Robert Clark (film executive)
Robert Clark (1905-1984) was a Scottish film executive best known for being head of production at Associated British Picture Corporation in the late 1940s and 1950s. It was a successful time for the company, films including The Dam Busters (1955).[1]
Among Clark's achievements were negotiating a contract with Warner Bros[2] and signing Audrey Hepburn[3] and Richard Todd to long term contracts before they were stars. He also financed early films of J. Lee Thompson and Michael Anderson.
In 1949 he announced ABPC would make ten films at a total cost of ₤2 million.[4] He was heavily reliant on the choices of his scenario director, Frederick Gotfurt. Clark lost nearly £530,000 on production in his first two years in charge and recouped only £330,000 in distribution. He reduced production costs by remaking old company properties, co-financing with the NFFC and going into co productions.[5]
According to writers Sue Harper and Vince Porter, the films which Clark had the most personal interest were The Dam Busters (1955), The Good Companions (1957) and The Moonraker (1958).[6] He was removed from his position as head of production in January 1958 after a series of clashes with Warner Bros and was replaced with C.J. Latta.
Select Films Under Clark's Regime
- The Hasty Heart (1949)
- Happy Go Lovely (1950)
- Last Holiday (1950)
- Portrait of Clare (1950)
- The Franchise Affair (1950)
- Angels One Five (1951)
- Young Wives' Tale (1951)
- The Woman's Angle (1952)
- The Yellow Balloon (1952)
- Father's Doing Fine (1952)
- Knave of Hearts (1954)
- The Weak and the Wicked (1954)
- It's Great to be Young (1956)
- Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958)
- Ice Cold in Alex (1958)
References
- ^ "The Robert Clark Account: Films released in Britain by Associated British Pictures, British Lion, MGM, and Warner Bros., 1946‐1957" by Vincent Porter, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television Vol. 20, Iss. 4, 2000
- ^ "Latest Gossip From Film Worlds". The Newcastle Sun. No. 9798. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1949. p. 10. Retrieved 10 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Her Fluttering Eyelashes Brought Her Fame". The World's News. No. 2638. New South Wales, Australia. 12 July 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 10 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ BRITISH FIRM TO MAKE 10 MAJOR FILMS IN '49 Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 25 Feb 1949: 27.
- ^ Harper and Porter p 77-78
- ^ British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference By Sue Harper, Vincent Porter p 76
External links
- Robert Clark at IMDB
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