HandMade Films explained

HandMade Films
Type:Private
Industry:Filmmaking, distribution
Successor:GFM Films
GFM Animation
Founder:George Harrison
Denis O'Brien
Location:London, England, UK
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:David Francis

HandMade Films was a British film production and distribution company. Notable films from the studio include Monty Python's Life of Brian, Time Bandits, The Long Good Friday and Withnail and I.[1]

History

Foundation

HandMade Films was formed by former Beatle George Harrison and business partner Denis O'Brien in 1978 to finance the controversial Monty Python film Life of Brian.[1] Harrison had been introduced to O'Brien by actor Peter Sellers in 1973. Soon afterward the two went into business together. The HandMade logo was drawn by Python's animator Terry Gilliam.[2]

When the original financiers of Brian, EMI Films, pulled out of the project less than a week before filming was to commence, the creators had to find other financing.[3] Harrison, a friend and fan of the Pythons, mortgaged his home in order to finance the feature.[1] Eric Idle of the Pythons later called it "the most anybody's ever paid for a cinema ticket in history". Life of Brian grossed $21 million at the box office in the US.

Harrison explained: "The name of the company came about as a bit of a joke. I'd been to Wookey Hole in Somerset ... [near] an old paper mill where they show you how to make old underpants into paper. So I bought a few rolls, and they had this watermark 'British Handmade Paper' ... So we said ... we'll call it Handmade Films."

First film and growth of productions

The first film distributed by HandMade Films was The Long Good Friday (1980), and the first it produced was Time Bandits (1981), a co-scripted project by Monty Pythons Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin. The film featured a new song by Harrison, "Dream Away", in the closing credits. Time Bandits became one of HandMade's most successful and acclaimed efforts; with a budget of $5 million, it earned $35 million in the US within ten weeks of its release.

Harrison served as executive producer for 23 films with HandMade, including the Oscar-nominated Mona Lisa, Shanghai Surprise and Withnail and I. He made several cameo appearances in these films, including a role as a nightclub singer in Shanghai Surprise,[4] for which he recorded five new songs. According to Ian Inglis, Harrison's "executive role in HandMade Films helped to sustain British cinema at a time of crisis, producing some of the country's most memorable movies of the 1980s." In 1987, HandMade Films made an agreement with independent motion picture distributor Island Pictures to distribute four films for limited theatrical release from 1987 to mid-1988: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, Track 29, The Raggedy Rawney and Bellman and True.[5]

Changes of ownership and recent history

Following a series of box office bombs in the late 1980s and excessive debt incurred by O'Brien, which was guaranteed by Harrison, HandMade's financial situation became precarious.[6] The company ceased operations in 1991[1] and was sold three years later to Paragon Entertainment Corporation of Toronto, Canada. Afterward, Harrison sued O'Brien for $25 million for fraud and negligence, resulting in an $11.6 million judgment in 1996.[7] [1]

New owner Paragon Entertainment Corporation restarted production under the HandMade name in 1996–1997.[8] The company's most notable release of that era was Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). In 1999, Patrick Meehan and Cartier Investments acquired HandMade from Paragon.[9] [10]

In June 1999, The Equator Group plc became the exclusive distributor and manager of the HandMade Films library,[11] and attempted to purchase the company from Cartier outright, but negotiations were unsuccessful until a reverse takeover agreement with Hand Made Holdings Ltd[12] announced on 15 May 2006.[13]

The Equator Group reincorporated as HandMade Plc on 8 June 2006[14] and the new company was traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stock exchange (changing its ticker symbol from EQG to HMF). Trading of HandMade plc shares was suspended several times, notably June to October 2009, after the company failed to provide 2008 audit results to shareholders.[15] [16]

On 29 April 2010, Almorah Services Ltd tendered a takeover bid, priced at £0.01 per share in cash[17] and HMF was delisted from the AIM on 29 June 2010.[18] HandMade plc was re-registered as HandMade Limited, a private company, on 2 February 2011.[19] Handmade Limited entered administration on 11 July 2012, liquidation on 24 April 2013,[20] and was dissolved on 22 February 2018.[21]

In 2016, Park Circus purchased distribution rights to the HandMade film library.[22]

In 2017, following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, three HandMade Limited directors were disqualified from acting as a director of a company: Patrick Anthony Meehan for 13 years, David Bernard Ravden for five-and-a-half years, and Peter William Parkinson for four years. The directors misused funds to "pay off relatives" and "on matters undisclosed to advisers, shareholder or potential investors".[20]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorRotten TomatoesMetacritic
1970s
1979Monty Python's Life of BrianTerry Jones95% (64 reviews)[23] 77% (15 reviews)[24]
A Sense of FreedomJohn Mackenziecolspan="2"
1980s
1980The Long Good FridayJohn Mackenzie96% (28 reviews)[25]
1981Time BanditsTerry Gilliam89% (46 reviews)[26] 79% (18 reviews)[27]
TattooBob Brooks33% (6 reviews)[28]
VenomPiers Haggard43% (7 reviews)[29]
The BurningTony Maylam86% (7 reviews)[30]
1982Monty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlTerry Hughes (live segments)
Ian MacNaughton (film segments)		colspan="2"
ScrubbersMai Zetterlingcolspan="2"
The MissionaryRichard Loncrainecolspan="2"
Privates on ParadeMichael Blakemorecolspan="2"
1983BullshotDick Clementcolspan="2"
1984A Private FunctionMalcolm Mowbray88% (8 reviews)[31]
1985WaterDick Clementcolspan="2"
1986Mona LisaNeil Jordan97% (30 reviews)[32]
Shanghai SurpriseJim Goddard13% (8 reviews)[33]
1987Withnail and IBruce Robinson94% (31 reviews)[34]
Bellman and TrueRichard Loncrainecolspan="2"
The Lonely Passion of Judith HearneJack Claytoncolspan="2"
1988Track 29Nicolas Roeg67% (6 reviews)[35]
Five CornersTony Bill78% (9 reviews)[36]
The Raggedy RawneyBob Hoskinscolspan="2"
1989Checking OutDavid Leland20% (5 reviews)[37]
How to Get Ahead in AdvertisingBruce Robinson57% (14 reviews)[38]
Powwow HighwayJonathan Wacks100% (9 reviews)[39]
1990s
1990Cold Dog SoupAlan Mettercolspan="2"
Nuns on the RunJonathan Lynn42% (26 reviews)[40]
New ownership - 1994
1996Intimate RelationsPhilip Goodhewcolspan="2"
1997The Wrong GuyDavid Steinbergcolspan="2"
1998Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsGuy Ritchie75% (65 reviews)[41] 66% (30 reviews)[42]
2000s
2006Wes Archercolspan="2"
2008ManoleteMenno Meyjescolspan="2"
Fifty Dead Men WalkingKari Skogland84% (51 reviews)[43] 57% (16 reviews)[44]
2009Planet 51Jorge Blanco22% (108 reviews)[45] 39% (21 reviews)[46]
CracksJordan Scott43% (49 reviews)[47] 54% (12 reviews)[48]
2010s
2010127 HoursDanny Boyle93% (224 reviews)[49] 82% (38 reviews)[50]
2020s
2024Time BanditsJemaine Clement
Iain Morris
Taika Waititi

References

Works cited

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Barber . Nicholas . How George Harrison – and a very naughty boy – saved British cinema . 3 April 2019 . The Guardian . 3 April 2019.
  2. An Accidental Studio (2019)
  3. .
  4. https://www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/2019/10/23/control-nathan-rabin-40-73-shanghai-surprise Control Nathan Rabin 4.0 #73 Shanghai Surprise —— Nathan Rabin's Happy Place
  5. News: 1987-04-22. Island Gets 4 Handmades. 5. Variety.
  6. Book: Sellers, Robert . 2013 . Very Naughty Boys: The Amazing True Stories of HandMade Films . London . Titan Books . 9781781167083.
  7. Morris, Chris. "George Harrison Wins $11.6 Mill. In Suit Vs. Ex-Partner", Billboard, 3 February 1996: 13
  8. Web site: PARAGON/HANDMADE FILMS TO MAKE FIVE FEATURES IN FIRST HALF OF 1997. Paragon. Entertainment. www.prnewswire.co.uk. 14 December 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171214125056/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/paragonhandmade-films-to-make-five-features-in-first-half-of-1997-156329145.html . 2017-12-14.
  9. News: HandMade offering . . 17 May 2006 . 21 November 2014.
  10. News: Blackwell . David . HandMade set for Aim after £15m deal . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210211255/https://www.ft.com/content/51a5cc9e-e478-11da-8ced-0000779e2340#axzz3JjIjNcTx . 10 December 2022 . subscription . . 16 May 2006 . 21 November 2014 . live .
  11. Web site: Equator Group PLC Interim Results - 6 months ended 30 June 1999 . Investigate.co.uk . FE fundinfo . 28 October 1999 . 3 May 2020.
  12. Web site: Equator Group PLC EGM Results and Board Changes . Investegate.co.uk . FE fundinfo . 8 June 2006 . 3 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Equator Group PLC re-Admission to trading . Investigate.co.uk . FE fundinfo . 15 May 2006 . 3 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name, Company No. 3270629 . PDF . . 8 June 2006 . 3 May 2020.
  15. Web site: HandMade Plc shares suspended as it fails to produce accounts . Geoffrey . McNabb . . 1 July 2009 . 3 May 2020.
  16. Web site: Allen . Katie . Aim-listed HandMade films asks for share suspension . . London . 7 January 2010 . 3 May 2020.
  17. Web site: Almorah Services Ltd Offer for Handmade plc . Investegate.co.uk . FE fundinfo . 29 April 2010 . 3 May 2020.
  18. Web site: Cancellation - Handmade plc . Investegate.co.uk . FE fundinfo . 29 June 2010 . 3 May 2020.
  19. Web site: Certificate of Incorporation on Re-Registration of a Public Company as a Private Company, Company No. 3270629 . PDF . Companies House . 2 February 2011 . 3 May 2020.
  20. Handmade film directors disqualified for misleading investors . live . . 14 February 2017 . 3 May 2020 . 020 7596 6187 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170214193247/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/handmade-film-directors-disqualified-for-misleading-investors . 14 February 2017.
  21. Web site: Dissolved . PDF . Companies House . 22 February 2018 . 3 May 2020.
  22. Web site: McNabb . Geoffrey . Park Circus to sell Handmade Films library . . 13 May 2016 . 3 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) . . . 23 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Monty Python's Life of Brian Reviews . . . 23 October 2019.
  25. Web site: The Long Good Friday (1982) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  26. Web site: Time Bandits (1981) . . Fandango Media . 23 October 2019.
  27. Web site: Time Bandits Reviews . . CBS Interactive . 26 July 2018.
  28. Web site: Tattoo (1981) . . Fandango Media . 23 October 2019.
  29. Web site: Venom (1981) . . Fandango Media . 23 October 2019.
  30. Web site: The Burning (1981) . . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  31. Web site: A Private Function (1985) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 23 October 2019.
  32. Web site: Mona Lisa (1986) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  33. Web site: Shanghai Surprise (1986) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  34. Web site: Withnail and I (1987) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  35. Web site: Track 29 (1988) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  36. Web site: Five Corners (1987) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  37. Web site: Checking Out (1989) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  38. Web site: How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  39. Web site: Powwow Highway (1989) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  40. Web site: Nuns on the Run (1990) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 26 July 2018.
  41. Web site: Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1999) . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . 23 October 2019.
  42. Web site: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Reviews . . . 26 July 2018.
  43. Web site: Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008) . . . July 26, 2018 .
  44. Web site: Fifty Dead Men Walking Reviews . . . July 26, 2018 .
  45. Web site: Planet 51 (2009) . . . October 23, 2019 .
  46. Web site: Planet 51 Reviews . . . July 26, 2018 .
  47. Web site: Cracks (2011) . . . July 26, 2018 .
  48. Web site: Cracks Reviews . . . July 26, 2018 .
  49. Web site: 127 Hours (2010) . . . July 26, 2018 .
  50. Web site: 127 Hours Reviews . . . July 26, 2018 .

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