Mancunian Film Company Shorts are vivid snapshots of a time gone by. If anybody out there can provide any additional information to the SHORTS output of John E Blakeley and Mancunian Films, please email CP Lee so that the history can be updated ...

RETURN to the full-length Films output of Mancunian Productions

There are rumours of John E’s involvement in making several shorts in the 1920s. One such rumour concerns a promotional two-reeler shot on location in Manchester city centre with the football legend Billy Meredith to publicise the film The Ball of Fortune (1926), which was distributed by John E Blakeley Ltd. It’s also possible that John E may have been responsible for shooting an ‘actuality’ called The Unveiling of the Chapel Street Roll of Honour (1919) for the Manchester Film Producing Company.

*** The 'Shorts' ***

Please see film clip at the section on Bella's Birthday, Quicktime Movie Clip and others (Hotun YouTube links)

The Songs That Made a Star (1938)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)

Status – Lost

 

Randle and All That (1945)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)

Held by NWFA, Blakeley’s Films

See Arnley and Gloria on Hotun youtube

See Donovan and Byl on Hotun youtube

Seaside Frolics (1949)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)

Held by NWFA, BBC, Blakeley’s Films

 

Bella's Birthday (1949)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)

Held by NWFA,Blakeley’s Films

Press Release from Mancunian Film Archives

Bella's Birthday is a short film that was made up of out-takes from School for Randle.

This clip features a location shot from the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, and the usual bit of banter between Randle, Pleon and Young, accompanied by Bella - Maudie Edwards.

Click here to see Film Clip

Showground of the North (1950)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)
Producer & Director Tom Blakeley
Studio – Shot on location

Held by NWFA

Showground of the North Script p1 - Original Mancunian Archive

Showground of the North Script p2 - Original Mancunian Archive

Showground of the North Script p3 - Original Mancunian Archive

Showground of the North Script p4 - Original Mancunian Archive

Elephants Come To Town (1953)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)
Producer & Director Tom Blakeley
Studio – Shot on location

Held by NWFA

Elephants Come to Town Script - Original Mancunian Archive Material

Cast – Chipperfield’s Circus
Synopsis – Another circus short
Status – Held by NWFA

 

Full House (1953)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)

Held by NWFA

 

Lovely Weekend (1956)
Production Company – Film Studios Manchester Ltd (Mancunian Film Corporation)
Produced & Directed by Tom Blakeley
Studio – Shot on location in Chester and Milverton Lodge Manchester


Held by NWFA, Blakeley’s Films

Cast – June Peters, Marlene Nelson, Deirdre Clear
Synopsis – Three young women head off in their open topped sports-car to spend a weekend away in a caravan in Chester. There they visit the shops, the races, go boating and have a dance at an open-air restaurant.
Status – Held by NWFA
Despite the fact that this short travelogue looks all set to be a 1950s stag film – it isn’t. It is in fact the only colour film ever made by Film Studios Manchester

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