Virgin Films

Virgin Films was a film production company of the early 1980s best known for making 1984 (1984). It was part of the Virgin Group and was headed by Al Clark.[1] Nik Powell worked for the company before going over to Palace Films.

For the current Virgin film production company, see Virgin Produced.

Virgin Films
IndustryMotion picture production
Key people
Al Clark
Nik Powell
Richard Branson
ParentVirgin Group

History

Virgin Films first came to attention distributing The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle (1980), in which they invested £150,000.[2] They expanded into film production in the early 1980s, investing in the short, A Shocking Accident (1982) with Jenny Seagrove and Rupert Everett. This film wound up winning an Oscar and encouraged Richard Branson to expand into filmmaking, appointing Al Clark head of production.[3] In 1983 Virgin announced they would invest £14 million in a series of movies.[4]

Among their productions were Electric Dreams and Secret Places. Their best known movie was an adaptation of 1984 (1984).[5] There was controversy between Virgin and the makers of that film over Virgin's request to introduce a music score by Eurythmics.[6][7][8]

An investment in the notorious flop Absolute Beginners (1986) discouraged them from further involvement in the film world at the time.

At one stage they were connected with Hellraiser (1987).[9]

In 2010 Virgin expanded into film making again with Virgin Produced.

Select filmography

References
  1. Alexander Walker, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984–2000, Orion Books, 2005 p11
  2. Walker 1986 p254
  3. Elder, Bruce (8 November 1997). "VIRGINS, QUEENS AND OUTSIDERS; PROFILE – AL CLARK / PRODUCER". Sydney Morning Herald (LATE ed.). p. 3.
  4. Walker 1986 p284
  5. "A Director's Vision of Orwell's '1984' Draws Inspiration From 1948: Filming '1984' By MICHAEL BILLINGTON". New York Times. 3 June 1984. p. H19.
  6. Chorlton, Penny (14 November 1984). "Virgin changes its 1984 tune". The Guardian. London (UK). p. 2.
  7. Both, Cathy (14 December 1984). "The talk about '1984' is not sweet music". Chicago Tribune. p. n_aI.
  8. lain Blair (6 January 1985). "POP: EURYTHMICS HOPPING MAD OVER '1984' FILM FLAP: 'IT'S A FARCE'". Chicago Tribune. p. k8.
  9. Costello, Matthew J. (27 July 1986). "THRILL MEISTER". Los Angeles Times. p. Q37.

Walker, Alexander, National Heroes: British Cinema in the Seventies and Eighties, Harrap 1986

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