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Betty Box

April 15, 2023

Betty Evelyn Box, OBE (25 September 1915 – 15 January 1999) was a prolific British film producer, usually credited as Betty E. Box.

Betty Box
Betty Box in 1959
Born
Betty Evelyn Box

(1915-09-25)25 September 1915
Beckenham, Kent, England
Died15 January 1999(1999-01-15) (aged 83)
Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationFilm producer
Spouse(s)Peter Rogers
(m. 1948–1999; her death)

Early life and career

Born in Beckenham, Kent, England, Betty Box initially planned to be a commercial artist or journalist.[1] She entered the motion picture industry in 1942, joining her brother Sydney and his wife, director Muriel Box at Verity Films, where she helped produce more than 200 wartime propaganda shorts.[2] Box:

Sitting around was no good for me, my brother said, and he asked me to work for him. He was running an organisation that made training and recruitment films. I went along as a general dogsbody, and as more men were called up, there were more opportunities for me. We worked from 7 a.m. until 10 or 11 at night. I learnt more in those two years than I would in ten years in peacetime.[3]

Following World War II, she made an easy transition to feature films, beginning with The Years Between (1946).

When her brother assumed control of Gainsborough Pictures that year, he named her Head of Production at the Poole Street, Hoxton studio, where she produced ten films during the next two years.[4][5] While tight budgets and shooting schedules compromised the quality of some of them, others – such as When the Bough Breaks (1947) – proved to be among the most politically interesting films of the period. "Every story I have at the moment has a murder in it", she said in 1947. "It's no wonder I'm being called 'Bloodthirsty Box'."[6] She was also known for the trio of popular Huggetts films, starting with Here Come the Huggetts (1948) and followed by Vote for Huggett and The Huggetts Abroad (1949).[2]

The Rank Organisation

When the Gainsborough studios were closed by Rank in 1949, Box moved to Pinewood Studios, where she collaborated with director Ralph Thomas on some 30-odd films. They began by making thrillers such as Venetian Bird (1952) but then concentrated on comedy.

The biggest success of their career commercially was the seven-film Doctor series, beginning with Doctor in the House (1954) and ending with Doctor in Trouble (1970).[7] The comedies contained a wacky irreverence which clearly struck a chord with contemporary audiences and helped to make stars of the young Dirk Bogarde and Donald Sinden.[8][9][10]

Towards the end of her career, Box said the genre she preferred was comedy:

You can assess laughter. I get pleasure out of making a movie, but to listen to people laughing at what we have made – this is great. I'm a natural pessimist. Comedies are difficult. You can make a good adventure story if you have the money, good actors, and a good story (more often than not a best-selling book), and you'll know the film will please. Comedy is more of an instinctive thing.[11]

Personal life

Betty Box was married to Peter Rogers, producer of the Carry On film series, from 24 December 1948 until her death.[12] It was her second marriage; her first, to a pilot during the war, ended in divorce.

Box and Rogers did not have any children; "We made the choice not to have children", said Box in 1973. "I don't think I would have made a very good mother. You know making a movie is like having a baby – it takes eight weeks to film and nine months to produce."[11]

Box was appointed OBE in 1958.

She died in Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, aged 83 from cancer in 1999.[13]

A posthumous autobiography Lifting the Lid: The Autobiography of Film Producer Betty Box was published in 2000.[14]

Selected filmography

Gainsborough

Rank

Welbeck Films

Other

Unmade films

  • Requiem for a Wren (1959) – story about World War two from a woman's point of view based on script by R. C. Sherriff[15]

References

  1. ^ "FEW OTHER WOMEN DO HER JOB". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 20 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "She Still Governs the Stars". The Age. Melbourne. 10 February 1951. p. 9. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "A BOX OFFICE SUCCESS". The Australian Women's Weekly. 11 April 1973. p. 55. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Producers run in Box family". The Australian Women's Weekly. 29 March 1947. p. 32. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Sydney Box; Betty Evelyn Box (Mrs P.E. Rogers); Muriel Box - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Top-Line British Film Producer Is A Woman". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 21 January 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ STEPHEN WATTS LONDON (16 May 1954). "THE LONDON FILM SCENE: Prize-Winning Movie a Problem to Its Producer -- Money-Maker -- Addenda". New York Times. p. X5.
  8. ^ Morley, Sheridan (1999). Dirk Bogarde: Rank Outsider. Bloomsbury (London) (second edition). ISBN 978-0-7475-4698-6.
  9. ^ "NOW SHE IS BETTY BOX OFFICE". The Mail. Adelaide. 24 July 1954. p. 6 Supplement: SUNDAY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Box, Betty (1915-1999) Biography". Screenonline.org.uk. 25 September 1915. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  11. ^ a b "American is big British movie man". The Australian Women's Weekly. 3 December 1952. p. 57. Retrieved 31 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "MOVIE MARRIAGES—1". The Mail. Adelaide. 8 January 1949. p. 2 Supplement: SUNDAY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ [1] February 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Box, Betty Evelyn (October 2000). Lifting the Lid: The Autobiography of Film Producer, Betty Box, OBE. Book Guild Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85776-489-5.
  15. ^ A. H. WEILER (13 July 1958). "BY WAY OF REPORT: Fox Buyers Eye O'Hara Novel -- Other Items". New York Times. p. X5.

Bibliography

Lifting the Lid by Betty Box, published posthumously in 2000, ISBN 978-1-85776-489-5

External links

April 15, 2023
betty, betty, evelyn, september, 1915, january, 1999, prolific, british, film, producer, usually, credited, betty, 1959bornbetty, evelyn, 1915, september, 1915beckenham, kent, englanddied15, january, 1999, 1999, aged, chiltern, buckinghamshire, englandnational. Betty Evelyn Box OBE 25 September 1915 15 January 1999 was a prolific British film producer usually credited as Betty E Box Betty BoxBetty Box in 1959BornBetty Evelyn Box 1915 09 25 25 September 1915Beckenham Kent EnglandDied15 January 1999 1999 01 15 aged 83 Chiltern Buckinghamshire EnglandNationalityBritishOccupationFilm producerSpouse s Peter Rogers m 1948 1999 her death Contents 1 Early life and career 2 The Rank Organisation 3 Personal life 4 Selected filmography 4 1 Gainsborough 4 2 Rank 4 3 Welbeck Films 4 4 Other 4 5 Unmade films 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksEarly life and career EditBorn in Beckenham Kent England Betty Box initially planned to be a commercial artist or journalist 1 She entered the motion picture industry in 1942 joining her brother Sydney and his wife director Muriel Box at Verity Films where she helped produce more than 200 wartime propaganda shorts 2 Box Sitting around was no good for me my brother said and he asked me to work for him He was running an organisation that made training and recruitment films I went along as a general dogsbody and as more men were called up there were more opportunities for me We worked from 7 a m until 10 or 11 at night I learnt more in those two years than I would in ten years in peacetime 3 Following World War II she made an easy transition to feature films beginning with The Years Between 1946 When her brother assumed control of Gainsborough Pictures that year he named her Head of Production at the Poole Street Hoxton studio where she produced ten films during the next two years 4 5 While tight budgets and shooting schedules compromised the quality of some of them others such as When the Bough Breaks 1947 proved to be among the most politically interesting films of the period Every story I have at the moment has a murder in it she said in 1947 It s no wonder I m being called Bloodthirsty Box 6 She was also known for the trio of popular Huggetts films starting with Here Come the Huggetts 1948 and followed by Vote for Huggett and The Huggetts Abroad 1949 2 The Rank Organisation EditWhen the Gainsborough studios were closed by Rank in 1949 Box moved to Pinewood Studios where she collaborated with director Ralph Thomas on some 30 odd films They began by making thrillers such as Venetian Bird 1952 but then concentrated on comedy The biggest success of their career commercially was the seven film Doctor series beginning with Doctor in the House 1954 and ending with Doctor in Trouble 1970 7 The comedies contained a wacky irreverence which clearly struck a chord with contemporary audiences and helped to make stars of the young Dirk Bogarde and Donald Sinden 8 9 10 Towards the end of her career Box said the genre she preferred was comedy You can assess laughter I get pleasure out of making a movie but to listen to people laughing at what we have made this is great I m a natural pessimist Comedies are difficult You can make a good adventure story if you have the money good actors and a good story more often than not a best selling book and you ll know the film will please Comedy is more of an instinctive thing 11 Personal life EditBetty Box was married to Peter Rogers producer of the Carry On film series from 24 December 1948 until her death 12 It was her second marriage her first to a pilot during the war ended in divorce Box and Rogers did not have any children We made the choice not to have children said Box in 1973 I don t think I would have made a very good mother You know making a movie is like having a baby it takes eight weeks to film and nine months to produce 11 Box was appointed OBE in 1958 She died in Chiltern Buckinghamshire aged 83 from cancer in 1999 13 A posthumous autobiography Lifting the Lid The Autobiography of Film Producer Betty Box was published in 2000 14 Selected filmography EditGainsborough Edit 29 Acacia Avenue 1945 associate producer The Seventh Veil 1946 associate producer A Girl in a Million 1946 associate producer The Years Between 1946 associate producer uncredited Dear Murderer 1947 The Upturned Glass 1947 associate producer When the Bough Breaks 1947 Here Come the Huggetts 1948 Daybreak 1948 associate producer The Blind Goddess 1948 executive producer Miranda 1948 Vote for Huggett 1949 Marry Me 1949 aka I Want to Get Married Christopher Columbus 1949 It s Not Cricket 1949 The Huggetts Abroad 1949 Rank Edit Don t Ever Leave Me 1949 So Long at the Fair 1950 The Clouded Yellow 1950 Appointment with Venus 1951 Venetian Bird 1952 aka The Assassin A Day To Remember 1953 Mad About Men 1954 Doctor in the House 1954 Doctor at Sea 1955 The Iron Petticoat 1956 Checkpoint 1956 Doctor at Large 1957 Campbell s Kingdom 1957 True as a Turtle 1957 uncredited The Wind Cannot Read 1958 A Tale of Two Cities 1958 The 39 Steps 1959 Upstairs and Downstairs 1959 Conspiracy of Hearts 1960 Doctor in Love 1960 No My Darling Daughter 1961 No Love for Johnnie 1961 A Pair of Briefs 1961 The Wild and the Willing 1962 Doctor in Distress 1963 Hot Enough for June 1964 The High Bright Sun 1965 Doctor in Clover 1966 Deadlier Than the Male 1967 Nobody Runs Forever 1968 Some Girls Do 1969 Welbeck Films Edit Doctor in Trouble 1970 Percy 1971 Anyone for Sex 1973 aka The Love Ban Percy s Progress 1974 Other Edit The Olive Tree 1975 TV movie Unmade films Edit Requiem for a Wren 1959 story about World War two from a woman s point of view based on script by R C Sherriff 15 References Edit FEW OTHER WOMEN DO HER JOB The Courier Mail Brisbane 20 September 1954 p 8 Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia a b She Still Governs the Stars The Age Melbourne 10 February 1951 p 9 Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia A BOX OFFICE SUCCESS The Australian Women s Weekly 11 April 1973 p 55 Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia Producers run in Box family The Australian Women s Weekly 29 March 1947 p 32 Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia Sydney Box Betty Evelyn Box Mrs P E Rogers Muriel Box National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 19 February 2023 Top Line British Film Producer Is A Woman The Mercury Hobart Tasmania 21 January 1947 p 10 Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia STEPHEN WATTS LONDON 16 May 1954 THE LONDON FILM SCENE Prize Winning Movie a Problem to Its Producer Money Maker Addenda New York Times p X5 Morley Sheridan 1999 Dirk Bogarde Rank Outsider Bloomsbury London second edition ISBN 978 0 7475 4698 6 NOW SHE IS BETTY BOX OFFICE The Mail Adelaide 24 July 1954 p 6 Supplement SUNDAY MAGAZINE Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia BFI Screenonline Box Betty 1915 1999 Biography Screenonline org uk 25 September 1915 Retrieved 4 July 2014 a b American is big British movie man The Australian Women s Weekly 3 December 1952 p 57 Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia MOVIE MARRIAGES 1 The Mail Adelaide 8 January 1949 p 2 Supplement SUNDAY MAGAZINE Retrieved 17 December 2015 via National Library of Australia 1 Archived February 20 2009 at the Wayback Machine Box Betty Evelyn October 2000 Lifting the Lid The Autobiography of Film Producer Betty Box OBE Book Guild Ltd ISBN 978 1 85776 489 5 A H WEILER 13 July 1958 BY WAY OF REPORT Fox Buyers Eye O Hara Novel Other Items New York Times p X5 Bibliography EditLifting the Lid by Betty Box published posthumously in 2000 ISBN 978 1 85776 489 5External links EditBetty Box at IMDb Betty Box biography and credits at the BFI s Screenonline Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Betty Box amp oldid 1141312499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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