GAINSBOROUGH PICTURES

Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio located on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, Poole Street, Hoxton, in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, northeast London. The studio operated from 1924 until 1951. Initially, Gainsborough was based at Islington Studios, which had been converted from a power station for the Great Northern & City Railway. Other films were produced at Lime Grove and Pinewood Studios. The Islington studio was converted into residential flats in 2004, and a historical plaque from the London Borough of Hackney was attached to the building. Gainsborough Pictures is currently owned by Gregory Motton.


Foundation and Early Years
Founded in 1924 by Michael Balcon, Gainsborough was a sister company to Gaumont British starting in 1927, with Balcon serving as Director of Production for both studios. While Gaumont-British, based at Lime Grove Studios, produced "quality" films, Gainsborough primarily focused on 'B' movies and melodramas at Islington Studios. Both studios utilized continental film practices, with notable figures such as Alfred Hitchcock, Elisabeth Bergner, and Conrad Veidt associated with them.


Studio Branding and Logo
The studio's opening logo featured a lady in Georgian costume, inspired by Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of Sarah Siddons, and was accompanied by a piece of music called the "Gainsborough Minuet," composed by Louis Levy. After Balcon's departure to MGM-British, the Rank Organisation took an interest in Gainsborough, leading to successful films like Oh, Mr Porter! (1937) and Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938). During World War II, the Islington site was deemed unsafe and production was temporarily moved to Lime Grove.


Gainsborough Melodramas
From 1943 to 1946, Gainsborough became known for its series of studio-bound costume melodramas, including The Man in Grey (1943), Madonna of the Seven Moons (1944), Fanny by Gaslight (1944), The Wicked Lady (1945), and Caravan (1946). These films featured leading British actors such as Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, and Stewart Granger. The studio also produced modern-dress comedies and melodramas like Love Story (1944) and Two Thousand Women (1944).


Later Productions and Closure
Later productions overseen by Betty Box included the neo-realist Holiday Camp (1947), Miranda (1948), and the Huggett family series. Displeased with the studio's performance, Rank closed Gainsborough in early 1949, concentrating production at Pinewood Studios. Although Gainsborough films continued briefly under the studio’s banner, no further releases occurred after 1951. The studio was revived in 1987 for the television film A Hazard of Hearts.


Demolition and Legacy
The Lime Grove site was taken over by the BBC in 1949 and used until 1991. The buildings were demolished in the early 1990s and replaced with housing known as Gaumont Terrace and Gainsborough Court. The former Islington Studios site, largely derelict after 1949, saw occasional art performances before being cleared in 2002. Apartments named Gainsborough Studios were built on the site in 2004, designed by architects Munkenbeck and Marshall.


List of Gainsborough Pictures Films

Introduction
This is a compilation of films produced by the British production company Gainsborough Pictures and its parent company Gaumont British from 1924 to 1950. Although the Gainsborough name was officially introduced in 1924, the company's founders had made films under a different name prior to that. Gaumont British, which acquired Gainsborough in the late 1920s, had also been producing films before this merger. The combined entity released a single slate of films each year.


Production and Distribution
After a financial crisis in 1936, Gaumont British halted production and shifted its focus to distribution. Despite this shift, films continued to be released under the Gainsborough banner. In its later years, Gainsborough was part of the Rank Organisation and was eventually shut down in 1950 as part of an economy measure.


Co-Productions and Contracts
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Gainsborough Pictures engaged in several co-productions with Continental companies, most notably with the German firm UFA. Additionally, the company produced films under contract for 20th Century-Fox and worked on projects with Sydney Box's Triton Films.


Film Listings
The list includes films produced by Gainsborough Pictures, its parent company Gaumont British, and their associated ventures during the specified period.


1920s

  • Claude Duval – April 1924, Directed by George A. Cooper

  • The Prude's Fall – May 1924, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Passionate Adventure – July 1924, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Eleventh Commandment – July 1924, Directed by George A. Cooper

  • The Happy Ending – January 1925, Directed by George A. Cooper

  • The Blackguard – March 1925, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Rat – August 1925, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • Settled Out of Court – October 1925, Directed by George A. Cooper

  • Somebody's Darling – November 1925, Directed by George A. Cooper

  • The Sea Urchin – January 1926, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Pleasure Garden – May 1926, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

  • London Love – July 1926, Directed by Manning Haynes

  • The Triumph of the Rat – September 1926, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Lodger – September 1926, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

  • The Mountain Eagle – September 1926, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

  • Mademoiselle from Armentieres – September 1926, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Hindle Wakes – February 1927, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Blighty – March 1927, Directed by Norman Walker

  • The Queen Was in the Parlour – April 1927, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • Roses of Picardy – April 1927, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Downhill – May 1927, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

  • The Rolling Road – May 1927, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Glad Eye – June 1927, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Easy Virtue – July 1927, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

  • Ghost Train – July 1927, Directed by Géza von Bolváry

  • The Vortex – September 1927, Directed by Adrian Brunel

  • A Sister to Assist 'Er – September 1927, Directed by George Dewhurst

  • The Flight Commander – September 1927, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • A Woman in Pawn – October 1927, Directed by Edwin Greenwood

  • The Arcadians – October 1927, Directed by Victor Saville

  • One of the Best – November 1927, Directed by Hayes Hunter

  • Quinneys – December 1927, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Sailors Don't Care – January 1928, Directed by William Kellino

  • The Constant Nymph – February 1928, Directed by Adrian Brunel

  • The Physician – May 1928, Directed by George Jacoby

  • Mademoiselle Parley Voo – June 1928, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • What Money Can Buy – July 1928, Directed by Edwin Greenwood

  • A South Sea Bubble – July 1928, Directed by Hayes Hunter

  • Palais de danse – July 1928, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • Smashing Through – October 1928, Directed by William Kellino

  • The Gallant Hussar – October 1928, Directed by Géza von Bolváry

  • The First Born – October 1928, Directed by Miles Mander

  • You Know What Sailors Are – November 1928, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • The Wrecker – December 1928, Directed by Géza von Bolváry

  • A Light Woman – December 1928, Directed by Adrian Brunel

  • The Lady of the Lake – December 1928, Directed by James A. Fitzpatrick

  • Number Seventeen – December 1928, Directed by Géza von Bolváry

  • Balaclava – December 1928, Directed by Maurice Elvey, Milton Rosmer

  • The Return of the Rat – May 1929, Directed by Graham Cutts

  • The Crooked Billet – May 1929, Directed by Adrian Brunel

  • City of Play – July 1929, Directed by Denison Clift

  • Taxi for Two – July 1929, Directed by Denison Clift, Alexander Esway

  • High Treason – August 1929, Directed by Maurice Elvey

  • The Devil's Maze – August 1929, Directed by Gareth Gundrey

  • Woman to Woman – November 1929, Directed by Victor Saville

    1930s

    • Just for a Song – March 1930, Directed by Gareth Gundrey

    • Alf's Button – March 1930, Directed by William Kellino

    • The Night Porter – March 1930, Directed by Sewell Collins

    • Journey's End – April 1930, Directed by James Whale

    • Greek Street – May 1930, Directed by Sinclair Hill

    • Symphony in Two Flats – July 1930, Directed by Gareth Gundrey

    • The Great Game – September 1930, Directed by Jack Raymond

    • A Warm Corner – September 1930, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Bed and Breakfast – December 1930, Directed by Walter Forde

    • P.C. Josser – January 1931, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • Bracelets – February 1931, Directed by Sewell Collins

    • Third Time Lucky – February 1931, Directed by Walter Forde

    • The Stronger Sex – February 1931, Directed by Gareth Gundrey

    • The Sport of Kings – February 1931, Directed by Victor Saville

    • No Lady – May 1931, Directed by Lupino Lane

    • Down River – May 1931, Directed by Peter Godfrey

    • The Ringer – May 1931, Directed by Walter Forde

    • A Night in Montmartre – July 1931, Directed by Leslie Hiscott

    • The Hound of the Baskervilles – July 1931, Directed by Gareth Gundrey

    • The Man They Couldn't Arrest – August 1931, Directed by Hayes Hunter

    • The Ghost Train – September 1931, Directed by Walter Forde

    • The Happy Ending – October 1931, Directed by Millard Webb

    • Hindle Wakes – October 1931, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Michael and Mary – October 1931, Directed by Victor Saville

    • The Calendar – October 1931, Directed by Hayes Hunter

    • Sunshine Susie – December 1931, Directed by Victor Saville

    • A Gentleman of Paris – December 1931, Directed by Sinclair Hill

    • Congress Dances – December 1931, Directed by Erik Charell

    • Lord Babs – February 1932, Directed by Walter Forde

    • The Frightened Lady – March 1932, Directed by Hayes Hunter

    • The Faithful Heart – May 1932, Directed by Victor Saville

    • White Face – May 1932, Directed by Hayes Hunter

    • Jack's the Boy – June 1932, Directed by Walter Forde

    • Love on Wheels – July 1932, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Marry Me – October 1932, Directed by Wilhelm Thiele

    • Baroud – October 1932, Directed by Rex Ingram

    • Happy Ever After – October 1932, Directed by Paul Martin, Robert Stevenson

    • Tell Me Tonight – October 1932, Directed by Anatole Litvak

    • There Goes the Bride – October 1932, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • Rome Express – November 1932, Directed by Walter Forde

    • After the Ball – December 1932, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • The Midshipmaid – December 1932, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • The Man from Toronto – January 1933, Directed by Sinclair Hill

    • The Good Companions – March 1933, Directed by George Pearson

    • Soldiers of the King – March 1933, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • King of the Ritz – March 1933, Directed by Carmine Gallone

    • F.P.1 – April 1933, Directed by Karl Hartl

    • The Only Girl – May 1933, Directed by Friedrich Hollaender

    • Sleeping Car – June 1933, Directed by Anatole Litvak

    • Waltz Time – June 1933, Directed by William Thiele

    • The Lucky Number – June 1933, Directed by Anthony Asquith

    • It's a Boy – July 1933, Directed by Tim Whelan

    • Falling for You – July 1933, Directed by Jack Hulbert, Robert Stevenson

    • Britannia of Billingsgate – July 1933, Directed by Sinclair Hill

    • Orders Is Orders – July 1933, Directed by Walter Forde

    • Early to Bed – July 1933, Directed by Ludwig Berger

    • The Ghoul – August 1933, Directed by Hayes Hunter

    • I Was a Spy – August 1933, Directed by Victor Saville

    • The Fire Raisers – September 1933, Directed by Michael Powell

    • Just Smith – September 1933, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Channel Crossing – October 1933, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • A Cuckoo in the Nest – October 1933, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Friday the Thirteenth – November 1933, Directed by Victor Saville

    • The Constant Nymph – December 1933, Directed by Basil Dean

    • Aunt Sally – December 1933, Directed by Tim Whelan

    • Turkey Time – December 1933, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Jack Ahoy – February 1934, Directed by Walter Forde

    • The Night of the Party – February 1934, Directed by Michael Powell

    • Red Ensign – February 1934, Directed by Michael Powell

    • Waltzes from Vienna – February 1934, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Unfinished Symphony – March 1934, Directed by Willi Forst

    • The Battle – March 1934, Directed by Nicholas Farkas

    • Princess Charming – April 1934, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • Evergreen – April 1934, Directed by Victor Saville

    • A Cup of Kindness – May 1934, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Wild Boy – May 1934, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • Chu Chin Chow – July 1934, Directed by Walter Forde

    • My Song for You – August 1934, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • Little Friend – August 1934, Directed by Berthold Viertel

    • Evensong – October 1934, Directed by Victor Saville

    • My Old Dutch – October 1934, Directed by Sinclair Hill

    • The Camels are Coming – October 1934, Directed by Tim Whelan

    • Jew Süss – October 1934, Directed by Lothar Mendes

    • My Heart is Calling – December 1934, Directed by Carmine Gallone

    • Lady in Danger – December 1934, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Road House – December 1934, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • The Man Who Knew Too Much – December 1934, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Dirty Work – December 1934, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Temptation – December 1934, Directed by Max Neufeld

    • The Iron Duke – January 1935, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Things Are Looking Up – January 1935, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • The Phantom Light – January 1935, Directed by Michael Powell

    • Oh, Daddy! – February 1935, Directed by Graham Cutts

    • Fighting Stock – March 1935, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Heat Wave – May 1935, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • Bulldog Jack – May 1935, Directed by Walter Forde

    • Forever England – May 1935, Directed by Walter Forde

    • The 39 Steps – June 1935, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • The Divine Spark – June 1935, Directed by Carmine Gallone

    • The Clairvoyant – August 1935, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • Me and Marlborough – August 1935, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Stormy Weather – August 1935, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Boys Will Be Boys – August 1935, Directed by William Beaudine

    • Car of Dreams – September 1935, Directed by Graham Cutts

    • The Passing of the Third Floor Back – September 1935, Directed by Berthold Viertel

    • The Guv'nor – October 1935, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • First a Girl – November 1935, Directed by Victor Saville

    • The Tunnel – November 1935, Directed by Maurice Elvey

    • Foreign Affaires – December 1935, Directed by Tom Walls

    • King of the Damned – January 1935, Directed by Walter Forde

    • Jack of All Trades – February 1936, Directed by Jack Hulbert, Robert Stevenson

    • First Offence – March 1936, Directed by Herbert Mason

    • Rhodes of Africa – March 1936, Directed by Berthold Viertel

    • Pot Luck – April 1936, Directed by Tom Walls

    • Tudor Rose – May 1936, Directed by Robert Stevenson

    • It's Love Again – May 1936, Directed by Victor Saville

    • Secret Agent – May 1936, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Where There's a Will – June 1936, Directed by William Beaudine

    • Seven Sinners – July 1936, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • Everything Is Thunder – August 1936, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • East Meets West – September 1936, Directed by Herbert Mason

    • The Man Who Changed His Mind – September 1936, Directed by Robert Stevenson

    • Everybody Dance – October 1936, Directed by Charles Reisner

    • His Lordship – November 1936, Directed by Herbert Mason

    • All In – November 1936, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Strangers on Honeymoon – November 1936, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • Sabotage – December 1936, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Windbag the Sailor – December 1936, Directed by William Beaudine

    • The Flying Doctor – December 1936, Directed by Miles Mander

    • OHMS – January 1937, Directed by Raoul Walsh

    • Good Morning, Boys – February 1937, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Head Over Heels – February 1937, Directed by Sonnie Hale

    • The Great Barrier – February 1937, Directed by Milton Rosmer

    • O-Kay for Sound – April 1937, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Take My Tip – May 1937, Directed by Herbert Mason

    • King Solomon's Mines – July 1937, Directed by Robert Stevenson

    • Said O'Reilly to McNab – July 1937, Directed by William Beaudine

    • Gangway – August 1937, Directed by Sonnie Hale

    • Doctor Syn – August 1937, Directed by Roy William Neill

    • Non-Stop New York – September 1937, Directed by Robert Stevenson

    • Oh, Mr Porter! – October 1937, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Young and Innocent – November 1937, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Owd Bob – January 1938, Directed by Robert Stevenson

    • Bank Holiday – January 1938, Directed by Carol Reed

    • Sailing Along – February 1938, Directed by Sonnie Hale

    • Strange Boarders – June 1938, Directed by Herbert Mason

    • Convict 99 – June 1938, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Alf's Button Afloat – July 1938, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • The Lady Vanishes – September 1938, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

    • Hey! Hey! USA – October 1938, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Crackerjack – October 1938, Directed by Albert de Courville

    • Climbing High – December 1938, Directed by Carol Reed

    • Old Bones of the River – December 1938, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Ask a Policeman – May 1939, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • A Girl Must Live – May 1939, Directed by Carol Reed

    • Where's That Fire? – August 1939, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • The Frozen Limits – November 1939, Directed by Marcel Varnel

    • Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday – November 1939, Directed by Walter Forde

      1940s

      • Band Waggon – January 1940, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • They Came by Night – February 1940, Directed by Harry Lachman

      • For Freedom – April 1940, Directed by Maurice Elvey

      • Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt – April 1940, Directed by Walter Forde

      • Night Train to Munich – May 1940, Directed by Carol Reed

      • Girl in the News – August 1940, Directed by Carol Reed

      • Gasbags – November 1940, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • Neutral Port – November 1940, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • The Ghost Train – March 1941, Directed by Walter Forde

      • Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It – March 1941, Directed by Walter Forde

      • Kipps – March 1941, Directed by Carol Reed

      • Once a Crook – June 1941, Directed by Herbert Mason

      • Cottage to Let – August 1941, Directed by Anthony Asquith

      • I Thank You – September 1941, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • Hi Gang! – December 1941, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • Back-Room Boy – April 1942, Directed by Herbert Mason

      • The Young Mr. Pitt – June 1942, Directed by Carol Reed

      • Uncensored – July 1942, Directed by Anthony Asquith

      • King Arthur Was a Gentleman – December 1942, Directed by Marcel Varnel

      • It's That Man Again – February 1943, Directed by Walter Forde

      • We Dive at Dawn – April 1943, Directed by Anthony Asquith

      • Miss London Ltd. – May 1943, Directed by Val Guest

      • The Man in Grey – July 1943, Directed by Leslie Arliss

      • Dear Octopus – August 1943, Directed by Harold French

      • Millions Like Us – September 1943, Directed by Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder

      • Time Flies – February 1944, Directed by Walter Forde

      • Victory Wedding – 1944, Directed by Jessie Matthews

      • Bees in Paradise – March 1944, Directed by Val Guest

      • Fanny by Gaslight – May 1944, Directed by Anthony Asquith

      • Give Us the Moon – July 1944, Directed by Val Guest

      • Two Thousand Women – August 1944, Directed by Fran Launder

      • Love Story – October 1944, Directed by Leslie Arliss

      • Madonna of the Seven Moons – December 1944, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • Waterloo Road – January 1945, Directed by Sidney Gilliat

      • A Place of One's Own – March 1945, Directed by Bernard Knowles

      • They Were Sisters – April 1945, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • I'll Be Your Sweetheart – June 1945, Directed by Val Guest

      • The Wicked Lady – December 1945, Directed by Leslie Arliss

      • Caravan – April 1946, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • The Magic Bow – October 1946, Directed by Bernard Knowles

      • The Root of All Evil – February 1947, Directed by Brock Williams

      • The Man Within – April 1947, Directed by Bernard Knowles

      • The Brothers – May 1947, Directed by David MacDonald

      • Dear Murderer – June 1947, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • The Upturned Glass – June 1947, Directed by Lawrence Huntington

      • Holiday Camp – August 1947, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • Jassy – August 1947, Directed by Bernard Knowles

      • When the Bough Breaks – November 1947, Directed by Lawrence Huntington

      • Easy Money – January 1948, Directed by Bernard Knowles

      • Snowbound – March 1948, Directed by David MacDonald

      • Miranda – April 1948, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • Broken Journey – April 1948, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • Good-Time Girl – May 1948, Directed by David MacDonald

      • The Calendar – June 1948, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • My Brother's Keeper – July 1948, Directed by Alfred Roome

      • The Blind Goddess – September 1948, Directed by Harold French

      • Quartet – October 1948, Directed by Ken Annakin, Arthur Crabtree, Harold French, Ralph Smart

      • Here Come the Huggetts – November 1948, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • Portrait from Life – December 1948, Directed by Terence Fisher

      • Vote for Huggett – February 1949, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • The Bad Lord Byron – March 1949, Directed by David MacDonald

      • It's Not Cricket – April 1949, Directed by Alfred Roome

      • A Boy, a Girl and a Bike – April 1949, Directed by Ralph Smart

      • The Huggetts Abroad – May 1949, Directed by Ken Annakin

      • Marry Me! – June 1949, Directed by Terence Fisher

      • Christopher Columbus – June 1949, Directed by David MacDonald

      • Helter Skelter – July 1949, Directed by Ralph Thomas

      • Don't Ever Leave Me – July 1949, Directed by Arthur Crabtree

      • The Lost People – July 1949, Directed by Bernard Knowles, Muriel Box

      • Diamond City – October 1949, Directed by David MacDonald

      • Boys in Brown – December 1949, Directed by Montgomery Tully

      • Traveller's Joy – December 1949, Directed by Ralph Thomas

      1950s

      • The Astonished Heart – March 1950, Directed by Terence Fisher

      • So Long at the Fair – May 1950, Directed by Terence Fisher

      • Trio – July 1950, Directed by Ken Annakin, Harold French