Euston Films
Encyclopedia
Euston Films was a British
film
and television
production company. It was a subsidiary company of Thames Television
, and operated from the 1970s to the 1990s, producing various series for Thames, which were screened nationally on the ITV
network. The most famous Euston Films productions include Van der Valk (1972), The Sweeney
(1975-78), Minder
(1979-1994), Quatermass
(1979) and Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983). The Sweeney series had two feature film spin-offs, Sweeney and Sweeney 2, which were also produced by Euston.
History=
The company was founded in 1971 when three Thames executives, Lloyd Shirley, Brian Tesler and George Taylor realised there was a market for a new type of television drama. To facilitate this new-style of quick-changing action Euston utilised the use of two crews filming different scenes of the same programme at the same time, which ensured production times were quicker. Euston eschewed studio filming and all material was filmed on location using the more expensive but higher quality 16mm film stock
.
Initial shows such as Special Branch
gained reasonable praise but it was the series The Sweeney
which first gave the company its first critical and commercial success. Using a storyline style known as kick, bollock and scramble, this formula continued in such shows as Fox
and Widows
. In 1979 the company created Minder as a vehicle
for Sweeney star Dennis Waterman
giving the company its longest running show.
With the demise of parent company Thames as an ITV company Euston's output decreased. It continued to make Minder but for Central Television but when this series was axed in 1994 further work was not coming. The company eventually disbanded and no longer exists.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
production company. It was a subsidiary company of Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
, and operated from the 1970s to the 1990s, producing various series for Thames, which were screened nationally on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network. The most famous Euston Films productions include Van der Valk (1972), The Sweeney
The Sweeney
The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
(1975-78), Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
(1979-1994), Quatermass
Quatermass (TV serial)
Quatermass is a British television science fiction serial produced by Euston Films for Thames Television and broadcast on the ITV network in October and November 1979. Like its three predecessors, Quatermass was written by Nigel Kneale...
(1979) and Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983). The Sweeney series had two feature film spin-offs, Sweeney and Sweeney 2, which were also produced by Euston.
History=
The company was founded in 1971 when three Thames executives, Lloyd Shirley, Brian Tesler and George Taylor realised there was a market for a new type of television drama. To facilitate this new-style of quick-changing action Euston utilised the use of two crews filming different scenes of the same programme at the same time, which ensured production times were quicker. Euston eschewed studio filming and all material was filmed on location using the more expensive but higher quality 16mm film stock
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
.
Initial shows such as Special Branch
Special Branch (TV series)
Special Branch is a British television series made by Thames Television for ITV and shown between 1969 and 1974. A police drama series, the action was centred on members of the Special Branch anti-espionage and anti-terrorist department of the London Metropolitan Police.The first two series were...
gained reasonable praise but it was the series The Sweeney
The Sweeney
The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
which first gave the company its first critical and commercial success. Using a storyline style known as kick, bollock and scramble, this formula continued in such shows as Fox
Fox (TV series)
Fox is a British television drama series produced by Euston Films and Thames Television for the ITV network in 1980.The thirteen-part series was based around the lives of the titular Fox family, who lived in London and had gangland connections....
and Widows
Widows (TV series)
Widows was a British primetime television serial aired in 1983, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television and aired on the ITV network....
. In 1979 the company created Minder as a vehicle
Star vehicle
A star vehicle has historically been a movie, play, TV series, or other production whose primary purpose, besides turning a profit, is to enhance someone's career. Vehicles are most commonly produced when a young or inexperienced actor has signed a long-term contract with a major studio...
for Sweeney star Dennis Waterman
Dennis Waterman
Dennis Waterman is a British actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.-Early life:...
giving the company its longest running show.
With the demise of parent company Thames as an ITV company Euston's output decreased. It continued to make Minder but for Central Television but when this series was axed in 1994 further work was not coming. The company eventually disbanded and no longer exists.
Further reading
- Manuel Alvarado and John Stewart, Made for Television: Euston Films Limited. London: Methuen/BFI, 1985. ISBN 0423013106
External links
- John Williams, Euston Films, BFI Screenonline
- Ian Jones, This Article Terminates Here: A Journey Through Euston Films, off the telly.co.uk, March 2006
- Roddy Buxton, Cinema for Television, TMC Behind The Screens