Robert Clark (1905–1984) was a Scottish film executive best known for being head of production at Associated British Picture Corporation in the late 1940s and 1950s. It was a successful time for the company, films including The Dam Busters (1955).[1]
In 1949, he announced ABPC would make ten films at a total cost of £2 million.[4] He was heavily reliant on the choices of his scenario director, Frederick Gotfurt. Clark lost nearly £530,000 on production in his first two years in charge and recouped only £330,000 in distribution. He reduced production costs by remaking old company properties, co-financing with the NFFC and going into co productions.[5]
According to writers Sue Harper and Vince Porter, the films in which Clark had the most personal interest were The Dam Busters (1955), The Good Companions (1957) and The Moonraker (1958).[6] He was removed from his position as head of production in January 1958 after a series of clashes with Warner Bros and was replaced with C.J. Latta. Following his removal as Director of Production at Elstree Studios, Clark was appointed Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of ABPC, a position he retained until the takeover of the group by EMI in 1969, a move fiercely opposed by Clark and most fellow directors.
Robert Clark also acquired a majority shareholding in the Inverness-based Caledonian Associated Cinemas Ltd, Scotland's biggest exhibition chain, and remained Chairman of this group until his death.
^Vincent Porter (2000). "The Robert Clark Account: Films released in Britain by Associated British Pictures, British Lion, MGM, and Warner Bros., 1946‐1957". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. Vol. 20, no. 4. pp. 469–511. doi:10.1080/713669742.
^"Her Fluttering Eyelashes Brought Her Fame". The World's News. No. 2638. New South Wales, Australia. 12 July 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 10 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"BRITISH FIRM TO MAKE 10 MAJOR FILMS IN '49". New York Times. 25 February 1949. p. 27.
robert, clark, film, executive, robert, clark, 1905, 1984, scottish, film, executive, best, known, being, head, production, associated, british, picture, corporation, late, 1940s, 1950s, successful, time, company, films, including, busters, 1955, among, clark,. Robert Clark 1905 1984 was a Scottish film executive best known for being head of production at Associated British Picture Corporation in the late 1940s and 1950s It was a successful time for the company films including The Dam Busters 1955 1 Among Clark s achievements were negotiating a contract with Warner Bros 2 and signing Audrey Hepburn 3 and Richard Todd to long term contracts before they were stars He also financed early films of J Lee Thompson and Michael Anderson In 1949 he announced ABPC would make ten films at a total cost of 2 million 4 He was heavily reliant on the choices of his scenario director Frederick Gotfurt Clark lost nearly 530 000 on production in his first two years in charge and recouped only 330 000 in distribution He reduced production costs by remaking old company properties co financing with the NFFC and going into co productions 5 According to writers Sue Harper and Vince Porter the films in which Clark had the most personal interest were The Dam Busters 1955 The Good Companions 1957 and The Moonraker 1958 6 He was removed from his position as head of production in January 1958 after a series of clashes with Warner Bros and was replaced with C J Latta Following his removal as Director of Production at Elstree Studios Clark was appointed Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of ABPC a position he retained until the takeover of the group by EMI in 1969 a move fiercely opposed by Clark and most fellow directors Robert Clark also acquired a majority shareholding in the Inverness based Caledonian Associated Cinemas Ltd Scotland s biggest exhibition chain and remained Chairman of this group until his death Select films under Clark s regime editThe Hasty Heart 1949 Happy Go Lovely 1950 Last Holiday 1950 Portrait of Clare 1950 The Franchise Affair 1950 Angels One Five 1951 Young Wives Tale 1951 The Woman s Angle 1952 The Yellow Balloon 1952 Father s Doing Fine 1952 Knave of Hearts 1954 The Weak and the Wicked 1954 It s Great to be Young 1956 Chase a Crooked Shadow 1958 Ice Cold in Alex 1958 References edit Vincent Porter 2000 The Robert Clark Account Films released in Britain by Associated British Pictures British Lion MGM and Warner Bros 1946 1957 Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television Vol 20 no 4 pp 469 511 doi 10 1080 713669742 Latest Gossip From Film Worlds The Newcastle Sun No 9798 New South Wales Australia 28 May 1949 p 10 Retrieved 10 April 2016 via National Library of Australia Her Fluttering Eyelashes Brought Her Fame The World s News No 2638 New South Wales Australia 12 July 1952 p 1 Retrieved 10 April 2016 via National Library of Australia BRITISH FIRM TO MAKE 10 MAJOR FILMS IN 49 New York Times 25 February 1949 p 27 Harper and Porter p 77 78 British Cinema of the 1950s The Decline of Deference By Sue Harper Vincent Porter p 76 ISBN 9780198159346 External links editRobert Clark at IMDb nbsp This biographical article related to film in the United Kingdom is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This Scottish biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Clark film executive amp oldid 1189834505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
