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Timeline
1970 Strangers and Brothers, Maggie Smith, Forysthe Saga, 231 million TV sets
In the Year of Wilson:
- CP Snow publishes final volume of Strangers and Brothers
- Golda Meir visits London
- Maggie Smith emerges as a film and TV personality
- Forysthe Saga, televised on BBC, gains worldwide popularity
- De Gaulle dies
- Films noted by general history: Catch-22 (Nichols), Topaz (Hitchcock), Woodstock (Wadleigh)
- TV sets in use throughout the world hit 231 million
1971 A Clockwork Orange, no mail for 47 days, Preventive detention
- Rolls Royce declares bankruptcy.
- In Switzerland women are granted right to vote.
- 'Preventive detention' used in Northern Ireland
- E.M.Forster publishes Maurice (posthumously)
- Postal strike leaves Britons without mail for 47 days
- Films noted by general history: A Clockwork Orange (Kubrick), The French Connection (Friedkin), The Conformist (Bertolucci)
January:
A property company, Redspring Ltd, purchased Bray Studios from Hammer Films, Columbia and EMI.
March:
Bryan Forbes gave up his job as head of production and managing director for EMI at Elstree Studios - his contract was not due to expire until April 1972.
May:
EMI Elstree Studios Ltd took over control of Elstree Studios from EMI Film Productions Ltd. Home Secretary introduced amendments to the Cinematograph Acts which would severely restrict the showing of uncensored films by club cinemas - these were later dropped.
June:
National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC) given £l million of the £5 million designated for its use by an Act of Parliament passed in 1970 by the previous Labour Government.
A property company, Redspring Ltd, purchased Bray Studios from Hammer Films, Columbia and EMI.
March:
Bryan Forbes gave up his job as head of production and managing director for EMI at Elstree Studios - his contract was not due to expire until April 1972.
May:
EMI Elstree Studios Ltd took over control of Elstree Studios from EMI Film Productions Ltd. Home Secretary introduced amendments to the Cinematograph Acts which would severely restrict the showing of uncensored films by club cinemas - these were later dropped.
June:
National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC) given £l million of the £5 million designated for its use by an Act of Parliament passed in 1970 by the previous Labour Government.
July 1:
Stephen Murphy replaced John Trevelyan as Secretary of the British Board of Film Censors.
October:
British Lion was the subject of a reverse take-over bid from Star Associated Holdings, Britain's biggest bingo operators - the asking price was £9.5 million. The take-over was never completed -see April 1972.
October 3:
Columbia-Warner Distributors Ltd, the joint outlet for the two American majors, commenced operation.
October 4:
The National Film School opened at Beaconsfield Studios with 25 founder students.
Stephen Murphy replaced John Trevelyan as Secretary of the British Board of Film Censors.
October:
British Lion was the subject of a reverse take-over bid from Star Associated Holdings, Britain's biggest bingo operators - the asking price was £9.5 million. The take-over was never completed -see April 1972.
October 3:
Columbia-Warner Distributors Ltd, the joint outlet for the two American majors, commenced operation.
October 4:
The National Film School opened at Beaconsfield Studios with 25 founder students.
1972 EEC, All the Family, Munich Olympics
- Ireland, Britain and Demark agree to full membership in the EEC
- Summer Olympics in Munich
- 47 Day Coal Strike
- Margaret Rutherford, George Sanders and Cecil Day Lewis die, as does
- Duke of Windsor, Max Fleischer (the cartoonist who created Popeye) and Edward J Hoover.
- All in the Family is the leading US TV Show
- Sylvia Plath publishes Winter Tree (posthumously)
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- Films noted by general history: Cabaret (Fosse), Frenzy (Hitchcock), The Godfather (F.Coppola), The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise (Bunuel)
January:
Laurie Marsh's Tigon Group bought the Essoldo chain of 56 cinemas for £4.3 million.
March 29:
Lord Rank died.
April:
£5.45 million offer from John Bentley's Karclay Securities was accepted by the Board of British Lion.
June 1:
The National Film Finance Consortium through which the National Film Finance Corporation hoped to finance films in partnership with merchant banks and other groups in the private sector was formally launched.
September;
My Childhood, directed bv Bill Douglas and financed by the BFI Production Board, was awarded the Silver Lion of St Mark for the Best First Feature Film at the Venice Film Festival.
Laurie Marsh's Tigon Group bought the Essoldo chain of 56 cinemas for £4.3 million.
March 29:
Lord Rank died.
April:
£5.45 million offer from John Bentley's Karclay Securities was accepted by the Board of British Lion.
June 1:
The National Film Finance Consortium through which the National Film Finance Corporation hoped to finance films in partnership with merchant banks and other groups in the private sector was formally launched.
September;
My Childhood, directed bv Bill Douglas and financed by the BFI Production Board, was awarded the Silver Lion of St Mark for the Best First Feature Film at the Venice Film Festival.
October 1:
British Lion began handling its own marketing following the termination of its sale and distribution agreement with Columbia.
November:
After protracted discussions over the future of Shepperton Studios, the NFFC and Lion International reached a compromise whereby 40 acres were to be developed and 20 acres kept for film production.
December 3:
Following the merger of the Rank Organisation's and Twentieth Century-Fox's distribution interests, Fox-Rank Distributors started operation.
British Lion began handling its own marketing following the termination of its sale and distribution agreement with Columbia.
November:
After protracted discussions over the future of Shepperton Studios, the NFFC and Lion International reached a compromise whereby 40 acres were to be developed and 20 acres kept for film production.
December 3:
Following the merger of the Rank Organisation's and Twentieth Century-Fox's distribution interests, Fox-Rank Distributors started operation.
1973 Common Market, Arab-Israeli fighting, Academy awards to Godfather & Cabaret
- Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark formally join the Common Market
- Fighting breaks out between Arab-Israeli
- Tolkein dies
- Academy Awards to The Godfather & Cabaret
- John Ford dies
- Nobel Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger
- Films noted by general history: Last Tango in Paris (Bertolucci), Sleeper (Woody Allen)
January:
Cinema International Corporation (CIC), formed to distribute Paramount and Universal
January 1:
Amendment SI 1972 no.1926 which amended quota regulations so that films from EEC member states would count as British quota came into force. films throughout the world, started operating in Britain.
June 30:
Ernest Lindgren O.B.E the founding Curator of the National Film Archive, retired after 39 years at the bfi.
July:
The Independent Film Distributors Association (IFDA) was formed 'to give the best possible service and to ensure the maximum coverage for worthwhile films'.
Cinema International Corporation (CIC), formed to distribute Paramount and Universal
January 1:
Amendment SI 1972 no.1926 which amended quota regulations so that films from EEC member states would count as British quota came into force. films throughout the world, started operating in Britain.
June 30:
Ernest Lindgren O.B.E the founding Curator of the National Film Archive, retired after 39 years at the bfi.
July:
The Independent Film Distributors Association (IFDA) was formed 'to give the best possible service and to ensure the maximum coverage for worthwhile films'.
August:
Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians (ACTT) published Nationalising the Film Industry which recommended nationalisation without compensation and workers' control.
September:
The 479 employees of Elstree Studios were informed of its likely closure, following the withdrawal of MGM's £175,000 participation in the Studios' upkeep.
November:
Union agreement to the workforce at Elstree Studios being cut to 256 averted the proposed closure.
Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians (ACTT) published Nationalising the Film Industry which recommended nationalisation without compensation and workers' control.
September:
The 479 employees of Elstree Studios were informed of its likely closure, following the withdrawal of MGM's £175,000 participation in the Studios' upkeep.
November:
Union agreement to the workforce at Elstree Studios being cut to 256 averted the proposed closure.
1974 Parliament bombed, Nuclear tests, Watergate, Wilson back, Glenda Jackson
- Ali floats like butterfly stings like bee to defeat Foreman in Zaire
- Patty Hearst joins her kidnappers
- Skylab - 84 days in space
- No Pultizer prizes in literature or drama awarded this year
- The Tower of London and Houses of Parliament are bombed
- Nuclear tests conducted by Great Britain France & China
- Watergate
- Wilson's in again
- AT & T, US's biggest private employer bans discrimination against homosexuals
- Films noted by general history: Godfather part II; The Sting (Hill, 1973) wins Academy Award for best picture; Glenda Jackson (best actress).for Touch of Class (Frank)
January:
EMI formed its own distribution division called EMI Film Distributors, following the dissolution of MGM-EMI Distributors. CIC took over the distribution of MGM films.
May:
Lew Grade announced his plan to produce a minimum of six films a year with £6 million to be spent in the first year.
June:
After months of uncertainty and reports that Shepperton Studios would close down, British Lion announced that the Studios would continue operation, but they would be streamlined and run by a permanent staff of 70.
EMI formed its own distribution division called EMI Film Distributors, following the dissolution of MGM-EMI Distributors. CIC took over the distribution of MGM films.
May:
Lew Grade announced his plan to produce a minimum of six films a year with £6 million to be spent in the first year.
June:
After months of uncertainty and reports that Shepperton Studios would close down, British Lion announced that the Studios would continue operation, but they would be streamlined and run by a permanent staff of 70.
June:
Following the screening of Jules Buck's The Ruling Class on BBC TV, the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association (CEA) recommended its members black all future films made by the producer.
July:
The Association of Directors and Producers (ADP) was formed with the primary objective of pressing for the rights of production staff in television and feature films.
November:
The Independent Film-makers Association (IFA) was formed to provide a 'forum and voice for independent cinema'.
Following the screening of Jules Buck's The Ruling Class on BBC TV, the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association (CEA) recommended its members black all future films made by the producer.
July:
The Association of Directors and Producers (ADP) was formed with the primary objective of pressing for the rights of production staff in television and feature films.
November:
The Independent Film-makers Association (IFA) was formed to provide a 'forum and voice for independent cinema'.
1975 Thatcher Tory leader, Fighting in Beirut, Jaws
- Thatcher becomes leader of Tories
- Rugby (the school) accepts co-eds for first time in its 408 years
- Fighting in Beirut
- US marks start of American Bicentennial
- Musicians strike on Broadway for 25 days
- Britain's inflation rate jumps to 25%
- OPEC oil price rises
- Films noted by general history: Jaws (Spielberg), Nashville (Altman), Sunshine Boys (Burns)
January 30:
A co-production treaty with the Federal Republic of Germany was signed.
February:
EMI announced large scale cuts to be implemented at Elstree Studios - six out of the nine stages to be closed and 213 workers to be made redundant, leaving a permanent staff of 48.
May:
Lew Grade announced he intended to produce ten productions over the next twelve months.
August:
Sir Harold Wilson, the then Prime Minister, authorized a Working Party, under the chairmanship of Sir John Terry, to look into the future needs of the British film industry.
September:
James Ferman became the new Secretary of the British Board of Film Censors.
A co-production treaty with the Federal Republic of Germany was signed.
February:
EMI announced large scale cuts to be implemented at Elstree Studios - six out of the nine stages to be closed and 213 workers to be made redundant, leaving a permanent staff of 48.
May:
Lew Grade announced he intended to produce ten productions over the next twelve months.
August:
Sir Harold Wilson, the then Prime Minister, authorized a Working Party, under the chairmanship of Sir John Terry, to look into the future needs of the British film industry.
September:
James Ferman became the new Secretary of the British Board of Film Censors.
September 12:
A co-production treaty with Canada was signed.
October:
Lew Grade's Associated Television Corporation (ATC) together with General Cinema Corporation of Boston, one of America's most important cinema circuits, formed Associated General Films. AGF was to make films financed on a 50/50 basis by the two parent companies and the participation of GCC guaranteed a US release.
November 12:
Royal consent was given to the Cinematograph Films Act 1975 under which a National Film Development Fund, of initially £200,000 a year, was set up to finance script development and other pre-production work.
A co-production treaty with Canada was signed.
October:
Lew Grade's Associated Television Corporation (ATC) together with General Cinema Corporation of Boston, one of America's most important cinema circuits, formed Associated General Films. AGF was to make films financed on a 50/50 basis by the two parent companies and the participation of GCC guaranteed a US release.
November 12:
Royal consent was given to the Cinematograph Films Act 1975 under which a National Film Development Fund, of initially £200,000 a year, was set up to finance script development and other pre-production work.
1976 £ falls, Wilson resigns, British Film Authority
- Value of £ falls
- Nobel Prize for Lit: Saul Bellow (US)
- Seychelles (former British colon) declares its Independence
- Wilson resigns; Callaghan succeeds him
- Montereal Summer Olympics - 32 African & Asian countries withdraw over political issues
- Stoppard's Travesties
- Fritz Lang dies, as does Alastair Sim
- Films noted by general history: All the President's Men (Pakula), Taxi Driver (Scorcese), Rocky (Avilden), Face to Face (?)
January:
Future of the Film Industry; Report on the Prime Minister's Working Party was presented to Parliament. The 39 recommendations included the formation of a British Film Authority.
February:
The first meeting of the Association of Independent Producers (AIP) which was formed to )encourage production of films and to broaden the base of finance and exhibition beyond that which is currently available to filmmakers), took place.
February:
Raymond Blackburn lost his High Court claim that the GLC had wrongly delegated its film censorship powers to BBFC.
March:
Sir Harold Wilson announced that the Government was to make £2.37 million immediately available to NFFC.
March:
The Court of Appeal ruled film distributors could not be prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 (appeal resulted from case brought against United Artists for distributing Last Tango in Paris).
Future of the Film Industry; Report on the Prime Minister's Working Party was presented to Parliament. The 39 recommendations included the formation of a British Film Authority.
February:
The first meeting of the Association of Independent Producers (AIP) which was formed to )encourage production of films and to broaden the base of finance and exhibition beyond that which is currently available to filmmakers), took place.
February:
Raymond Blackburn lost his High Court claim that the GLC had wrongly delegated its film censorship powers to BBFC.
March:
Sir Harold Wilson announced that the Government was to make £2.37 million immediately available to NFFC.
March:
The Court of Appeal ruled film distributors could not be prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 (appeal resulted from case brought against United Artists for distributing Last Tango in Paris).
April:
40th anniversary of Denham Studios.
May:
Humphries Holding Group bought Twickenham Studios for £360,000.
August:
EMI took over British Lion having completed its purchase of the latter's issued share capital - details o£ the take-over announced in May.
September 30:
40th anniversary of the official opening ceremony of Pinewood Studios.
December 28:
50th anniversary of Elstree Studios which were ready to go into production on 28 December 1928.
40th anniversary of Denham Studios.
May:
Humphries Holding Group bought Twickenham Studios for £360,000.
August:
EMI took over British Lion having completed its purchase of the latter's issued share capital - details o£ the take-over announced in May.
September 30:
40th anniversary of the official opening ceremony of Pinewood Studios.
December 28:
50th anniversary of Elstree Studios which were ready to go into production on 28 December 1928.
1977 Queen Elizabeth I Silver Jubilee, Tenerife air disaster, Star Wars, Annie Hall
- World's worst air disaster to date - Tenerife
- Elvis is dead! Also Anthony Eden, Peter Finch, Bing Crosby and Chaplin.
- British scientist note for the first time that they have determined the "complete" genetic structure of a living organism
- Films noted by general history: Star Wars (Lucas), Julia (Zinnemann), Saturday Night Fever (Badham), Annie Hall (Allen)
January 31:
Rank and Twentieth Century Fox reverted to separate operations for sales and publicity.
April:
The National Film Archive started on a 24-year programme of transferring its holdings of rapidly decomposing nitrate film on to safety stock.
April 29:
An Interim Action Committee of 18, representing various branches of the film industry, was formed to advise the Secretary of State for Trade on the achievement of a viable and prosperous British film industry over the next decade.
May:
Lord Grade announced a $125 million production package at the Cannes Film Festival.
May 15:
Herbert Wilcox died.
July 13:
Williams Committee was appointed to "review the laws concerning obscenity, indecency and violence in publications, displays and entertainments in England and Wales, except in the field of broadcasting, and to review the arrangements for film censorship in England and Wales, and to make recommendations.
Rank and Twentieth Century Fox reverted to separate operations for sales and publicity.
April:
The National Film Archive started on a 24-year programme of transferring its holdings of rapidly decomposing nitrate film on to safety stock.
April 29:
An Interim Action Committee of 18, representing various branches of the film industry, was formed to advise the Secretary of State for Trade on the achievement of a viable and prosperous British film industry over the next decade.
May:
Lord Grade announced a $125 million production package at the Cannes Film Festival.
May 15:
Herbert Wilcox died.
July 13:
Williams Committee was appointed to "review the laws concerning obscenity, indecency and violence in publications, displays and entertainments in England and Wales, except in the field of broadcasting, and to review the arrangements for film censorship in England and Wales, and to make recommendations.
July 29:
Obscene Publications Act 1959 was amended to including showing, projecting and distributing films.
August:
Most of the £2.37 million promised by Sir Harold Wilson to NFFC was taken back as interest repayment or frozen until April 1978 following a change of government.
October:
Twickenham Studios were taken over by Film Location Facilities.
October 16:
Sir Michael Balcon died. November: 21st Anniversary of the London Film Festival.
December 24:
The partnership between General Cinema Corporation and Associated Television Corporation, which resulted in the formation of Associated General Films, was dissolved
Obscene Publications Act 1959 was amended to including showing, projecting and distributing films.
August:
Most of the £2.37 million promised by Sir Harold Wilson to NFFC was taken back as interest repayment or frozen until April 1978 following a change of government.
October:
Twickenham Studios were taken over by Film Location Facilities.
October 16:
Sir Michael Balcon died. November: 21st Anniversary of the London Film Festival.
December 24:
The partnership between General Cinema Corporation and Associated Television Corporation, which resulted in the formation of Associated General Films, was dissolved
1978 Pope Paul VI dies, Last Carry on film, Oil spill
- US Coal Strike ends on 110th day
- Amoco Cadiz oil spill off France
- Pope Paul VI dies.
- Annie Hall cleans up at Academy Awards
- Argentina wins football World Cup.
- Iris Murdoch publishes The Sea The Sea.
- Films noted by general history: Grease (Kleiser), The Deer Hunter (Cimino), National Lampoon's Animal House (Landis )
January:
Proposals for the setting up of a British Film Authority: 1st Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
March 28:
ITC Film Distributors commenced trading.
May:
Lord Grade announced $120 million film package at the Cannes Film Festival.
June:
The National Film Archive took over Hendersons Laboratory.
June:
ATC purchased the Los Angeles based company Marble Arch, which made television films and series, for $14 million.
July:
The Protection of Children Act 1978 made it an offence to take, distribute or show indecent photographs of children under 16.
Proposals for the setting up of a British Film Authority: 1st Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
March 28:
ITC Film Distributors commenced trading.
May:
Lord Grade announced $120 million film package at the Cannes Film Festival.
June:
The National Film Archive took over Hendersons Laboratory.
June:
ATC purchased the Los Angeles based company Marble Arch, which made television films and series, for $14 million.
July:
The Protection of Children Act 1978 made it an offence to take, distribute or show indecent photographs of children under 16.
July 2:
Columbia-Warner and EMI combined to form a joint distribution outfit, Columbia-EMIWarner Distributors Ltd.
August 11:
A ballot of the two technicians' unions showed 76% of the Association of Broadcasting Staffs (ABS) and 52% of ACTT members were in favour of amalgamation. (See October 1979)
September 14:
Associated Television Corporation changed its name to Associated Communication Corporation (ACC) which was felt to be more in keeping with the company's increasingly diversified activities.
November:
ACC and EMI combined to form Associated Film Distribution (AFD), a major new distribution company in the US and Canada
Columbia-Warner and EMI combined to form a joint distribution outfit, Columbia-EMIWarner Distributors Ltd.
August 11:
A ballot of the two technicians' unions showed 76% of the Association of Broadcasting Staffs (ABS) and 52% of ACTT members were in favour of amalgamation. (See October 1979)
September 14:
Associated Television Corporation changed its name to Associated Communication Corporation (ACC) which was felt to be more in keeping with the company's increasingly diversified activities.
November:
ACC and EMI combined to form Associated Film Distribution (AFD), a major new distribution company in the US and Canada
1979 Enter Thatcher - rejects devolution in Scotland & Wales, Colonies declare Independance
- Rejection of Labour's plans for devolution in Scotland and Wales and, bingo: enter Thatcher,
- Peter Shaffer's Amadeus play and William Golding's Darkness Visible
- Jean Rhys dies, as does John Wayne, Gracie Fields and Barnes Wallis
- St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines declare Independence from Britain
- Borg wins Wimbledon for the fourth time
- Sebastian Coe cleans up world records on 800m & 1500m
- Deer Hunter wins the Academy Award.
- Sir Anthony Blunt is unmasked as the fourth man in Burgess/Maclean/Philby spy scandal and is stripped of his knighthood
- Films noted by general history: Manhattan (Allen), Apocalypse Now (FCC), Being There (Kramer)
January:
Mamoun Hassan became Managing Director of the MFFC following the retirement of Sir John Terry.
January 26:
Detailed figures of payments made by the BFFA from the Eady Levy were published for the first time, appearing in Trade and Industry.
February:
Lord Grade acquired the Classic Cinema chain.
February 8:
As a result of judgement in the case of Spelling-Goldberg vs BPC Publishing, stills taken from the frames of a moving picture were no longer protected by the Copyright Act 1956 (see February 1980).
Mamoun Hassan became Managing Director of the MFFC following the retirement of Sir John Terry.
January 26:
Detailed figures of payments made by the BFFA from the Eady Levy were published for the first time, appearing in Trade and Industry.
February:
Lord Grade acquired the Classic Cinema chain.
February 8:
As a result of judgement in the case of Spelling-Goldberg vs BPC Publishing, stills taken from the frames of a moving picture were no longer protected by the Copyright Act 1956 (see February 1980).
June:
The Financing of the British Film Industry: 2nd Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
July:
Samuelsons opened the Production Village.
October:
In a second ballot of ACTT members on the proposed amalgamation with ABS, 7,108 voted against and 2,010 for.
The Financing of the British Film Industry: 2nd Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
July:
Samuelsons opened the Production Village.
October:
In a second ballot of ACTT members on the proposed amalgamation with ABS, 7,108 voted against and 2,010 for.
1980
February 11:
Judgement that a still taken from a single frame is not covered by the Copyright Act 1956 was reversed in the Court of Appeals.
March:
Lord Grade's ACC made its theatrical films available to television three years after their cinema release instead of the five recommended by the CEA.
March:
Statistics, Technological Development and Cable Television: 3rd Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
April:
EMI made its films available to television after three years.
May:
The CEA agreed to English language films being shown on television three years after their trade show.
May:
Rank launched a £12 million production programme at the Cannes Film Festival.
June:
Rank announced its decision to pull out of production.
Judgement that a still taken from a single frame is not covered by the Copyright Act 1956 was reversed in the Court of Appeals.
March:
Lord Grade's ACC made its theatrical films available to television three years after their cinema release instead of the five recommended by the CEA.
March:
Statistics, Technological Development and Cable Television: 3rd Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
April:
EMI made its films available to television after three years.
May:
The CEA agreed to English language films being shown on television three years after their trade show.
May:
Rank launched a £12 million production programme at the Cannes Film Festival.
June:
Rank announced its decision to pull out of production.
June:
The formation of the video Copyright Protection Society by the Society of Film Distributors, BBC Enterprises and the Independent Television Companies Association was announced.
July:
Films Act 1980 which continued certain existing legislation and restructured the NFFC received Royal Assent.
October 2:
Brenda Davies retired after 25 years as head of what is now known as the bfi National Library.
November:
Report of the Williams Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship was presented to Parliament.
November 30:
The first public screening of Kevin Brownlow's almost five-hour reconstruction of Abel Gance's 'Napoleon' with a new score arranged by Carl Davis took place at the Empire, Leicester Square.
December:
The Office of Fair Trading referred the supply of films for exhibition in the UK to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
The formation of the video Copyright Protection Society by the Society of Film Distributors, BBC Enterprises and the Independent Television Companies Association was announced.
July:
Films Act 1980 which continued certain existing legislation and restructured the NFFC received Royal Assent.
October 2:
Brenda Davies retired after 25 years as head of what is now known as the bfi National Library.
November:
Report of the Williams Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship was presented to Parliament.
November 30:
The first public screening of Kevin Brownlow's almost five-hour reconstruction of Abel Gance's 'Napoleon' with a new score arranged by Carl Davis took place at the Empire, Leicester Square.
December:
The Office of Fair Trading referred the supply of films for exhibition in the UK to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
1981
February:
The American distribution company set up by Lord Grade and EMI, Associated Film Distribution, was taken over by Universal.
April:
ACTT finalised a Code of Practice on independent, grant-aided, regional film production.
April:
Film and Television Co-operation: 4th Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
June:
Rank announced the closure of 29 unprofitable and unviable cinemas, 13 of them in London (2 later reprieved).
July:
Following losses of £26.4 million on feature film production and distribution, ACC had to mortgage future profits from successful television programmes such as The Muppets.
July:
The Government published its Green Paper Reform of the Law Relating to Copyright, Designs and Performers' Protection.
The American distribution company set up by Lord Grade and EMI, Associated Film Distribution, was taken over by Universal.
April:
ACTT finalised a Code of Practice on independent, grant-aided, regional film production.
April:
Film and Television Co-operation: 4th Report of the Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry was presented to Parliament.
June:
Rank announced the closure of 29 unprofitable and unviable cinemas, 13 of them in London (2 later reprieved).
July:
Following losses of £26.4 million on feature film production and distribution, ACC had to mortgage future profits from successful television programmes such as The Muppets.
July:
The Government published its Green Paper Reform of the Law Relating to Copyright, Designs and Performers' Protection.
July:
ACC announced that ATV Elstree was to close in 1983.
July:
British quota dropped from 30% to 15%.
September:
Jack Gill left ACC, setting in motion the train of events which resulted in Lord Grade losing control of ACC.
November:
Statutory Instruments then before Parliament included a change in the definition of what is a television film which would make it possible for television companies to invest directly in films intended for cinema release without jeopardising the right for Eady Levy.
November:
United International Pictures, the joint foreign distribution arm for MGM, Paramount, Universal and United Artists, came officially into being.
November:
Campaign to raise funding for the building of a Museum of the Moving Image launched by bfi.
December:
Lord Grade folded ITC Films International.
ACC announced that ATV Elstree was to close in 1983.
July:
British quota dropped from 30% to 15%.
September:
Jack Gill left ACC, setting in motion the train of events which resulted in Lord Grade losing control of ACC.
November:
Statutory Instruments then before Parliament included a change in the definition of what is a television film which would make it possible for television companies to invest directly in films intended for cinema release without jeopardising the right for Eady Levy.
November:
United International Pictures, the joint foreign distribution arm for MGM, Paramount, Universal and United Artists, came officially into being.
November:
Campaign to raise funding for the building of a Museum of the Moving Image launched by bfi.
December:
Lord Grade folded ITC Films International.