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Anglo-Amalgamated

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Anglo-Amalgamated
IndustryFilm production
Film distribution
Founded1945
Defunct1971
FateAbsorbed into EMI Films
SuccessorAnglo-EMI Film Distributors
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Key people
Nat Cohen
Stuart Levy
DivisionsAnglo Amalgamated Film Distributors

Anglo-Amalgamated Productions was a British film production company, run by Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy, which operated from 1945 until roughly 1971 (after which it was absorbed into EMI Films). Low-budget and second features, often produced at Merton Park Studios, formed much of its output. It was the UK distributor of many films produced by American International Pictures (AIP), who distributed AA's films in the United States.[1][2][3]

It is remembered for producing the first 12 Carry On films (all of which were produced at Pinewood Studios) and B-movie series such as The Scales of Justice, Scotland Yard and the Edgar Wallace Mysteries. It also produced the Michael Powell film Peeping Tom (1960) and such films as John Schlesinger's A Kind of Loving (1962), Billy Liar (1963) or Ken Loach's Poor Cow (1967).

The company's distribution arrangement with American International Pictures led to the last two films in Roger Corman's series of films based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia (both 1964), being joint productions made in the UK. AA's film distribution subsidiary was Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd. Anglo had a film production arm called Insignia Films.

History

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Cohen and Levy were both cinema owners and Cohen sold some of his cinemas to Levy. They decided to go into business together as Anglo-Amalgmated. The company began as a distributor, putting out some Hal Roach re-issues and documentaries. They then signed a deal with American Leasing Corporation to distribute some American films in Britain.[2]

In 1951, the company moved into production with Assassin for Hire. This was made at Merton Park Studios, starting a close relationship between those studios and Anglo.[2]

Anglo Amalgmated expanded into more expensive features with The Sleeping Tiger, which also marked the beginning of a close relationship with producer Julian Wintle. The company had a huge hit with The Tommy Steele Story in 1957. Another profitable association was with producer Peter Rodgers who made the Carry On films.[2]

In 1959 Kinematograph Weekly wrote "Anglo is acknowledged as Britain’s largest independent distribution company, a success story which rates high even by spectacular Wardour Street standards." The magazine claimed this success was "based on two factors - an unfailing showmanlike flair for catching the public's eye and, just as important, a knack for surrounding themselves with people as enthusiastic as themselves... They have an approving eye for the ingenious; a snort of distaste for the precious."[2] (The same article mentions that Anglo intended to make an expensive international movie about the D-Day landings but this does not appear to have happened.[2])

In 1962, Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) purchased 50% of the shares of Anglo Amalgamated.[4][5] In 1967 they took over 74%.[6]

At its peak Anglo Amalgamated made a return of £3 million a year.[7]

Its library is now owned by StudioCanal via Lumiere Pictures and Television.[8]

Selected credits

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References

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  1. ^ "Anglo has plenty of good films". Kine Weekly. 19 September 1957. p. 18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The Anglo Amalgamated Story". Kine Weekly. 31 December 1959. p. 4-5.
  3. ^ "Anglo backs largest independent line up". 11 May 1961. p. 87. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. ^ "Company Meeting: Associated British Picture Corporation". The Spectator. 16 August 1962. p. 25. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  5. ^ "A.B. Pictures Acquire 50% Of Anglo Amalgamated." Times [London, England] 5 Apr. 1962: 21. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 April 2014
  6. ^ "Associated British Picture Corporation." Sunday Times [London, England] 3 September 1967: 44. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 29 March 2014.
  7. ^ "BUSINESS diary." Times [London, England] 28 March 1969: 31. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 April 2014.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (17 December 2012). "Network Distributing acquires rights to 450 films from StudioCanal library". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
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