BASIC FILMS LTD

(1945-197?)

Basic Films was a film company started in 1945 by documentary producer Rod K Neilson Baxter, his wife documentary filmmaker Kay Mander and writer/director J P "Sam" Napier-Bell. Based at 18 Soho Square, its remit was to make documentary, scientific and educational short films.

One reason for the formation of the company was to establish their own animation department. Diagrams and animated inserts were an important element of educational films, but there was a more specific purpose - to retain animator Cynthia Whitby. In her BECTU History Project, interview, Kay Mander explains, "We started it {Basic Films] because the animator was in danger of getting called up, and the only way we could avoid losing her - she'd been at Shell - was to start a company so that she would continue doing valuable work."

The animation department was headed by Cynthia Whitby with Alice Fenyves as her assistant. Alice left during 1946 to join George Moreno's British Animated Productions, leaving Cynthia as director of animation.

The board of directors consisted of Sam, Rod and Kay plus two members of staff (selected on a rotating basis). At the end of 1949 Sam proposed they start making cinema commercials and the staff directors voted with him. Rod was opposed to commercials work and decided to leave the company, Kay being obliged to quit with him. Leon Clore, from the Crown Film Unit, was invited to take over running the company. Cynthia's assistants consisted of Brenda Taylor, Victor Procter, Barbara Vincent and Thelma Sewell.

The company continued to make documentaries into the 1970s. The name was resurrected by Nicholas and Duncan Napier-Bell between 1995-2006.

Filmography (Animated or with Animated Sequences)

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