Sir John Woolf and James Woolf of Romulus Films
Encyclopedia
Sir
John Woolf (15 March 1913, London
– 28 June 1999, London) and James Woolf (1919, London – 29 May 1966) were two distinguished British
film producers. John and James founded the production companies Romulus Films and Remus Films, which were active during the 1950s and 1960s. They were also sons-in-law of Victor Saville
.
of two Alfred Hitchcock
films, Downhill
(1927) and Easy Virtue (1928). John had been the sales manager of his father's General Film Distributors
company until it was taken over by Rank.
Following World War II, the brothers went to S.G. Warburg for financial backing for their new company called Independent Film Distributors. Following several failures, the Woolfs established their own new production company Romulus Films with its first release being Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
. Romulus struck international critical and financial success with several films with John Huston
, The African Queen and Moulin Rouge
. The company also made several films with producer Daniel Angel and signed their first contract star, Laurence Harvey
grooming him for stardom. The Woolfs established a twin company Remus Films.
James Woolf died on 29 May 1966, a suicide
according to the Internet Movie Database
.
Sir John Woolf's son, Jonathan Woolf has revived Romulus films as of 1999.
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
John Woolf (15 March 1913, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
– 28 June 1999, London) and James Woolf (1919, London – 29 May 1966) were two distinguished British
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 producers. John and James founded the production companies Romulus Films and Remus Films, which were active during the 1950s and 1960s. They were also sons-in-law of Victor Saville
Victor Saville
Victor Saville was an English film director, producer and screenwriter. He directed 39 films between 1927 and 1954...
.
Biography
Sir John Woolf and James Woolf were the sons of the British producer C. M. Woolf (1879–1942), who was co-producer with Michael BalconMichael Balcon
Sir Michael Elias Balcon was an English film producer, known for his work with Ealing Studios.-Background:...
of two Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
films, Downhill
Downhill (film)
Downhill is a 1927 silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the play Down Hill. It is Hitchcock's fifth film as director.-Plot:...
(1927) and Easy Virtue (1928). John had been the sales manager of his father's General Film Distributors
General Film Distributors
General Film Distributors , was a British film distribution company based in London. It was established in 1935 by the British producer C. M. Woolf together with J. Arthur Rank. The company was incorporated in Rank's General Cinema Finance Corporation in 1936, but continued to operate under its...
company until it was taken over by Rank.
Following World War II, the brothers went to S.G. Warburg for financial backing for their new company called Independent Film Distributors. Following several failures, the Woolfs established their own new production company Romulus Films with its first release being Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman is a 1951 British drama film made by Romulus Films and released by MGM in the United States. It was directed by Albert Lewin and produced by Joe Kaufmann and Albert Lewin from his own screenplay, based on the legend of The Flying Dutchman.It starred Ava Gardner and...
. Romulus struck international critical and financial success with several films with John Huston
John Huston
John Marcellus Huston was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , The Asphalt Jungle , The African Queen , Moulin Rouge...
, The African Queen and Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
. The company also made several films with producer Daniel Angel and signed their first contract star, Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey was a Lithuanian-born actor who achieved fame in British and American films.- Early life :Harvey maintained throughout his life that his birth name was Laruschka Mischa Skikne. However, his legal name was Zvi Mosheh Skikne. He was the youngest of three boys born to Ber "Boris" and...
grooming him for stardom. The Woolfs established a twin company Remus Films.
James Woolf died on 29 May 1966, a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
according to the Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
.
Sir John Woolf's son, Jonathan Woolf has revived Romulus films as of 1999.
Selected filmography
- The African Queen (19511951 in filmThe year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
) - Moulin RougeMoulin Rouge (1952 film)Moulin Rouge is a 1952 film directed by John Huston, produced by Sir John Woolf and James Woolf of Romulus Films and released by United Artists. The film is set in Paris in the late 19th century, following artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in the city's bohemian sub-culture in and around the...
(19521952 in filmThe year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
) - Room at the Top (1959)1959 in filmThe year 1959 in film involved some significant events, with Ben-Hur winning a record 11 Academy Awards.-Events:* The Three Stooges make their 190th and last short film, Sappy Bull Fighters....
- Life at the TopLife at the Top (film)Life at the Top is a 1965 drama film made by Romulus Films and released by Columbia Pictures. It is a sequel to Room at the Top. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and produced by James Woolf with William Kirby as associate producer. The screenplay was by Mordecai Richler, based on the novel Life at...
(1965)1965 in filmThe year 1965 in film involved some significant events, with The Sound of Music topping the U.S. box office.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:... - Of Human BondageOf Human Bondage (1964 film)Of Human Bondage is a 1964 British drama film directed by Ken Hughes. The MGM release, the third screen adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's 1915 novel, was written by Bryan Forbes.-Synopsis:...
(1964)1964 in filmThe year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released.... - Oliver!Oliver! (film)Oliver! is a 1968 British musical film directed by Carol Reed. The film is based on the stage musical Oliver!, with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The screenplay was written by Vernon Harris....
(1968)1968 in filmThe year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :... - Roald Dahl's Tales of the UnexpectedTales of the Unexpected (TV series)Tales of the Unexpected is a British television series originally aired between 1979 and 1988, made by Anglia Television for ITV. Filming began in 1978.The series was an anthology of different tales...
(1979)1979 in filmThe year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
(TV)
External links
(Romulus Films} (Remus Films)- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/organisation/12102?view=credit (Remus Films at BFI)
- Sir John Woolf obituary