John E. Blakeley
Encyclopedia
John E. Blakeley was a British
film producer
, director and screenwriter
, the founder of Mancunian Films
.
Born Ardwick
, Manchester
, son of James Blakeley (born circa 1862; Manchester), and Margaret (born circa 1861; Glasgow, Scotland). His father had become an early film distributor
in 1908 after previous work as a travelling draper. Blakeley joined his father's business and soon came to understand the tastes of the emerging cinema
audiences in the northern industrial towns. By the 1930s, the younger Blakeley was making films starring the idols of northern music hall
comedy
: George Formby, Frank Randle
and Sandy Powell
.
Initially relying on London
studios, rising costs encouraged him to found the Mancunian Film Studios in his hometown in 1947, on GBP 70,000 capital
. The studios went on to produce a sequence of successful and profitable films, often on shoestring budgets, until Blakeley's retirement in 1953. He died in Stockport
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, director and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, the founder of Mancunian Films
Mancunian Films
Mancunian Films was a British motion picture production company organized in 1934.Founded by John E. Blakeley, the company originally produced films in London on extremely low budgets. Blakeley's first studio consisted of a single soundstage in a loft space above a taxi garage...
.
Born Ardwick
Ardwick
Ardwick is a district of the City of Manchester, in North West England, about one mile east of Manchester City Centre.By the mid-19th century Ardwick had grown from being a village into a pleasant and wealthy suburb of Manchester, but by the end of that century it had become heavily industrialised...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, son of James Blakeley (born circa 1862; Manchester), and Margaret (born circa 1861; Glasgow, Scotland). His father had become an early film distributor
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
in 1908 after previous work as a travelling draper. Blakeley joined his father's business and soon came to understand the tastes of the emerging cinema
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
audiences in the northern industrial towns. By the 1930s, the younger Blakeley was making films starring the idols of northern music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
: George Formby, Frank Randle
Frank Randle
Frank Randle was an English comedian...
and Sandy Powell
Sandy Powell (comedian)
Sandy Powell MBE was an English comedian best known for his radio work of the 1930s and for his catchphrase Can You Hear Me, Mother?-Life and career:...
.
Initially relying on London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
studios, rising costs encouraged him to found the Mancunian Film Studios in his hometown in 1947, on GBP 70,000 capital
Financial capital
Financial capital can refer to money used by entrepreneurs and businesses to buy what they need to make their products or provide their services or to that sector of the economy based on its operation, i.e. retail, corporate, investment banking, etc....
. The studios went on to produce a sequence of successful and profitable films, often on shoestring budgets, until Blakeley's retirement in 1953. He died in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
.
Filmography
Director- Dodging the DoleDodging the DoleDodging the Dole is a 1936 British musical comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Roy Barbour, Dan Young and Jenny Howard. It was made by Mancunian Films at Highbury Studios and Southall Studios.-Cast:...
(1936) - Somewhere in EnglandSomewhere in EnglandSomewhere in England is an album by George Harrison, released in 1981. Recorded as Harrison was becoming increasingly frustrated with the music industry, the album's making was a long one, and witnessed a tragic event in his life.-History:...
(1940) - Somewhere in CampSomewhere in CampSomewhere in Camp is a 1942 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Harry Korris and Robbie Vincent. The film continues the adventures of Private Randle fromm the 1940 film Somewhere in England. It was followed in 1943 by Somewhere on Leave.-Main cast:* Frank...
(1942) - Somewhere on LeaveSomewhere on LeaveSomewhere on Leave is a 1943 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Harry Korris and Dan Young. It was the third in the series of Somewhere films following Private Randle and his comrades. It was followed by Somewhere in Civvies.-Main cast:* Frank Randle - Pvt....
(1942) - Home Sweet HomeHome Sweet Home (1945 film)Home Sweet Home is a 1945 British musical comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Nicolette Roeg and Tony Pendrell.-Cast:* Nicolette Roeg - Jacqueline Chantry* Frank Randle - Frank* Tony Pendrell - Eric Wright...
(1945) - DemobbedDemobbed (1946 film)Demobbed is a 1946 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Norman Evans, Nat Jackley, Gus McNaughton and Dan Young. Its plot concerns a group of ex-soldiers who attempt to gain employment after being discharged from the army.-Cast:...
(1946) - Under New ManagementUnder New ManagementUnder New Management is a 1946 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Nat Jackley, Norman Evans and Dan Young. A chimney sweep inherits a hotel and calls on a number of ex-army friends to staff it. It was one of a number of films at the time dealing with the contemporary...
(1946) - Holidays with PayHolidays with PayHolidays with Pay is a 1948 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Tessie O'Shea and Dan Young. The Rogers go on a family holiday to Blackpool where they enjoy a series of adventures.-Cast:* Frank Randle - Jack Rogers...
(1948) - Cup-Tie HoneymoonCup-tie HoneymoonCup-Tie Honeymoon was the first motion picture to be filmed at the Dickenson Road Studios by the Mancunian Film Corporation in 1948, themed around football.-Plot summary:...
(1948) - What a Carry On! (1949)
- Somewhere in PoliticsSomewhere in PoliticsSomewhere in Politics is a 1949 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Tessie O'Shea and Josef Locke. It was the fifth and final film in the Somewhere series of films featuring Randle.-Cast:...
(1949) - School for RandleSchool for RandleSchool for Randle is a 1949 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Dan Young and Alec Pleon. A school caretaker turns out to be the father of a number of the pupils...
(1949) - Over the Garden Wall (1950)
- Let's Have a Murder (1950)
- It's a Grand LifeIt's a Grand LifeIt's a Grand Life is a 1953 British comedy film starring Frank Randle and Diana Dors. Music hall comedian Frank Randle stars as an accident-prone Private in his final film appearance. The film also features the professional wrestler Jack Pye and the popular pianist Winifred Atwell...
(1953)
External links
- IMDb page
- Biography from the British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
- homage to Mancunian Film Studios