not convinced, and demanded it be removed. Box would go on to use the same Tableau vivant argument for the film ''
Broken Journey ''Broken Journey'' (also known as ''Rescue'') is a 1948 British drama film directed by Ken Annakin and featuring Phyllis Calvert, James Donald, Margot Grahame, Raymond Huntley and Guy Rolfe. ''Broken Journey'' deals with people struggling to sur ...
'' (1948), in which air stewardess Mary Johnstone (played by
Phyllis Calvert Phyllis Hannah Murray-Hill (née Bickle; 18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002), known professionally as Phyllis Calvert, was an English film, stage and television actress. She was one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1 ...
) hands passenger Jimmy Marshall (played by
David Tomlinson David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson (7 May 1917 – 24 June 2000) was an English stage, film, and television actor and comedian. Having been described as both a leading man and a character actor, he is primarily remembered for his roles as authorit ...
) an airline folder, which contained a hidden magazine titled ''Beauté modern'', featuring a topless woman on the cover. In the subsequent scenes, Marshall is seen flicking through the pages, revealing a number of full-frontal nude women in a number of different poses. Other challenges ''The Brothers'' (1947) encountered with the PCA before its US release were with its depiction of illicit whiskey manufacturing, and the finale, which culminated in the tragic deaths of two characters. Despite this, however, Box managed to satisfy the censor by adding some shots in which detectives arrived on the island to break up the whiskey operation, and by filming an ending in which "the good characters" survived, instead of being murdered.


Style

Many of the films make use of
chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro ( , ; ), in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to achi ...
lighting and mildly
expressionist Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it rad ...
imagery, influenced by the earlier style of
German cinema The film industry in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema made major technical and artistic contributions to early film, broadcasting and television technology. Babelsberg became a household synonym for the early 20 ...
. The producer Edward Black played a major role in overseeing a number of the earlier films. Later,
Sydney Box Frank Sydney Box (29 April 1907 – 25 May 1983) was a British film producer and screenwriter, and brother of British film producer Betty Box. In 1940, he founded the documentary film company Verity Films with Jay Lewis. He produced and co- ...
became head of production at Gainsborough. The films were made either at Gainsborough's
Islington Studios Islington Studios, often known as Gainsborough Studios, were a British film studio located on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, London between 1919 and 1949. The studio ...
or the larger Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush. Following the end of the war, the films began to make losses at the box office as they fell out of fashion. To try to re-kindle interest, '' Jassy'', the only Gainsborough melodrama made in
Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...
was released in 1947; however, it was not successful and this marked the official end of the Gainsborough melodrama period.
Sydney Box Frank Sydney Box (29 April 1907 – 25 May 1983) was a British film producer and screenwriter, and brother of British film producer Betty Box. In 1940, he founded the documentary film company Verity Films with Jay Lewis. He produced and co- ...
, who had taken over at Gainsborough Pictures in 1946, hoped to move away from melodramas to
social realism Social realism is the term used for work produced by painters, printmakers, photographers, writers and filmmakers that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class as a means to critique the power structure ...
, but subsequent films that followed ''Jassy'', such as ''
Good-Time Girl ''Good-Time Girl'' is a 1948 British film noir- crime drama film directed by David MacDonald. A homeless girl is asked to explain her bad behaviour in the juvenile court, and says she’s run away from home because she’s unhappy there. They ex ...
'', '' When the Bough Breaks'', and '' Boys in Brown'' bore a resemblance to the old Gainsborough melodrama formula.


Personnel

A large number of actors appeared in the films, but they are particularly associated with James Mason,
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, Order of the British Empire, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes (1938 ...
,
Phyllis Calvert Phyllis Hannah Murray-Hill (née Bickle; 18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002), known professionally as Phyllis Calvert, was an English film, stage and television actress. She was one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1 ...
, Stewart Granger,
Patricia Roc Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) and '' The Wicked Lady'' (1945), though she only ...
,
Jean Kent Jean Kent (born Joan Mildred Field; 29 June 1921 − 30 November 2013) was an English film and television actress. Biography Born Joan Mildred Field (sometimes incorrectly cited as Summerfield) in Brixton, London in 1921, the only child of va ...
,Jean Kent: Suffolk Gainborsough melodramas actress dies - BBC News
/ref>
Anne Crawford Imelda Anne Crawford (22 November 1920 – 17 October 1956) was a British film actress, born in Palestine of a Scottish father and an English mother, and brought up in Edinburgh. Biography A contemporary of Margaret Lockwood and Phyllis Calver ...
,
Dennis Price Dennistoun Franklyn John Rose Price (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) was an English actor, best remembered for his role as Louis Mazzini in the film '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949) and for his portrayal of the omnicompetent valet Jeeve ...
and
Dulcie Gray Dulcie Winifred Catherine Savage Denison, (''née'' Bailey; 20 November 1915 – 15 November 2011), known professionally as Dulcie Gray, was a British actress, mystery writer and lepidopterist. While at drama school in the late 1930s she met ...
.
Leslie Arliss Leslie Arliss (6 October 1901, London – 30 December 1987, Jersey, Channel Islands) was an English screenwriter and director. He is best known for his work on the Gainsborough melodramas directing films such as ''The Man in Grey'' and ''The Wi ...
directed several of the most successful films. Other directors included
Arthur Crabtree Arthur Crabtree (29 October 1900 in Shipley, Yorkshire, England – 15 March 1975 in Worthing, Sussex, England) was a British cinematographer and film director. He directed films with comedians such as Will Hay, the Crazy Gang and Arthur A ...
,
Anthony Asquith Anthony William Landon Asquith (; 9 November 1902 – 20 February 1968) was an English film director. He collaborated successfully with playwright Terence Rattigan on ''The Winslow Boy'' (1948) and '' The Browning Version'' (1951), among oth ...
and
Bernard Knowles Bernard Knowles (20 February 1900 – 12 February 1975) was an English film director, producer, cinematographer and screenwriter. Born in Manchester, Knowles worked with Alfred Hitchcock on numerous occasions before the director emigrated to H ...
.


Selected films

* ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943) * '' Love Story'' (1944) * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) * ''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945) * ''
A Place of One's Own ''A Place of One's Own'' is a 1945 British film directed by Bernard Knowles. An atmospheric ghost story based on the 1940 novel of the same title by Osbert Sitwell, it stars James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price and Dul ...
'' (1945) * ''
They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...
'' (1945) * ''
The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...
'' (1945) * '' Caravan'' (1946) * ''
The Magic Bow ''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Stewart ...
'' (1946) * ''
The Root of All Evil Root of all evil or Root of evil may refer to: Music * ''The Root of All Evil'' (album), a 2009 album by Swedish death metal band Arch Enemy * ''The Root of All Evil'' (EP), Japanese work by all-female tribute band Iron Maidens * "The Root of Al ...
'' (1947) * '' The Brothers'' (1947) * '' Jassy'' (1947)


See also

* List of Gainsborough Pictures films


References


Bibliography

* Aldgate, Anthony & Richards, Jeffrey. ''Britain Can Take It: British Cinema in the Second World War''. I.B. Tauris, 2007. * Cook, Pam (ed.). ''Gainsborough Pictures''. Cassell, 1997. * Murphy, Robert. ''Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48''. Routledge, 1992. {{Authority control 1940s in film 1940s in British cinema Lists of British films Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures films Drama film series Cinema of the United Kingdom