A book published this week marks the debt of the Hollywood film industry to the forgotten British pioneers who helped establish it.

 Dr Ian Scott from The University of Manchester says the early British filmmakers’ contribution has been unfairly neglected by movie historians and Hollywood itself.

The research, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), highlights long-forgotten names such as David Horsley, J Stuart Blackton, Charles Brabin, and Reginald Barker.

Despite playing a pivotal role in the birth of Hollywood, each died in obscurity - sometimes penniless.

Durham born Horsely, for example, died a penniless and broken man years after he established the first Hollywood studio – a remarkable but unheralded achievement says Dr Scott in From Pinewood to Hollywood, British filmmakers in American Cinema 1910 to 1969.

And the Scot Reginald Barker, a huge name who directed over 150 feature films, ended his days running a gift shop.

He was so obscure, Barker’s death had been mistakenly reported in 1938, seven years earlier than its actual date– according to Dr Scott’s research.

Dr Scott said: “Hollywood came about thanks to the people who arrived in California with little cash, reputation or fanfare – and many came from Britain.

“Today the work of some of Hollywood’s most stylish exponents still come from Britain. But actually, their outlook isn’t that different from their predecessors 70, 80 or even 90 years ago. It is time we recognised this important contribution.”

According to Dr Scott, the fledgling movie making industry attracted talent from all over the world because of the many job opportunities and high wages offered by Hollywood for those with and without experience in the film industry.

Hollywood also had bigger budgets, more actors and better creative talent – still a factor in attracting British émigrés today.

But it was the common language and culture which gave the British invaders the edge over other foreigners.

END

Notes for editors

From Pinewood to Hollywood, British filmmakers in American Cinema 1910 to 1969 is published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Dr Scott conducted his research at the  Warner Brothers Archive and the Film and TV Library at the University of Southern California, as well as the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Los Angeles.

Media Contact

Media Contact: Jake Gilmore, AHRC Communications Manager; T: 0797 099 4586,
E: j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £112 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.