Virgin Films
| Industry | Motion picture production |
|---|---|
Key people |
Al Clark Nik Powell Richard Branson |
| Parent | Virgin Group |
Virgin Films was a film production company of the early 1980s best known for making 1984 (1984). It was part of the Virgin Group and was headed by Al Clark.[1] Nik Powell worked for the company before going over to Palace Films.
History
Virgin Films first came to attention distributing The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle (1980), in which they invested £150,000.[2] They expanded into film production in the early 1980s, investing in the short, A Shocking Accident (1982) with Jenny Seagrove and Rupert Everett. This film wound up winning an Oscar and encouraged Richard Branson to expand into filmmaking, appointing Al Clark head of production.[3] In 1983 Virgin announced they would invest £14 million in a series of movies.[4]
Among their productions were Electric Dreams and Secret Places. Their best known movie was an adaptation of 1984 (1984).[5] There was controversy between Virgin and the makers of that film over Virgin's request to introduce a music score by Eurythmics.[6][7][8]
An investment in the notorious flop Absolute Beginners (1986) discouraged them from further involvement in the film world at the time.
At one stage they were connected with Hellraiser (1987).[9]
In 2010 Virgin expanded into film making again with Virgin Produced.
Select Filmography
- The Space Movie (1979)
- The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle (1980) - distributor
- A Shocking Accident (1982) (short)
- The Executioner's Song (1983) - UK distributor
- Secret Places (1984)
- 1984 (1984)
- Electric Dreams (1984)
- Loose Connections (1984)
- Absolute Beginners (1986)
- Whoops Apocalypse (1986)
- Gothic (1986)
- Captive (1986)
References
- ↑ Alexander Walker, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984-2000, Orion Books, 2005 p11
- ↑ Walker 1986 p p254
- ↑ VIRGINS, QUEENS AND OUTSIDERS; PROFILE - AL CLARK / PRODUCER: [LATE EDITION] Elder, Bruce. Sydney Morning Herald [Sydney, N.S.W] 8 November 1997: 3.
- ↑ Walker 1986 p284
- ↑ A Director's Vision of Orwell's '1984' Draws Inspiration From 1948: Filming '1984' By MICHAEL BILLINGTON. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 3 June 1984: H19.
- ↑ Virgin changes its 1984 tune Chorlton, Penny. The Guardian (1959-2003) [London (UK)] 14 Nov 1984: 2.
- ↑ The talk about '1984' is not sweet music, Both, Cathy. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 14 Dec 1984: n_aI.
- ↑ POP: EURYTHMICS HOPPING MAD OVER '1984' FILM FLAP: 'IT'S A FARCE' lain Blair. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 6 January 1985: k8
- ↑ THRILL MEISTER Costello, Matthew J. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 July 1986: Q37.
Walker, Alexander, National Heroes: British Cinema in the Seventies and Eighties, Harrap 1986
External links
- Virgin Films at the Internet Movie Database
- Virgin at the Internet Movie Database
- Virgin Films at BFI
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