Twickenham Film Studios
Ralph Jupp opened the doors to Twickenham Film Studios in 1913 on a site that once held an ice rink. This new facility became the largest film studio in the United Kingdom at the time of its construction. The London Film Company, which had just been formed, built these studios to support production efforts during the First World War. Despite early promise, the company struggled financially and ceased operations by 1920. Following this collapse, the physical plant was sold off to various independent producers who kept the lights burning.
Julius Hagen took control of the studio during the 1930s with a strategy focused on rapid film production. He manufactured quota quickies for major American studios that were legally required to release British films annually. Hagen often filmed all day and then brought in different crews and actors to work through the night. His efficiency allowed him to churn out large numbers of films of varying quality. After the success of Alexander Korda's The Private Life of Henry VIII in 1933, he shifted focus toward higher quality productions like This Week of Grace. He spent £100,000 rebuilding the facilities but failed when his own distribution attempts were blocked by American studios. In 1937, Hagen's company went bankrupt amidst a wider slump in British filmmaking.
Alfred Shipman formed Alliance Film Studios Limited in 1946 to control Riverside, Southall, and Twickenham Film Studios. After his death in 1956, his sons Gerald and Kenneth Shipman took over operations. The family managed the site until financial troubles mounted decades later. By February 2012, the studio entered administration and faced closure before June. A new owner acquired the property in August 2012 just one year before its centenary. The Creative District Improvement Co. subsequently purchased the facility in February 2020 with backing from the British Airways Pension Fund.
The Italian Job featuring Michael Caine and Noël Coward was filmed at Twickenham during the late 1960s. Roman Polanski shot Repulsion there as his first English language film in 1965. The Beatles recorded their feature films A Hard Day's Night and Help! within these walls between 1964 and 1965. They also used the studios while rehearsing music for their album Let It Be. Footage from these sessions became the setting of a three-part documentary directed by Peter Jackson. Both the film and the album were released in 1970 after years of post-production work.
Stage One contains a concrete water tank housed underneath the floor boards to allow for underwater filming scenes. A camera pit at one end allows viewers to see through a glass screen beneath the water surface. This stage has hosted countless productions including An American Werewolf in London and A Fish Called Wanda. The studio features three sound-proofed stages that operate on a four wall basis. Adjacent departments include dressing rooms, star apartments, make-up areas, hairdressing suites, wardrobe facilities, and camera rooms. Prop rooms, art departments, and office suites sit nearby to support daily operations.
Recent high-profile projects filmed or post-produced here include Top Gun: Maverick and Bohemian Rhapsody. Kenneth Branagh shot Belfast and The Magic Flute using the facility's advanced capabilities. Black Mirror ran as a television series from 2014 to 2018 within the studios. The Richard Attenborough Theatre serves as the heart of the state-of-the-art sound center. Two largest re-recording theatres now feature 4K DCI Projection and HDX Pro Tools rigs as standard equipment. The site remains one of the few Dolby Premier certified studios in the United Kingdom today.
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Common questions
When did Ralph Jupp open Twickenham Film Studios?
Ralph Jupp opened the doors to Twickenham Film Studios in 1913 on a site that once held an ice rink. This new facility became the largest film studio in the United Kingdom at the time of its construction.
Who controlled Twickenham Film Studios during the 1930s and what was their strategy?
Julius Hagen took control of the studio during the 1930s with a strategy focused on rapid film production. He manufactured quota quickies for major American studios that were legally required to release British films annually.
What happened to Twickenham Film Studios by February 2012?
By February 2012, the studio entered administration and faced closure before June. A new owner acquired the property in August 2012 just one year before its centenary.
Which famous bands recorded feature films at Twickenham Film Studios between 1964 and 1965?
The Beatles recorded their feature films A Hard Day's Night and Help! within these walls between 1964 and 1965. They also used the studios while rehearsing music for their album Let It Be.
How many sound-proofed stages does Twickenham Film Studios currently operate?
The studio features three sound-proofed stages that operate on a four wall basis. Adjacent departments include dressing rooms, star apartments, make-up areas, hairdressing suites, wardrobe facilities, and camera rooms.