Elstree Calling
An unofficial website dedicated to Elstree Studios
Box Office Blues:
By the early Seventies, cinema attendances were plummeting, and Elstree Studios faced huge challenges. I talked to just some of the many people who recall a time when sitcom spin-offs took off in popularity:
If the previous decades that spanned the history of Elstree Studios had presented great challenges to those working there, then the Seventies presented the biggest challenges ever.
When the nearby MGM-Borehamwood Studios closed at the start of the decade, the company said it would instead pay a yearly subsidy to the EMI-Elstree Studios, in return for the use of its facilities.
Recalling the point at which the closure of the MGM-Borehamwood Studios was imminent, Bryan Forbes said: "EMI merged with MGM when Jim Aubrey was chief executive.
"I was made chief executive of the join company and had to inform the MGM-Borehamood Studios (probably the best in Europe at the time) that it was to close in two weeks' time and that everyvody would be laid off. I tried to prevent it, but was overriled."
With the merger came a name change to EMI-MGM Elstree Studios.
As cinemas attendances fell at an alarming rate at the start of the Seventies, it was ironic that that TV programmes would be the inspiration for a brief surge in box office takings.
In 1971, Hammer Films best-known for its horror films, made the first of three On the Buses spin-off films at EMI-MGM. Reg Varney, who played Stan Butlerm and worked with Bob Grant, who played Jack Harper, recalled working on the film.
He said "The budget was very small. To save money, I drove around the cast, crew and equipment required for the filming of location work in the Borehamwood area on a route master bus used in the film."
Among other sitcom spin-offs made at Elstree that decade were Up Pompeii, Love Thy Neighbour, For the Love of Ada and Man About the House.
In 2007, actor Roy Hudd, who appeared with comic Frankie Howerd in two of the Ned Sherrin-produced films, Up Pompeii and Up the Chastity Belt, told me: "I was overawed working at Elstree - thinking about the great people who had made films there. I thought how down-hill the place had gone by employing me."
Actor Jonathan Cecil enjoyed working on the final part of the Up trilogy. He said: "I worked at Elstree in 1972 and got the part after being spotted by the producer of the film, Ned Sherrin.
"On the first day of filming I received a lovely telegram from Ned saying, 'welcome aboard'.
"Up the Front starred Frankie Howerd, and I became very good friends with him. The film also included appearances by Zsa Zsa Gabor, who played Mata Hari, and Stanley Holloway, who played the Great Vincento, a role meant for actor Vincent Price, who was too busy at the time.
"During an end-of-film party in the restaurant at Elstree, the cast of Mutiny on the Buses (who were also filming at the studios) turned up.
"Elstree was a marvellous, professional studios. I am very lucky to have worked there."
My special thanks go to Reg Varney, Roy Hudd and Jonathan Cecil for their time and help.
© Paul Burton 2008
Please do not use any part of this article without first contacting Paul Burton to request permission.