Silver Sirens

Silver Sirens

The Golden Age of British Film and Theatre (1930–1959)

Richard Williams, author
By Richard Williams.
Updated: 18th September, 2016.
  • Glennis Lorimer as the famous Gainsborough Lady, in the main title for Gainsborough Pictures
  • The famous gong of J. Arthur Rank
  • Ealing Studios
  • Associated British Picture Corporation
  • Two Cities Films
  • Associated Talking Pictures
  • London Films

British cinema during the 1940s enjoyed a golden age as wartime film-makers found a new freedom to reflect the national mood, producing works of unparalleled ambition and boldness.

Audiences turned to Ealing comedy films, escapist melodrama - often from Gainsborough Pictures - and World War II propaganda.

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Latest Updates

Margaret Lockwood, Queen of the Silver Screen, a biography by Lyndsy Spence. Fantom Films Limited, 2016.
Margaret Lockwood
Queen of the Silver Screen – Margaret Lockwood biography – Spence 2016
Main title from Laughter in Paradise (1951)
Laughter in Paradise
Laughter in Paradise (1951) opening credits
Lucy (Margaret Lockwood) puts her arms on the shoulders of Lottie Smith (Joan Greenwood) in a scene from The White Unicorn (1947)
Margaret Lockwood and Joan Greenwood in The White Unicorn (1947)
Main title from The Cruel Sea (1953)
The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea (1953) opening credits
Publicity photo featuring the elegant Anglo-Indian actress, Merle Oberon
Merle Oberon
Elegant Merle Oberon, British actress, publicity photograph
British actress, Deborah Kerr, in a black and white publicity photograph
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr, British actress, publicity photo
Main title from The Wooden Horse (1950). ‘Leo Glenn in The Wooden Horse with David Tomlinson and Anthony Steel’.
The Wooden Horse
The Wooden Horse (1950) opening credits
Based on the Biography 'Friese-Greene. Close Up of an Inventor' by Ray Allister. Colour by Technicolor. Copyright 1951 by Festival Film Productions
The Magic Box
The Magic Box (1951) opening credits
Main title from The Magic Box (1951) featuring Robert Donat
Robert Donat
The Magic Box (1951) opening credits featuring Robert Donat
Main title from Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) opening credits
Main title from Ships with Wings (1941)
Ships with Wings
Ships with Wings (1941) opening credits
Main title from The Journey (1959)
The Journey
The Journey (1959) opening credits
Johnny McQueen (James Mason) hides in Odd Man Out (1947)
James Mason
James Mason hides in Odd Man Out (1947)
Iris (Margaret Lockwood) and Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) investigate the disappearance of Miss Froy on board a train in The Lady Vanishes
Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave in The Lady Vanishes
Ann (Miriam Hopkins) and Edmund (Sebastian Shaw) in Men are Not Gods (1936)
Miriam Hopkins (Ann) and Sebastian Shaw (Edmund) in Men are Not Gods

Recent DVD & Blu-ray Releases

Mimi (1935) [DVD]
Mimi DVD from Network and the British Film

Released:
15th August, 2016
Price: £9.99
Buy Mimi from Amazon.co.uk

In a Paris garret, a poor girl dies after encouraging a playwright.
Featuring: Mimi.
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) [DVD]
The Scarlet Pimpernel DVD from Network and the British Film

Released:
15th August, 2016
Price: £7.69
Buy The Scarlet Pimpernel from Amazon.co.uk

In the early days of the French Revolution, an apparently foppish Englishman leads a daring band in rescuing aristocrats from the guillotine.
Featuring: The Scarlet Pimpernel.
British Musicals of the 1930s – Volume 6 [DVD]
British Musicals 1930s Vol 6 DVD from Network and The British Film

Released:
15th August, 2016
Price: £11.29
Buy British Musicals of the 1930s – Volume 6 from Amazon.co.uk

Featuring: A Star Fell from Heaven, The Student’s Romance, I Give My Heart, Sleepless Nights.
The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1937) [DVD]
The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel DVD from Network and The British Film

Released:
8th August, 2016
Price: £7.70
Buy The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel from Amazon.co.uk

Sir Percy Blakeney saves his wife and other French aristos from the guillotine.
Featuring: The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The Night Won’t Talk (1952) [DVD]
The Night Won’t Talk DVD from Network and the British Film

Released:
27th June, 2016
Price: £9.99
Buy The Night Won’t Talk from Amazon.co.uk

A Chelsea artist’s model is murdered and police find many suspects with motive.
Featuring: The Night Won’t Talk.
The Jessie Matthews Revue Volume 6 [DVD]
The Jessie Matthews Revue Volume 5 from Network and The British Film. Features Evergreen (1934) and There Goes the Bride (1932)

Released:
27th June, 2016
Price: £12.99
Buy The Jessie Matthews Revue Volume 6 from Amazon.co.uk

Featuring: Evergreen, There Goes the Bride.

» See all DVDs and Blu-ray releases.

Newly Added Productions