.jpg) Opening logo fromA Taste of Honey (1961) | |
| Industry | Film |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | 1963 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Bryanston Films was a British film company formed byMichael Balcon andMaxwell Setton in mid-1959 following the collapse ofEaling Studios. Neither a production studio, nor a distributor, it released independent British films throughBritish Lion Films[1] In operation until 1963, it was intended to be an unofficial group of independent film producers.[2][3]
The Bryanstonconsortium was composed of 12 to 15 members who bought their way in by putting up £5,000; the equity of the group guaranteed distribution through British Lion and financing from theNational Film Finance Corporation, banks, and American producers. In addition to Balcon and Setton, members included Kenneth Shipman, John Bryan,Tony Richardson,Julian Wintle andRonald Neame.[4][5] Alliance Films, Denham Laboratories and Lloyds Bank were also investors. Producer-investors were meant to "vet" each other's scripts. Ronald Neame said that:
The old complaint of producers has always been that the distributors tend to ask us for old formula films. Many of us have said this has forced us to be less enterprising than we would wish to be. But now the onus is on us. If I submit a script to Bryanston, I know it will be vetted by fellow producers whose opinions I respect.[6]
The company started off with £1,000,000.[7] It was followed a few months later byAllied Film Makers which tried a similar scheeme through Rank.[8] Bryanston made six films in its first year.[9]
In November 1961 the company announced it would go into co-production withSeven Arts Productions, to makeSammy Going South andTom Jones.[10][11]
Bryanston distributed several films made byWoodfall Film Productions but refused to produceTom Jones (1963) in colour, the success of which could have established the company for a long time.[12] United Artists stepped in to finance the film instead.
Bryanston released its last film in 1964 and the company was sold toAssociated-Rediffusion in 1965. Balcon later became head ofBritish Lion Films.[13]
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