Denham Film Studios

The Largest Studio in Europe

For several years, the Denham Film Studio had been at the center of the entertainment industry in Europe, with a stable production that had orbited from silent studio to a modern film industry. It was then recognized as one of the largest film studio in United Kingdom.

The Beginning of Denham Film Studio

Denham Film Studios is a British based film production studio founded by Alexander Korda in summer 1935 on the well known village of Denham, Buckinghamshire. Until it was acquired by J. Arthur Rank and merged to his Pinewood Studio, it was eventually closed in 1952. After the merger with Pinewood Studios it was renamed as London Film Studios and D&G Studios. The studio was extended considerably to permit wide-angle shots and developed with the latest and innovative cameras, lighting, sound and other film equipments. New establishment projects covered an expanded projection and recording area, a power house and other facilities such as laboratory, editing rooms, practice and workshop rooms for Hollywood artists and dressing rooms.

Popular Films

The old Denham Film studio started out producing only three films when the studio was under construction, namely, The Ghost Goes West in 1935, Things to Come and The Man Who Could Work Miracles both produced in 1936. Under these three initial movies, the film studio’s output over the next few years made it a serious film making company. Films were cost effective and produced on fixed and organized shooting schedules. After a few more years, Alexander Korda produced a marvelous set of popular films. Films made at Denham Studios included Rembrandt (1936), Knight without Armor and A Yank at Oxford (1937), South Riding and The Citadel (1938), Goodbye Mr. Chips and The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (1939).

A masterpiece of Max Schach, Southern Roses was filmed at the studio site. It was a musical comedy shown in 1936; it included exterior scenes filmed at the studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire. Some well known actors and actresses who took their turn at the studios included George Robey as Mr. Higgins, Neil Hamilton as Reggie and the glamorous British actress Chili Bouchier as Estrella Estrello.

World War II

Denham was one of the brave film studios to continue running during World War I, Denham Film Studio produced a series of inspirational films to aid the war outbreak including the 1940’s version of award winning film The Thief of Bagdad. Some other films made during the war included The Stars Look Down (1940), Hatter’s Castle and Noel Coward’s in Which We Serve, Henry V and Canterbury Tale (1944), Brief Encounter (1945) and film version of William Shakespeare’s famous novel Hamlet (1948).

The End of an Era

Films continued to be produced at Denham Studio, including some of most distinguished English movies. The films were regulated under Prudential after Alexander Korda renounced the operation and control of Denham Studio. Disney’s Robin Hood in 1952 was the last film to be made in Denham, and eventually brought down the career of this notable film studio. Consequently, in the mid 1960’s the film studio building was occupied by Rank-Xerox Company, and afterwards converted into warehouses. This studio and its building has since been demolished.