Ealing Studios and Friends

There are changes coming

2011-03-02T17:58:00.001Z

Yes it's been a while but the blog will return very soon with lots of exciting news and features! Keep checking our page!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London,United Kingdom

Burke & Hare Trailer hits

2010-10-05T10:38:00.002+01:00

Yes- we know you've been waiting for it very patiently and we finally have it here for your viewing pleasure! It's the trailer to our latest movie- Burke & Hare directed by John Landis and starring Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry, Ronnie Corbett, Hugh Bonneville, Michael Smiley, Sir Christopher Lee and many many more!

So sit back an enjoy! B&H is out in the UK on October 29th.

Ealing Studios TV Launches

2010-09-27T16:54:00.001+01:00

Welcome to Ealing Studios TV. Our new channel will be taking you behind the scenes at the Studio with special features on all our films, old and new. There will be exclusive interviews with directors and stars, revealing some of the secrets of their craft and looking back on their favourite movies.

Check out the first entry with Julian Fellowes talking about working with Maggie Smith.

From Time to Time Release Schedule

2010-09-01T17:04:00.002+01:00

Ealing Studios Distribution are proud to announce the limited release of their film 'From Time to Time' written and directed by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) and starring Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Hugh Bonneville and Alex Etel.

From Time to Time will open on September 24th in select cinemas however special preview screenings will be taking place from the 14th September at Athlehampton House in Dorset where the movie was shot.

Visit the official website to keep up to date on the screening dates and also to check out the trailer!

http://www.fromtimetotimemovie.com/

See the current screening list after the jump.

Athelhampton House- 14th of September (until Christmas)

www.athelhampton.co.uk

Abbeygate Picturehouse Bury St Edmunds-15th,18th and 19th of September

http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Abbeygate_Picturehouse/

Electric Palace Bridport-24th,27th,28th,29 and 30th Sept.

http://www.electricpalace.org.uk/

Kino Digital Hawkhurst- 24th,25th,26th,27th,28th,29,30th of September

http://www.kinodigital.co.uk/

Uckfield Picturehouse-27th,28th,29th,30th Sept

1st,2nd,3rd Oct

http://www.picturehouseuckfield.com/

Rex Berkhamstead- 3rd,4th of October

http://www.therexberkhamsted.com/

The Ritz Belper- 1st,2nd,6th.9th &14th of October

http://www.ritz-belper.co.uk/

More coming soon. If you are interested in showing From Time to Time in your cinema please contact Jules Smith at Ealing Studios on (0208) 7588634 or e-mail bookings@fromtimetotimemovie.com

Dench & Sondheim at the Proms

2010-08-03T14:43:00.001+01:00

Stephen Sondheim one of the world's greatest composers and lyricists turned 80 this year and to commemorate this there have been special events all around the globe. The UK got its turn on Saturday when a night of the Proms was dedicated to the iconic musical composer.

Dame Judi Dench (The Importance of Being Earnest) performed a show-stopping rendition of Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music which she famously starred in during its original West End run.

If you missed the show you can catch up on iPlayer right here

Dench is also going to be voicing the Giant in the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's production of Sondheim's Into the Woods which starts previewing this week.

Happy Birthday Stephen!

First look at Serkis in Rise of the Apes

2010-08-03T14:22:00.000+01:00

Who wants a sneaky peak at Andy in his new role in Rise of the Apes?

Well head on over to LiveForFilms.com for a couple of shots of the Burke & hare star with James Franco filming some motion-capture in the Canadian woods.

Ealing Comedies to Screen at Museum of London

2010-08-03T10:38:00.002+01:00

Good news for all you Ealing Classic fans from the 29th of August you will be able to see some of the most famous Ealing Comedies for free on the big screen.

The Museum of London Docklands will be showing five films over the next 6 months in a tribute to the Ealing Greats.

Here's the list of dates- just turn up on the day and enjoy!

Hue and Cry (1947), U
Sunday, 29 August, 14.00 - 15.30

Passport to Pimlico (1949), U
Sunday, 26 September, 14.00 - 15.30

Burning an Illusion (1981), 15
Sunday, 31 October, 14.00 - 15.45

The Ladykillers (1955), U
Sunday, 28 November, 14.00 - 15.30

The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), U
Sunday, 30 January, 14.00 - 15.30

Visit Museum of London Docklands for more information!

Ealing Classic of the Week

2010-07-30T15:58:00.001+01:00

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)

Two clips from the delightful 1953 Ealing comedy "The Titfield Thunderbolt" in which English villagers, chagrined that the government railway is about to close their branch line, decide to take it on themselves. But first they must find someone to finance it and who better than a rich fellow who likes to drink and is "very adaptable" to bars that might be a half inch lower but do happen to open at 13 minutes to 9 in the morning!?

That's Stanley Holloway who would go on to win an Oscar playing Eliza Doolittle's father in "My Fair Lady."

The Head of the Studio has something to say

2010-07-30T15:27:00.002+01:00

Barnaby Thompson - Head of Ealing Studios has this comment about the abolition of the UK Film Council. It was published in Tuesday's Evening Standard.

It is no coincidence that British Film Industry has enjoyed its greatest period of sustained growth since the inception of the UK Film Council. It is an organisation filled with passionate, hard working individuals who have achieved amazing things on a very limited budget. They have campaigned for all that is good in British Film, and have always been innovative in their support of an ever changing industry.

Do such organisations grow fat over the years? Of course, but the UKFC had recently addressed that by cutting its overheads by some 25% (a saving that, I am sure, the current minister will claim as his own).

And, most importantly, who will replace them? It seems a tragic waste of resources to close down an organisation that has built up over the years an acute understanding of what is a very singular and complex business which combines both art and commerce, and has such a huge impact on our cultural life.

Ealing Studios supports the UK Film Council 100% and encourages you to sign the petition below.

Government to SHUT UK FILM COUNCIL!

2010-07-27T12:48:00.001+01:00

Yesterday it was announced that the UK Coalition Government have decided to close the UK Film Council in the next 18 months. This is devastating news for the UK film industry as the UKFC provide funding and assistance across the industry from Ealing's St Trinian's to a micro-wave first time feature.

In 10 years the UK Film Council funded 900 films which have entertained over 200 million people and helped generate over £700 million.

The UKFC has been criticised in the past for assisting films that have not performed at the box-office but what they have helped happen is to provide jobs to hundreds of people across the industry- regardless if the final film made money or not.

It is a sad day for the British film industry but with enough support we may be able to make a difference. Social networking groups were set up immediately on Facebook/Twitter/MySpace and countless others. Please find below links to these groups if you would like to show your support.

UK Filmmakers need to stand up now to make sure that these changes have the possibility of being reversed.

FACEBOOK GO PETITION TWITTER

Scott Pilgrim vs. Lucas Lee

2010-07-26T10:59:00.001+01:00

It's nearly upon us- the new Edgar Wright film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World! Can't wait! It had rave reviews at Comicon and looks like it's going to be the smash hit of the summer!

Here's a new clip that just hit the net showing Scott go up against evil ex number 2 (and his stunt team!). August can't come quickly enough!

Rupert Everett looks into his past

2010-07-26T10:46:00.001+01:00

Tonight Rupert Everett takes part in the new series of the acclaimed Who Do You Think You Are? The St Trinian's actor explores his family history with facinating results. He describes his rollercoaster journey to Africa and back like an Ealing Comedy. You can see the programme at 9pm BBC1.

Rupert is also currently appearing as Professor Higgins in Pygmalion at the Chichester Theatre.

The most violent, hilarious, over-the-top and downright entertaining as hell horror film

2010-07-23T18:21:00.001+01:00

Could there have every been a better pre-review for this movie? It just makes us want to see it even more! Bring on the carnage! Read the full report from Comicon here thanks to IGN, but beware of spoilers (and killer CGI fish!).

Out in the UK on August 20th released by Entertainment Film Distributors.

Who is Paul?

2010-07-22T20:08:00.001+01:00

A new image from Comic-Con has surfaced from Simon Pegg's new movie- Paul! We still don't really know what it's about or what Paul himself will look like but the Nick Frost and Simon combo is always a winner!

Thanks to Empire for the link to the pic!

Ghosts Come to Ealing

2010-07-20T22:29:00.000+01:00

Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha steps into horror comedy territory with this caper detailing the murderous lengths a mother goes to while trying to find her daughter a husband. It's A Wonderful Afterlife hits DVD next month check out this Ealing shot comedy and see if you can spot any of the local landmarks.

Pre-Order your copy here.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

2010-07-20T22:24:00.002+01:00

Woody Allen's latest movie finally has its first trailer. This one looks really good- finishing up Woody's London trilogy. Shot at Ealing Studios and around the Capital the Antonio Bandaras, Lucy Punch, Anthony Hopkins and Naomi Watts starring comedy/drama is released later this year.

Calling all Tallulah Riley and R-Pattz Fans

2010-07-20T12:31:00.003+01:00

The Summer House- a new short film starring St Trinian's own Head Girl - Talulah Riley and Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson is now available to download from iTunes. The film only last's 13 minutes but tells the tale of a young girl who retreats to her aunt's house after having her heart broken. Here's the trailer and you can download the movie here.

Ealing Classic of the Week

2010-07-20T11:45:00.001+01:00

The Man in the White Suit is possibly one of the most famous yet less seen of the Ealing Classics. We've all seen the poster but I bet a lot o you haven't seen the movie. So here's the trailer to whet your appetite it's the story of a young scientist invents a material that is indestructible and repels dirt. He soon finds himself caught between the moguls of the textile industry and the trade unions, all equally determined that his invention never sees the light of day.

Check it out it's great!

Simon Pegg has a Mission Impossible

2010-07-20T11:38:00.002+01:00

First of all- sorry bloggers for the lack of updates the last week lots of stuff was hushed up and we weren't allowed to tell you but now we're free! Whoo!

So news item 1! Simon Pegg is in talks to return to his role of Benji the scientist in Mission: Impossible IV. Rumours have been circulating for a while that the new movie will go ahead- the earlier incarnation of the film was stopped in its tracks when Tom Cruise broke away from Paramount and caused an almighty Hollywood rift- but that seems to be all over now and M:I 4 is definitely going to happen.

Simon stands a pretty good chance of having a meatier role in the sequel with J.J Abrams on board to executive produce (and maybe direct) J.J is notoriously loyal to his actor mates and cast Pegg in his rebooted Star Trek after his turn in M:I3.

Watch this space for more info on the spy franchise and also updates on Simon's next film - Ealing's Burke & Hare!

We've got our own Olympic Pin

2010-07-12T11:34:00.000+01:00

Check this out! Ealing Studios has been honoured as 1 of the 33 boroughs to receive a pin for the Olympic Games in 2012. The public of each area of London decides on a local landmark to award the pin to and we got it! Very exciting and cool! Here's the design and we'll let you know when they become available to buy!

Congrats to the Emmy Nominees!

2010-07-09T17:12:00.003+01:00

Two Ealing Studios friends Dame Judi Dench (The Importance of Being Earnest) and Dame Maggie Smith (From Time to Time) have both been nominated for the Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie category at the Prime Time Emmy Awards in America.

Judi has been nominated for her powerful turn as Miss Matty in BBC's Return to Cranford (which incidentally was shot at Ealing during 2009) and Maggie's nomination comes from her performance in Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary which aired in the UK in 2008.

It's going to be the battle of the Dames!

VS.

Ealing Classic of the Week

2010-07-06T11:44:00.001+01:00

The weather is on the wane the football's nearly over- cheer yourself up with this week's Ealing Classic.

It's THE LADYKILLERS (1955). Not be be confused with the terrible remake from 2004 this brilliant black comedy follows five diverse oddball criminal types planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians. It's clever, funny, dark and brilliant. Check it out if you haven't already seen it or revisit it if you have!

Fancy a bite?

2010-07-05T22:38:00.000+01:00

This French poster for the 3D B-Movie extravaganza has just arrived on-line and it just about sums up everything that I'm excited about for this movie. It's going to be over the top and just plain fun. Just what a summer blockbuster should be. Really can't wait. Bring it!

Piranha 3D is released by Entertainment Film Distributors on 20th August in the UK.

Why can't a woman be more like a man?

2010-07-05T09:10:00.002+01:00

The Daily Telegraph reports that Rupert Everett has fallen for his lovely co-star, Honeysuckle Weeks in his new play Pygmalion which is opening at the Chichester Theatre Festival on Friday "If I were the marrying kind, I'd marry her," jokes Everett. He is taking the part of the cantankerous Professor Higgins and Weeks is his Eliza.

Rupert got rave reviews last year when he appeared in the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blythe Spirit just prior to coming back to Ealing to reprise his role as the formidable and fabulous Camilla Fritton in St Trinian's 2!

To book tickets to see Rupert in Pygmalion head over here..it runs from July 9th until August 27th.

Ok look away now if you don't know how Harry Potter ends..

2010-07-05T08:12:00.001+01:00

A brilliant poster for the final two parts of Harry Potter has just gone on-line and poor Hogwarts is not looking good at all. Assuming this is from the climatic Battle for Hogwarts it looks like the design team have gone all out to reduce the wizarding school to a smoking pile of rubble. Oh well they've built a new one in Florida- Harry and pals can just go there instead.

Also if you haven't worn out the spacebar on your keyboard re-watching the new HP trailer frame by frame check out this great breakdown done by Empire on each exciting moment from the trailer.

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T17:34:00.002+01:00

To all our US readers and friends! Happy 4th of July!

New poster appears for new Woody Allen movie!

2010-07-02T17:46:00.002+01:00

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger the latest feature from veteran director Woody Allen which was shot at Ealing Studios, ALSO stars two of our friends Lucy Punch (St Trinian's) and Antonio Bandaras (The Other Man). The poster doesn't give much away apart from the stella cast but we're dying to see the movie- it's meant to be a cracker!

John Landis hosts night for Ray Harryhausen at BFI

2010-07-02T12:01:00.002+01:00

It was Clash of the Filmmaker Titans at the BFI on Saturday when world renowned directors, visual effects artists and animators turned out to celebrate the 90th birthday of stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen (Clash of the Titans, Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts).

Lifelong fan John Landis (Director of Burke & Hare) hosted the event to massive acclaim. Among the audience were Burke & Hare themselves Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, directors Peter Jackson, Edgar Wright and Terry Gilliam and though not there in person ("because they were too cheap to take the flight" joked Landis) there were video tributes from Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and John Lassester, Tim Burton and James Cameron.

Also in attendance were Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, King Kong star Rick Baker and Caroline Monroe one of the stars of Sinbad.

Photo © Mark Mawston and the BFI
From left to right: Rick Baker, Ken Ralston, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, John Landis, Tony Dalton, Peter Jackson , Randall Cook, Vanessa Harryhausen, Caroline Monroe and Nick Park.

Alll byyyy myself.......Bridget Jones the MUSICAL!

2010-07-01T16:03:00.003+01:00

A West End stage adaptation of Working Title's Bridget Jones' Diary is heading our way. Based on the movies starring Reneé Zelwegger, Colin Firth (Dorian Gray) and Hugh Grant a cast of west end favourites are currently workshopping the new show.

Sheridan Smith star of Legally Blonde: The Musical has been working with the writers to bring Bridget to the stage. Here's hoping there's a ballad about some big pants! Watch this space!

Ealing Classic of the Week

2010-07-01T13:32:00.001+01:00

So it's come to our attention that some people haven't seen or even heard of some of the brilliant movies that Ealing Studios produced in the 1940s and 1950s and that's just wrong. So we're going to post a trailer each week for a classic in the hope that maybe it'll inspire you to check out a bit of British cinema history.

These movies really are brilliant! Have a look at this trailer for the 1951 movie- The Lavender Hill Mob where a mild-mannered bank worker decides to steal a delivery of gold bullion. Enlisting the help of a small businessman, they hatch a plot to disguise the gold as Eiffel Tower memorabilia. You'll love it!

Who's this strange creature?

2010-07-01T10:08:00.004+01:00

The first trailer has landed for the Johnny Depp helmed animated feature 'Rango'. Featuring the voice talents of Isla Fisher (Burke and Hare), Bill Nighy (Lucky Break) and Ray Winstone. Is this going to do for geckos what Valiant did for pigeons?

Andy Serkis monkeying around

2010-06-30T13:20:00.002+01:00

Burke & Hare star Andy Serkis will don a monkey suit again to play a primate inPlanet Of The Apes prequel Rise Of The Apes.

The Lord of the Rings star, who inspired the big ape in Peter Jackson's King Kong, will play Caesar, the chimp who leads the uprising at the centre of the new film.

Serkis will join Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, James Franco and John Lithgow in the movie, which is set in present day San Francisco, California.

Rupert Wyatt will direct.

Wicked Shorts: Dear Rosie

2010-06-30T12:24:00.006+01:00

Here is the film that Head of Studio - Barnaby Thompson produced and was nominated for an Oscar® for. It was directed by Peter Cattaneo (What the Puck!).

David Tennant falls for 'Decoy Bride'.

2010-06-30T10:23:00.001+01:00

The big baddie St Trinian's 2 and Doctor Who star has just started shooting his new movie The Decoy Bride. David stars alongside fellow Scot Kelly MacDonald and Alice Eve, who played Charlotte's bra-less nanny in Sex And The City 2.

David plays British writer James, who is engaged to internationally famous film star Lara, who decide to get married on a remote Scottish island when their wedding is sabotaged by a paparazzo.

The movie is shooting on location for five weeks on the Isle of Man and in Scotland.

It's POTTER time!

2010-06-29T18:52:00.004+01:00

It's nearly that time of year again when we all get excited pull out our pointed hats and head off to the cinema to check out the latest Harry Potter movie. Well the series is almost over and the trailer for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (Parts One and Two) has just hit the net and it looks pretty bloody amazing. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith (From Time to Time), Timothy Spall (Lucky Break) and Emma Thompson (Effie) part one is released November 2010 and part two July 2011. EXCITING!

Full Monty Director has new TV show!

2010-06-29T09:46:00.004+01:00

Did you see the brilliant new comedy series Rev directed by Peter Cattaneo (Lucky Break, What the Puck!) last night? Tom Hollander plays Adam a vicar who is promoted from a sleepy rural parish to an inner city East London Church.

Catch it on iPlayer here

Tamsin Egerton stars as Guinevere in Camelot

2010-06-28T12:07:00.004+01:00

Posh Totty actress Tamsin Egerton has taken a role in new 10 part US-TV drama 'Camelot'. She will play the heroine Guinevere with Jamie Campbell Bower (Twilight: New Moon) as Arthur. Also joining the cast are Joseph Feinnes (Flashforward) as Merlin and Eva Green (Casino Royale) as sorceress Morgana.

The shoot is taking place in Dublin until the end of the year. Can't wait to see some snaps from the set!

How cool does this look!

2010-06-28T11:58:00.002+01:00

Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio and St Trinian's own Tallulah Riley is out in cinemas on July 16th.

Still got no idea what this movie is about. Can't wait to get wowed when it's relased!

Cake? Cake? We love cake!

2010-06-25T16:54:00.001+01:00

Turns out our St Trinian's actresses aren't just talented on screen they're turning their attention to bakery! Ashes to Ashes and Love Soup actress Montserrat Lombard has opened up an on-line cakery called 'Living in Oblivion'. Some of these recipes look pretty moreish! Send us a box of brookies please Montse!

Check out the cakery at http://livinginoblivioncakes.blogspot.com

(FYI a brookie is what is produced when a brownie and a cookie have kids- YUM)!

Green Hornet Trailer Buzzes In

2010-06-25T16:44:00.002+01:00

The trailer for next year's Green Hornet starring Tom Wilkinson (Burke & Hare) hits the internet. Looks pretty cool. Pineapple Express meets Iron Man.

We're so there!

Wicked Short: Stalking Ben Chadz

2010-06-25T13:03:00.002+01:00

Montseratt Lombard's (St Trinian's 2) fabulous new short. Check it out and share!

NEW ST TRINIAN'S MUSIC VIDEO!

2010-06-25T12:30:00.003+01:00

Check it out and share!!

St Trinian's Stars show their support for Zawe!

2010-06-25T12:04:00.003+01:00

Thursday saw the opening night for Jamie Lloyd's Salome starring Zawe Ashton (Bianca - St Trinian's 2) and Zawe's St Trinian's co-stars turned out to show their support. Ella Smith (Lucy), Montserrat Lombard (Zoe), Christian Brassington (Peters) and Georgia King (Juliet) were all there to watch the amazing production. Get thee to the Hampstead Theatre and check it out!

Zawe Ashton as Salome. Photos © Headlong Theatre

NB. Salome is unsuitable for those under 15.

Helen Mirren steals Russell Brand's pants!

2010-06-24T14:33:00.002+01:00

When Julie Taymor's new adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' wrapped filming Helen Mirren was so sad to see St Trinian's star Russell Brand go that she stole a pair of his pants.

She explains, "He was leaving and he was coming to say goodbye and he had a pile of books and papers (from his trailer) and on top of all these things were a pair of bright yellow, canary yellow underpants - Y-fronts.

"I grabbed them and said, 'Russell, I'm having those as my little memento of working with you.'"

The Tempest is released later this year and Brand is currently starring in Get Him to the Greek which is in cinemas now!

Ben Barnes heads back to the West End

2010-06-23T12:42:00.003+01:00

Dorian Gray and Easy Virtue star Ben Barnes is returning to the West End stage playing the lead in Trevor Nunn's adaptation of the bestselling novel 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks. The play will open at the Comedy Theatre in London for a limited season from 29 September 2010 (previews from 18 September) at the West End’s Comedy Theatre. You can book tickets here!

St Trinian's 2 star appears in new play

2010-06-22T23:42:00.001+01:00

Zawe Ashton who played the blingtastic Bianca in Ealing's St Trinian's 2 is starring as Salome in Jamie Lloyd's new production which powers into the Hampstead Theatre this week. Press night is Thursday and it runs until July 17th.

Book On-line Here

This summer's guilty pleasure!

2010-06-22T16:03:00.004+01:00

With all the big serious blockbusters clamouring for our attention this summer there's one movie that looks really fun! Now don't laugh but Piranha 3D is definitely going to be our guilty pleasure of the summer. Released by Entertainment Film Distributors on August 27th we are going to be first in line to check it out! Bring on the 3d specs!
Check the trailer below!

Homegrown Ealing Talent WINS Advertising Oscar!

2010-06-22T12:53:00.004+01:00

Ex-Assistant to Head of Studio Barnaby Thompson- Sarah Alexander has just won the Advertising equivalent of an Oscar for her 90 second short film 'Embrace Life'. As reported in The Metro today the ad has received over 17 million hits since it's debut earlier this year. Ealing is very proud of Sarah and can't wait to see what she does next! If you haven't seen it yet- check it out below!

Priscilla gets the Beyoncé Treatment

2010-06-21T12:56:00.003+01:00

Stephan Elliott's (Director of Easy Virtue) musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert gets the Beyoncé treatment in this video to promote the broadway opening of the show. Check it out- it's genius!

French Poster appears for Gemma Arterton new comedy!

2010-06-21T12:41:00.006+01:00

St Trinian's star Gemma Arterton's new film Tamara Drewe gets it's first poster artwork.
The film is released in the UK in September.

Antonio Bandaras gets his own spin off!

2010-06-21T09:56:00.003+01:00

With the fourth and final Shrek chapter about to hit UK cinemas there is still hope for the franchise because PUSS IN BOOTS: The Movie will be following next Christmas in 3D.

After the demise of Dreamwork's biggest animated franchise the gap will be filled by 'The Other Man' star Antonio Bandaras in his own movie. Puss will work with an arch female rival - Kitty voiced by Salma Hayek taking on a mission to steal the famous, golden egg-laying goose of fairy tale fame.

And as if that news wasn't exciting enough here is the first image from the movie!

International Trailer hits for Scott Pilgrim!

2010-06-19T11:33:00.003+01:00

A new trailer as surfaced on-line from Edgar Wright's new movie- Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Edgar shot Shaun of the Dead at Ealing! Get in!

Released August 2010 in the UK- can't wait!

Get St Trinian's 2 on DVD!!

2010-06-18T13:42:00.002+01:00

St. Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold

Rupert Everett returns as headmistress of the feisty and ever-resourceful schoolgirls of St Trinians. A break-in at the school sets off a treasure hunt in which the girls are pitted against their most fearsome establishment rivals yet. Colin Firth, Tallulah Riley and Tamsin Egerton re-appear and are joined by Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud. David Tennant plays the villainous Pomfrey on a roller coaster ride that takes in Liverpool St station and the Globe Theatre. Gemma Arterton returns as ex Head-Girl Kelly, who has joined the Secret Service, and the School now has a band.

Directed by Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson
Starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, David Tennant, Gemma Arterton, Sarah Harding, Talulah Riley, Tamsin Egerton, Celia Imrie and Toby Jones
Written By Piers Ashworth & Nick Moorcroft
Produced by Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson

Released in UK by Entertainment Film Distributors December 2009

Extras include:

Cast and crew interviews

Meet the Tribes Featurette

Meet The Banned

Up & Away Music Video

We’ve Got the Beat Music Video

Learn The St Trinian’s Dance Feature

Deleted Scenes

Bloopers

No Hopers go to Glastonbury!

2010-06-18T13:11:00.001+01:00

The subjects of Ealing's latest movie Fisherman's Friends head to Glastonbury....or not....

We don't want to go to Glastonbury. Will they give us drugs?'... Cornish buoy band is all at sea with prospect of fame

By PETRONELLA WYATT
Last updated at 6:36 PM on 29th May 2010

Where is my lobster?' demands Jeremy Brown, lead singer with Britain's hottest new pop act. 'It's on the floor,' I reply, pointing. 'It crawled out of the basket.'

'Well, go and catch it,' he retorts heatedly.

Sadly, we are not in some swanky London restaurant frequented by the decadent glitterati, sipping champagne before our seafood platter arrives. Jeremy catches his seafood platter by hand - every day of the week except Sundays.

We are on his fishing boat, the Free Spirit II, navigating the choppy emerald seas off Cornwall. The wind is stinging and I have just been nipped by a crustacean. My job is to measure the lobsters to determine if they are large enough to sell and then put rubber bands round their claws.

John Landis celebrates filmmaker Ray Harryhausen

2010-06-18T13:06:00.003+01:00

John Landis on why Ray Harryhausen's effects are still so special
King Kong bowled him over, and in turn Ray Harryhausen bowled over millions with his stop-motion magic in the likes of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Jason of the Argonauts
(12)
Tweet this (16)
John Landis
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 June 2010 21.29 BST
Article history
Stop-motion magic … Ray Harryhausen's Jason and the Argonauts. Photograph: The Kobal Collection

In 1933, the 13-year-old Ray Harryhausen went to see King Kong at Grauman's Chinese theatre in Los Angeles. That is the moment his life changed. In 1958, the eight-year-old John Landis went to see The 7th Voyage of Sinbad at the Crest theatre in Los Angeles. That is the moment my life changed. I asked my mom: "Who makes the movie?" She answered: "The director." So from that moment on, a director was all I wanted to be.
When you ask someone for their favourite movie, they can usually tell you how old they were, the name of the theatre and who they were with when they first saw it. An argument can be made that, indeed, the movies are our collective memory, contemporary man's new mythology. Harryhausen was overwhelmed by his experience watching "the 8th Wonder of the World".
All films require "suspension of disbelief" to work effectively. And every film creates its own unspoken rules to accomplish this. The filmmaker uses lighting, actors, montage and narrative to convey the "reality" of the story being told. And by "reality", I do not mean the actuality of the situation and characters. I mean that the audience should care about what is taking place before them. In 1975, I worked as one of the writers of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Guy Hamilton was the director I was trying to please. (Neither Guy nor I ended up working on the final film.) I mention this only because Guy told me a marvellous thing. When explaining why every Bond film had to start with a particularly outrageous prologue, he said this was the way the film-makers said to the audience: "Right, please put your brains under your seats and here we go!"
What does all this have to do with Ray Harryhausen? Ray was inspired by the brilliant stop-motion work through which Willis O'Brien made King Kong a reality – not only an awesomely powerful physical presence, but also a sympathetic being with thoughts and emotions. After he saw King Kong, Ray's encouraging and tolerant parents encouraged him in his pursuit of his craft. He cut up his mother's fur coat to cover his puppet of a woolly mammoth, and his father helped him with the steel armatures (or skeletons) of his creatures. (His father continued to create armatures for Ray for many years.)
Ray served in Frank Capra's army film unit in the second world war. When it ended, he moved into making shorts, then started generating special effects for features. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, which became a tremendous box office success for Columbia, was the first colour movie he worked on, and he was credited as an executive producer. That is an important moment in the history of the movies: Harryhausen, a below-the-line special effects technician, had become his own genre. In fact, Ray is truly unique in the history of movies as a special effects technician who is really the auteur of his films. The stop-motion creatures and vehicles Ray created were not only the stars of those movies, but the main reason for them to exist at all. Ray would conceive the stories and create illustrations and storyboards to guide the picture's art directors and crew. He created reality – audiences cared about what was being put before them.
Jason and the Argonauts remains my favourite of Ray's films, probably because it has the best script of all of his pictures. But all of his films hold a special place in both my heart and my mind. Maybe it is the tactile reality of movement generated by Ray's hands and the extraordinary personalities his figures display that makes his work so special. I don't know. But I do know that Ray Harryhausen is a true giant of the cinema, and I am proud to call him both my mentor and my friend. Ray's 90th birthday is rapidly approaching. And all of his fans, and we are legion, wish him well.
Ray Harryhausen: A Birthday Celebration Hosted by John Landis is on 26 June at BFI Southbank, London SE1.

John Landis movie endorsed by Pope!

2010-06-18T13:05:00.001+01:00

Burke & Hare director John Landis has had his classic picture - 'The Blues Brothers' officially endorsed by the Pope! Now there's an honour!

Vatican endorses "The Blues Brothers"

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By Eric J. Lyman – Thu Jun 17, 2:57 am ET

TAORMINA, Sicily (Hollywood Reporter) – When Jake and Elwood Blues, the protagonists in John Landis' cult classic "The BluesBrothers," claimed they were on a mission from God, the Catholic Church apparently took them at their word.

On the 30th anniversary of the film's release, "L'Osservatore Romano," the Vatican's official newspaper, called the film a "Catholic classic" and said it should be recommended viewing for Catholics everywhere.

The film is based on a skit from "Saturday Night Live." In the story, Jake and Elwood -- played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, respectively -- embark on an unlikely road trip featuring concerts, car chases, clashes with the police and neo-Nazi groups, and attempts at revenge from a spurned lover, all, ostensibly, to raise money for the church-run orphanage where they grew up.

But aside from a brief appearance from Kathleen Freeman as a wrist-slapping nun referred to as "The Penguin" and the brothers' periodic claim that they were on a mission from God, spirituality does not play a significant role in the film.

In addition to Belushi and Aykroyd, the film featured an all-star cast including musicians James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, and Chaka Khan, in addition to noted actors John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Charles Napier, and Henry Gibson, and cameo roles for Frank Oz, Steven Spielberg, Landis, Mr. T, and Paul Reubens.

With the recommendation, "The Blues Brothers" joins the list of dozens of films recommended by Catholic authorities that includes Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," "Jesus of Nazareth" from Franco Zeffirelli," Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ," Victor Flemming's "Joan of Arc," and "It's a WonderfulLife" from Frank Capra.

Dorian Gray heads to the US

2010-06-18T12:57:00.002+01:00

Dorian Gray Released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the USA

NEW “DORIAN GRAY” STILL, DVD ART & DETAILS

There have been many cinematic adaptations of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY—but only one was directed by a guy who used to pal around with Clive Barker. This latest DORIAN GRAY, directed by HELLRAISER and NIGHTBREED co-star turned filmmaker Oliver Parker, is heading for DVD and Blu-ray, and we’ve got all the info plus a gruesome new photo.

Ben Barnes from THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN stars in the title role of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth, indulging in all sorts of debauchery and worse while his portrait begins to reflect his inner ugliness. The cast also includes Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin and Rachel Hurd-Wood from AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER and the upcoming SOLOMON KANE. DORIAN GRAY hits the disc shelves August 24 from NEM (National Entertainment Media). Presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, the movie will have 5.1 Surround sound on the DVD and DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray. Special features on both include:

• Deleted scenes

• Interviews

• Behind-the-scenes footage

Retail price is $24.98 for each version. Look for a set-visit report on DORIAN GRAY in Fango #296, on sale in August.

2010-06-18T12:25:00.002+01:00

Mary J. Blige to Play Nina Simone in Ealing Studios' Biopic

2010-06-18T11:56:00.002+01:00

Mary J. Blige to Play Nina Simone in Biopic | Billboard.com

Ealing Studios' 2011 projects announced

2010-06-18T11:37:00.001+01:00

Ealing Studios' projects announced

In Cannes, Ealing Studios announced a raft of high-profile projects including the $35m (£24m) Dustin Hoffman project Nightwork. Based on Irwin Shaw’s novel, it is being scripted by Will Davies (How To Train Your Dragon). The film is a light-hearted caper thriller set around Europe.

“We’re interested in finding bigger, glossier movies,” Ealing boss Barnaby Thompson said. “What we are finding is that those old New Line distributors and others are desperate for those bigger movies. They all need films that they can mass market.”

The studio is also developing big budget thriller All That Glitters, scripted by Richard Warlow. This is billed by Thompson as Ealing’s homage to John Huston’sThe Maltese Falcon. It is about the hunt for a necklace that once belonged to Helen of Troy and will have a budget between $25m (£17m) to $35m (£24m).

Meanwhile, Ealing is hatching a third St Trinian’s film, likely to be called St Trinian’s Versus The World. It will shoot either at the end of this year or in early 2011.

Ealing is also to revive the Doctor In The Housefranchise. In Cannes, Thompson confirmed that it is remaking the 1954 Rank Organisation comedy classic which transformed Dirke Bogarde into a major star. Its regular UK distributor Entertainment is co-developing the project and will handle the UK release. Ealing bought the rights from ITV. If the film proves successful, further Doctor films are expected to follow.

The studio is also developing Fishermen’s Friends, a film about a group of Cornish fishermen who enjoyed unlikely chart success singing sea shanties. Thompson bills the project as “a male Calendar Girls”.

2010-06-18T11:25:00.001+01:00

Welcome

2010-06-18T10:58:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the new blog from Ealing Studios. Bookmark us now to keep up to date with all the news from Ealing Studios and our friends.