Ealing Studios in west London are probably best known for their series of British black comedies but produced a wide range of genre of films. It attracted a wide range of talent from writer, to directors ato actors all who contributed to the success of the studio. From 1938 to 1955 Ealing Studios reflected how Britain saw itself in those years through and coming out of the second world war and the scocail changes this involved.
Ealing studios was formed in 1902 and the first Shakespeare film was made here. Michael Balkan took over the studio in 1938 and built up was was a relatively small studio and created a community of film makers. He ran it though to 1955. Many of the films were about seemilgly insignificant individuals and about community. They created a style that was both comedy and also anti-establishment, challening the old order of society.
Michael Balcon was at the heart of the influence of Ealing Studios on British cinema, creating 95 films in 20 years. He was the first person to work with Alfred Hitchcock and produced
The 39 Steps. He moved the films into the field of more social realism rather than traditional adaptaions. These had a dpcumentary tsyle and were more aimed at the general audience rather than an elitist audience.
In those early post war years they started to film outside on location, inlcuding the bomb sites that gave their films a realism that people could realte to. In films like Hue And Cry it is the children that are part of the focus. They also had a sense of being anti-establishment, that is found partiularly found in the comedies. These comedies are not prat falls or stand up, laugh out loud comedies but more about topsy turvy, upside down world. Many of the actors were character actors rather than joke telling players. Alec Guiness being the classic example of this as exemplified in Kind Hearts And Coronets. The actors played their characters straight and the comedy came out of the situations that they found themselves in, which could be both realistic and absurd.
Many of the films were swipes at the old social order and standing up for fairness as seen by the little man facing up to major challenges and winning through. They show the inconsistencies in British society, but they also have an ethical purpose.
Whilst Ealing was known for these comedies, it also produced a wide range of films including The Cruel Sea, The Blue Lamp,
Scott of the Antarctic and
Dead of Night.
