British Lion Films

Opening logo, 1971

British Lion Films is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Originally known as British Lion Film Corporation Ltd, it went into receivership of 1 June 1954.^[1] From 29 January 1955^[2] to 1976 the company was known as British Lion Films Ltd, and was a pure distribution company with a filmography of 232 films. As a production company they are still active and have produced over 170 films.^[3]

British Lion was founded in November 1927 by Sam .W. Smith (brother of Herbert Smith). By the end of World War II, the company had released over 55 films, including In Which We Serve, for which writer/producer Noël Coward received an Academy Award. It is best known for the period when it was managed by Sir Alexander Korda. Korda's company London Films bought the controlling interest in British Lion in 1946 and then acquired Shepperton Studios, basing its productions there. In 1949, due to financial problems, they accepted a loan from the National Film Finance Corporation. Not being able to pay it back, the company went into receivership in 1955. As a result, British Lion Films Ltd. was formed as a distribution company in January 1955, with the Boulting brothers, Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat as directors. Until 1976 their distributor filmography included 155 films.^[4]

British Lion Films Ltd was taken over by EMI in 1976. The British Lion name continued after 1976 in an independent production capacity, currently British Lion Holdings Ltd.

Selected films produced or distributed by British Lion

• Elizabeth of Ladymead (1948)
• The Fallen Idol (1948)
• Spring in Park Lane (1949)
• The Third Man (1949)
• The Small Back Room (1949) (A/LF)
• Chance of a Lifetime (1950)
• The Wooden Horse (1950)
• Gone to Earth (1950) (A/LF)
• The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) (I)
• The Elusive Pimpernel (1951) (A/LF)
• Outcast of the Islands (1951)
• The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) (A/LF)
• They Who Dare (1954)
• The Constant Husband (1955) (I)
• Geordie (1956) (I)
• The Bridal Path (1959)
• I'm All Right Jack (1959)
• Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959)
• Expresso Bongo (1960)
• The Entertainer (1960)
• Lord of the Flies (1963)
• Heavens Above! (1963)
• He Who Rides a Tiger (1965)
• The Family Way (1966)
• Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)
• Loot (1970)
• I, Monster (1971)
• Endless Night (1972)
• The Wicker Man (1973)
• Don't Look Now (1973)
• A Doll's House (1973)
• The Internecine Project (1974)
• Who? (1974)
• The Land That Time Forgot (1975)
• Conduct Unbecoming (1975)
• Ransom (1975)
• The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
• Nickelodeon (1976)
• At the Earth's Core (1976)
• The Wicker Tree (2011)

A = The Archers
I = Individual Pictures
LF = London Films

References

1. Hansard, 1 June 1954: British Lion Film Corporation (Appointment of Receiver) Linked 2014-07-25
2. Hansard, 25 January 1955: British Lion Films Ltd. Linked 2014-07-25
3. http://www.imdb.com/company/co0103038/
4. http://www.imdb.com/company/co0105973/

• British Lion Holdings website, with company name history
• BFI about British Lion Film Corporation
• Screen Online information about British Lion Film Corporation