Welcome to the beginnings of a site about Elstree Film Studios. The location has been used for movie / TV production since 1925.

Film Studios at Elstree
Elstree was a major centre for film production from the early days of cinema. There’s a great deal of confusion about which studios at Elstree were used for which movies / TV shows.
This section covers Elstree Film Studios (also known as Shenley Road Studios, British International Pictures, Associated British Pictures, EMI Elstree Studios, Goldcrest Elstree Studios, Cannon Elstree Studios, Elstree Film & TV Studios)

Other Elstree Studios;

• BBC Elstree Centre (also known as Clarendon Road Studios, Neptune Studios, Rock Studios, National Studios, ATV Studios, Central TV Studios).
• Millenium Studios
• Gate Studios (also known as Station Road Studios)
• Danziger Studios (also known as New Elstree Studios)
• MGM Borehamwood (also known as Elstree Way Studios)

Despite reducing the studio size by more than half in the late 1980s, Elstree is still a powerhouse of British film and TV production. A Tesco superstore was built on the former studio property in 1991.

Elstree Studios – History

1925
After having seen the Neptune Studio operation (now the BBC Elstree Centre) which opened in 1914, the young British film producer Herbert Wilcox and a Hollywood producer J.D.Williams began building on a site just over the road from Neptune Studios.

1927
The first feature at the newly christened Elstree Studios (although they were built in Borehamwood) was Madame Pompadour, starring Dorothy Gish, released in 1927.
The facility fell into the hands of Scottish cinema owner John Maxwell after a disagreement with the original investors and Wilcox & Williams. Maxwell named the studio British International Pictures (BIP) and signed up new talent including Alfred Hitchcock, while investing heavily in expanding the facilities. One of the admin buildings is named after Maxwell in recognition of his place in studio history. Maxwell’s first production The White Sheik was produced in 1927 and released just before Madame Pompadour.

1929
Blackmail, being directed by Alfred Hitchcock at Elstree, became the first British film with sound (using the sound on film process). Following the success of The Jazz Singer in the US, silent sequences that had already been shot were discarded and reshot with sound.

1936
February – Several sound stages and admin buildings are destroyed by a fire.

1939
The studio goes dark during the war years, and is used as an ordnance depot and a garrison theatre. John Maxwell died during the war, and his widow sold a large number of his shares to Warner Bros who agreed to rebuild the facility during 1946/47. 
After the reopening, the studio is known as Associated British Picture Corporation.

1951
March – The Queen and Princess Margaret pay a visit to the set of The Magic Box and meet Robert Donat and Maria Schell.

1960s
The studio takes on more TV production as cinema audiences decline, including The Saint and The Avengers.

1970s
Thorn EMI takes over the studios, and appoint Bryan Forbes as Head of Production.
Financial problems continue, and the studio moves to a rental-only facility, where productions simply rent the empty stages, and provide all their own staff. EMI fails to inject enough money into the studios, and Bryan Forbes resigns, after greenlighting movies such as The Railway Children.

1976
George Lucas chooses Elstree to be the production base for Star Wars. Both the sequels also shot here, and he invited Steven Spielberg to also use the studios for Raiders of the Lost Ark and it’s Indiana Jones sequels.
As the studio is once again profitable, a new large silent stage is built.

1980
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is shot at Elstree, with all interior scenes of The Overlook Hotel filmed on soundstages.

1985
Young Sherlock Holmes is shot on soundstages, and a large Victorian Street set is built on the backlot for the project.

1986
Thorn EMI decides to sell the studio, and it’s purchased by Cannon who sold off the film library and produced Superman IV. After financial problems hit the company, they put the studio up for sale, and George Walker of Brent Walker buys it after a successful campaign by local volunteers called Save Our Studio (SOS).
Walker bought the site as a development opportunity and gained permission from Hertsmere Council to demolish much of the facility and sell 12 acres to Tesco provided they retained and rebuilt the remaining 15 acres as a viable, modern studio.
With a general recession kicking in and Brent Walker owing £1,500 million pounds to 48 banks it was obvious things would not going to plan so the SOS Chairman Paul Welsh re-launched the campaign and for 5 years Elstree limped on until actor Tom Conti remarked ” the facility is worse than you would expect to find in a third world country.”

1993
Brent Walker closed the Studio for production with just one or two tenants hanging on. Equipment was sold off, generators removed, flat roofs allowed to leak and heating switched off.

1996
For 3 years the Studio remained moribund until Hertsmere Council took Brent Walker to court and won an amazing victory, which resulted in the historic facility coming under the ownership of the Council.

1999
Stages 1 & 2 were completed in 1999. George Lucas used the stages during the filming of the Star Wars Trilogy, and welcomed the opportunity to name stage 1 the George Lucas Stage. The stages were opened by HRH Prince Charles.
Source: http://www.elstreefilmstudios.co.uk/studiohistory.aspx
With thanks to Paul Welsh
Elstree Studios Historian

Elstree Studios Facilities

Stages 1 & 2
These state of the art sound stages were completed in 1999. George Lucas used Stages 1 and 2 during the filming of the Star Wars Trilogy and welcomed the opportunity of naming Stage 1 the George Lucas Stage. With a height of 15m these stages are ideal for larger set builds, tour rehearsals and productions requiring top quality facilities. Area – 1465sqm. (15,770 sq ft.)
Size – 41.275m x 35.500m (135ft. 6ins x 116ft. 6ins)
Height – 15m (49ft.)

Stage 5
Silent Stage 5 provides an excellent non sound sync stage with good entry and access plus associated offices
Area – 503sqm (5,500 sq ft.)
Size – 28.956m x 17.373m (95ft x 57ft)
Height – 7.625m (25 ft)

Stage 6
Area – 357.096sqm (3,844 sq ft)
Size – 18.897m x 18.897m (62ft x 62ft)
Height – 7.625m (25ft)
Sound stage 6 is a television studio with a laser levelled resin floor, production gallery and associated green rooms, wardrobe area and workshop.

Stage 7
Area – 462sqm (4980 sq ft)
Size – 23.6m x 19.6m (77ft. 6ins x 64ft. 3ins)
Height – 9.8m (32ft)
Sound stage 7 is a television studio with a laser levelled resin television floor.

Stage 8
Area – 700sqm (7,550 sq ft)
Size – 29.7m x 23.6m (97ft. 6ins x 77ft. 6ins)
Height – 9.8m (32ft)
Sound stage 8 is an all purpose studio for both film and television work incorporating a 9 ft. deep water tank.

Stage 9
Area – 700sqm (7,550 sq ft)
Size – 29.7m x 23.6m (97ft. 6ins x 77ft. 6ins)
Height – 9.8m (32ft)
Sound stage 9 is an all purpose studio for both film and television work incorporating a 9 ft. deep water tank. Production offices are located between the stages at first floor level overlooking the stage with an external walkway leading down to the studio.

Backlot

In common with most UK studios, there were never ‘permanent’ backlot sets at Elstree, however, the empty ground was used for a number of huge projects over the years. There was a standing street set during the 1960s which appeared in The Saint and The Avengers. 

• Standing Street set used for various TV projects (1960s) – research continues [ref]
• Hanover Street (1979): Exterior street set 
• The Shining (1980): The Overlook Hotel exterior (using forced perspective) as well as the exterior of the famous box hedge maze was built on the backlot. 
• Young Sherlock Holmes (1986): A large Victorian Street set was built, the year before the backlot was sold off. The set was also used for a Michael Caine film (tbc) [ref]
• Willow (1988): Castle set on a reduced-size backlot

Present Day

The backlot is now much smaller than previously, since the Tesco store and car park was built following sale of the site in 1986. 

• The Crown has built exterior sets of 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace on the backlot throughout production. 

Productions shot at Elstree Studios

Feature Film (163)
Title	Released	Director	IMDB
Allied	2016	Robert Zemeckis
Paddington	2014	Paul King
The World's End / The Worlds End	2013	Edgar Wright
World War Z	2013	Marc Forster
Comes A Bright Day	2012	Simon Aboud
Hyde Park on Hudson	2012	Roger Michell
Jack the Giant Killer	2012	Bryan Singer
Under the Skin	2012	Jonathan Glazer
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows	2011	Guy Ritchie
221B Baker Street interior of Holmes's Apartment
The Veteran	2011	Matthew Hope
X-Men: First Class	2011	Matthew Vaughn
Bonded by Blood	2010	Sacha Bennett
Devil's Playground	2010	Mark McQueen
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1	2010	David Yates
Kick-Ass / Kick Ass	2010	Matthew Vaughan
The first sequence featuring Big Daddy was shot in a sewage plant in East London.
The interior police station was filmed on the 1st floor of the Enigma Building at Elstree.
George Lucas Stage (Stages 1 & 2)
No Ordinary Trifle	2010	James Hacking
Reuniting the Rubins	2010	Yoav Factor
Sus	2010	Robert Heath
The King's Speech	2010	Tom Hooper
44 Inch Chest	2009	Malcolm Venville
Bright Star	2009	Jane Campion
Exam	2009	Stuart Hazeldine
Harry Brown	2009	Daniel Barber
Is Anybody There?	2008	John Crowley
Made of Honor / Made of Honour	2008	Paul Weiland
My Zinc Bed	2008	Anthony Page
Shifty	2008	Eran Creevy
The Other Boleyn Girl	2008	Justin Chadwick
Wild Child	2008	Nick Moore
1408	2007	Mikael Håfström
The axe the fireman uses to break down the hotel door at the end of 1408 is the same axe that Jack Nicholson used in The Shining (1980). Both movies were shot at Elstree Studios.
Goal II: Living the Dream	2007	Jaume Collet-Serra
Hot Fuzz	2007	Edgar Wright
Son of Rambow	2007	Garth Jennings
Amazing Grace	2006	Michael Apted
Breaking and Entering	2006	Anthony Minghella
Flyboys	2006	Tony Bill
Miss Potter	2006	Chris Noonan
Notes on a Scandal	2006	Richard Eyre
Sixty Six	2006	Paul Weiland
The Good Shepherd	2006	Robert De Niro
Bleak House	2005	Various
Color Me Kubrick	2005	Brian W. Cook
Derailed	2005	Mikael Håfström
Goal!	2005	Danny Cannon
Proof	2005	John Madden
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith	2005	George Lucas
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy	2005	Garth Jennings
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London	2004	Kevin Allen
American Daylight	2004	Roger Christian
Closer	2004	Mike Nichols
De-Lovely	2004	Irwin Winkler
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow	2004	Kerry Conran
Trauma	2004	Marc Evans
Ashes and Sand	2003	Bob Blagden
Shanghai Knights	2003	David Dobkin
Wondrous Oblivion	2003	Paul Morrison
Nicholas Nickleby	2002	Douglas McGrath
Star Wars: Episode II - The Attack Of The Clones	2002	George Lucas
Enigma	2001	Michael Apted
Gangster No. 1	2000	Paul McGuigan
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace	1999	George Lucas
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade	1989	Steven Spielberg
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover	1989	Peter Greenaway
Who Framed Roger Rabbit	1988	Robert Zemeckis
Willow	1988	Ron Howard
Principal photography took place between April 2, 1987 and October 1987. Interiors were shot at Elstree, with exteriors shot on a variety of locations in the USA and elsewhere.
Clockwise	1986	Christopher Morahan
Haunted Honeymoon	1986	Gene Wilder
Labyrinth	1986	Jim Henson
Principal photography began April 15, 1985 at Elstree and wrapped September 8 1985. Pre-production lasted around 18 months before this, at Jim Hensons Creature Shop.
The huge Goblin City set was built on Stage 6 at Elstree, along with the largest panoramic background ever painted (at the time).
Lifeforce	1985	Tobe Hooper
Return to Oz	1985	Walter Murch
The mirrored throne room set cost $352,500 and the overall budget was $25 million.
Young Sherlock Holmes	1985	Barry Levinson
Victorian Street was built on the backlot. The Egyptian temple set, among many others, was built on soundstages.
Give My Regards to Broad Street	1984	Peter Webb
Sequence featuring Paul McCartney arriving at the Thorn EMI Elstree Studios, with shots of the exterior of soundstages, gatehouse etc, along with an internal corridor and soundstage.
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes	1984	Hugh Hudson
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom	1984	Steven Spielberg
Eureka	1983	Nicolas Roeg
Never Say Never Again	1983	Irvin Kershner
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi	1983	Richard Marquand
The Meaning of Life	1983	Terry Jones
The Boys in Blue	1982	Val Guest
The Dark Crystal	1982	Jim Henson, Frank Oz
Raiders of the Lost Ark	1981	Steven Spielberg
The opening sequence featuring Indy's escape from the boulder was shot on Stage 4.
It's claimed that some snakes escaped from the Well of Souls set at Elstree and have established a small colony among the dark soundstages.
The Great Muppet Caper	1981	Jim Henson
Flash Gordon	1980	Mike Hodges
George and Mildred	1980	Peter Frazer-Jones
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back	1980	Irvin Kershner
The Shining	1980	Stanley Kubrick
The Colorado Lounge hotel foyer was built on Stage 03. The snowy maze interior was built on Stage 01 at Elstree Studios. The apartment was built on Stage 08 and Stage 09. The playroom and then toilet sets were built in the Elstree Workshops as all of the soundstages were used. Corridors were constructed to link the soundstages up so that continuous shots were possible between stages.
Murder by Decree	1979	Bob Clark
Quadrophenia	1979	Franc Roddam
Are You Being Served?	1977	Bob Kellett
Julia	1977	Fred Zinneman
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope	1977	George Lucas
The bulk of the film was shot at Elstree apart from three specific scenes which overflowed into Shepperton.
Valentino	1977	Ken Russell
The Likely Lads	1976	Michael Tuchner
To the Devil a Daughter	1976	Peter Sykes
Voyage of the Damned	1976	Stuart Rosenberg
One of our Dinosaurs Is Missing	1975	Robert Stevenson
Interiors filmed at EMI Elstree Studios
Man About the House	1974	John Robins
Murder on the Orient Express	1974	Sidney Lumet
All interior shots of the train were filmed at Elstree Studios.
The Dove	1974	Charles Jarrott
The outdoor water tank was used for some shots, alongside a large amount of location shooting.
The Maids	1974	Christopher Miles
Father Dear Father	1973	William G. Stewart
Holiday on the Buses	1973	Bryan Izzard
Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall	1972	Norman Cohen
For the Love of Ada	1972	Ronnie Baxter
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde	1971	Roy Ward Baker
Get Carter	1971	Mike Hodges
The Boy Friend (aka The Boyfriend)	1971	Ken Russell
Stage 02
Crescendo	1970	Alan Gibson
Railway Children, The	1970	Lionel Jeffries
The Man Who Haunted Himself	1970	Basil Dearden
Doppelganger / Journey to the Far Side of the Sun	1969	Robert Parrish
Devil Rides Out, The	1968	Terence Fisher
Production began on 7 August 1967 at Elstree. One of the only Hammer Horrors not to be based at Bray Studios.
Secret Ceremony	1968	Joseph Losey
Dance of the Vampires (aka Fearless Vampire Killers)	1967	Roman Polanski
Vampire Ballroom scene
She	1965	Robert Day
The Nanny	1965	Seth Holt
Crooks in Cloisters	1964	Jeremy Summers
Rattle of a Simple Man	1964	Muriel Box
The Bargee	1964	Duncan Wood
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb	1964	Michael Carreras
Wonderful Life	1964	Sidney J. Furie
Summer Holiday	1963	Peter Yates
Lolita	1962	Stanley Kubrick
Naked Edge, The	1961	Michael Anderson
The Guns of Navarone	1961	J.Lee Thompson
The outdoor water tank was used extensively.
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone	1961	José Quintero
The Young Ones	1961	Sidney J. Furie
School for Scoundrels	1960	Robert Hamer
The Sundowners	1960	Fred Zinnemann
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll	1960	Terence Fisher
Devil's Disciple, The	1959	Guy Hamilton
Tommy the Toreador	1959	John Paddy Carstairs
Ice Cold in Alex	1958	J. Lee Thompson
Tarzan and the Lost Safari	1957	H. Bruce Humberstone
These Dangerous Years	1957	Herbert Wilcox
Around the World in Eighty Days	1956	Michael Anderson
interiors: London Lloyd's office, club, Hesketh-Baggott's office of employment
Moby Dick	1956	John Huston
The water tank on the Elstree backlot was constructed for this movie, and featured extensively. The current Big Brother house is built on top of the old tank.
The Dam Busters	1955	Michael Anderson
Duel in the Jungle	1954	George Marshall
140 feet of the Zambezi River was built under an iron roof at Elstree Studios, bordered on one side by "jungle". The water was heated to 70 degrees, and was kept moving by two 10 foot electric paddles at the end of the 150 tank.
Happy Ever After	1954	Mario Zampi
Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue	1954	Harold French
The Yellow Balloon	1953	J. Lee Thompson
Angels One Five	1952	George More O'Ferrall
Where's Charley	1952	David Butler
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.	1951	Raoul Walsh
Happy Go Lovely	1951	H. Bruce Humberstone
Laughter in Paradise	1951	Mario Zampi
The Magic Box	1951	John Boulting
Stage Fright	1950	Alfred Hitchcock
The Dancing Years	1950	Harold French
Jamaica Inn	1939	Alfred Hitchcock
This'll Make You Whistle	1938	Herbert Wilcox
Juno and the Paycock	1930	Alfred Hitchcock
Atlantic	1929	Ewald André Dupont
Blackmail	1929	Alfred Hitchcock
Piccadilly	1929	E.A. DuPont
The Flying Scotsman	1929	Castleton Knight
The Manxman	1929	Alfred Hitchcock
Champagne	1928	Alfred Hitchcock
Moulin Rouge	1928	Ewald André Dupont
The Farmer's Wife	1928	Alfred Hitchcock
Madame Pompadour	1927	Herbert Wilcox
The Ring	1927	Alfred Hitchcock
TV Series (21)
Title	Released	Creator / Showrunner	IMDB
The Crown	2016-2023	Peter Morgan
The Voice UK	2012
Live shows broadcast from the George Lucas Stage
Murderland	2009
Lewis	2007-2012	Various
Secret Diary of a Call Girl	2007-2011	Lucy Prebble
Are You Smarter Than A Ten Year Old	2007 - 2009
Gigglebiz	2007
Dancing on Ice	2006 -	Various
Stage 2 of the George Lucas Stage.
Big Brother (UK)	2000 - 2012	Various
The first two series of Big Brother were produced at 3 Mills Studio in Bow, East London. From Series Three onwards, the show was based at Elstree Studios. The main Big Brother house was built on top of the exterior water tank on the backlot. The show also used Stage 1 of the George Lucas Stage complex.
The Vice	1999-2003	Rob Pursey, Barry Simner
Wives and Daughters	1999	Various
Who Wants to be a Millionaire	1998 -	Various
The top rated quiz show moved to Elstree Studios in 1998. Before this it was filmed at Wembley Park Studios. The show has been based exclusively in Stage 9 at Elstree since 2002.
Drop the Dead Donkey	1990 - 1998	Various
Birds of a Feather	1989-1998	Maurice Gran, Laurence Marks
Storyteller, The	1988	Various
The Storyteller	1987	Jim Henson
Eastenders	1985 -	Various
The Queen Vic interior fire scenes were shot on Stage 1 of the George Lucas Stage (September 2010). The show is mostly filmed at the BBC Elstree Centre (a short walk away from the Elstree Film Studios), but for these key scenes, the higher roof and increased space were necessary.
The Shillingbury Tales	1981	Various
The Saint	1962-1969	Various
Sir Francis Drake	1961	Various
The Avengers	1961	Various
Commercial (1)
Title	Released	Director	IMDB
EE: Kevin Bacon	2012	Ringan Ledwidge
Saatchi & Saatchi campaign. Interiors shot on George Lucas Stage 1 at Elstree.
Music Video (11)
Title	Released	Director	IMDB
One Direction: Kiss You	2013	Vaughan Arnell
George Lucas Stage
Emeli Sandé - Next To Me	2012	Charles Mehling
George Lucas Stage 01
Little Mix: Wings	2012
Stage 08
Matt Cardle: Amazing	2012	Sean de Sparengo
Katie Melua: The Flood	2010	Kevin Godley
MiMi: Don't You Mourn The Sun	2010	Richard Stow
Muse: Undisclosed Desires	2009	Jonas et Francois
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: Ebony and Ivory	1982	Keith McMillan
Paul McCartney: London Town	1978	Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Paul McCartney & Wings: Mull of Kintyre (Version 3)	1977	Nicholas Ferguson
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody	1975	Bruce Gowers
Recorded on 10 November 1975 at Elstree where the band were rehearsing for a tour, by a company called Trilion who supplied sports coverage for ITV. The cameraman was Barry Dodd and assistant director/floor manager Jim McCutcheon.
TV Movie (7)
Title	Released	Director	IMDB
Dustbin Baby	2008	Juliet May
Planespotting	2005	Christopher Menaul
Margery and Gladys	2003	Geoffrey Sax
The Lost Prince	2003	Stephen Poliakoff
Dead Gorgeous	2002	Sarah Harding
Duel of Hearts	1991	John Hough
A Ghost in Monte Carlo	1990	John Hough
Web Serial (1)
Title	Released	Director	IMDB
Girl Number 9	2009	James Moran, Dan Turner

More Information

• Elstree Studios Virtual Tour
• Elstree Studios Official Website
• Elstree Calling – Amazingly detailed site about Elstree Studios history