Anglo-Amalgamated

Anglo-Amalgamated Productions
Company type	Private
Industry	Film production and distribution
Founded	1945
Founder	Nat Cohen, Stuart Levy
Defunct	1971
Fate	Became part of EMI Films; rebranded as Anglo-EMI
Successor	EMI Films
Headquarters	United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, United States (distribution)
Key people	Nat Cohen, Stuart Levy, Julian Wintle, Peter Rogers
Products	Films (Carry On series, Edgar Wallace Mysteries, etc.)
Owner	Associated British Picture Corporation (from 1962, majority by 1967)
Parent	EMI Films (after merger)

Anglo-Amalgamated Productions was a UK-based film production company overseen by Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy, active from 1945 until approximately 1971, when it became part of EMI Films. The studio primarily focused on producing low-cost and secondary features, often created at Merton Park Studios. It also functioned as the British distributor for numerous titles from American International Pictures (AIP), which reciprocally handled the distribution of Anglo-Amalgamated's productions within the United States.

This company is particularly recognized for delivering the initial 12 installments of the Carry On series (all filmed at Pinewood Studios) as well as various B-movie franchises including The Scales of Justice, Scotland Yard, and the Edgar Wallace Mysteries. Among its notable productions are Michael Powell's Peeping Tom (1960), John Schlesinger's A Kind of Loving (1962) and Billy Liar (1963), along with Ken Loach's Poor Cow (1967).

In collaboration with American International Pictures, Anglo-Amalgamated co-produced the last two entries in Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe collection, namely The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia (both released in 1964), which were shot in the United Kingdom. The company’s distribution arm operated under the name Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd, while its production activities were conducted through Insignia Films.

History

Cinema proprietors Cohen and Levy combined their ventures to establish Anglo-Amalgamated, initially focusing on distributing Hal Roach re-releases and documentary films. They secured a distribution agreement with American Leasing Corporation to handle American movies within the British market.

In 1951, Anglo-Amalgamated commenced film production with Assassin for Hire at Merton Park Studios, marking the beginning of a significant collaboration. The company later ventured into higher-budget productions such as The Sleeping Tiger, developing a strong working relationship with producer Julian Wintle. The commercial success of their 1957 release The Tommy Steele Story enhanced financial returns, alongside fruitful partnerships with producer Peter Rogers on the Carry On franchise.

By 1959, Kinematograph Weekly acknowledged Anglo-Amalgamated as Britain's foremost independent distributor, crediting their marketing expertise and talent acquisition strategies. Although there were intentions to produce a costly D-Day themed film, this project did not come to fruition.

The year 1961 represented Anglo-Amalgamated’s most prosperous financial period. In 1962, the Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) acquired a 50% ownership stake in the company, which increased to 74% by 1967. At its zenith, Anglo-Amalgamated generated annual revenues amounting to £3 million. Following a strategic alliance with EMI Films, it was rebranded as "Anglo-EMI".

Currently, the rights to Anglo-Amalgamated’s film catalog are held by StudioCanal, via Lumiere Pictures and Television.

Selected credits

Assassin for Hire (1951)
Mystery Junction (1951)
Ghost Ship (1952)
Wide Boy (1952)
The Floating Dutchman (1952)
Street of Shadows (1953)
Noose for a Lady (1953)
Counterspy (1953)
The Sleeping Tiger (1954)
Dangerous Voyage (1954)
Little Red Monkey (1955)
Postmark for Danger (1955)
Dial 999 (1955)
Timeslip (1955)
Confession (1955)
The Brain Machine (1956)
The Intimate Stranger (1956)
Johnny, You're Wanted (1956)
The Hypnotist (1957)
Cat Girl (1957)
The Counterfeit Plan (1957)
The Flying Scot (1957)
The Tommy Steele Story (1957)
Man in the Shadow (1957)
Carry on Sergeant (1958)
The Duke Wore Jeans (1958)
Escapement (1958)
The Long Knife (1958)
Carry On Nurse (1959)
Horrors of the Black Museum (1959)
Carry On Teacher (1959)
Please Turn Over (1959)
The Headless Ghost (1959)
Watch Your Stern (1960)
Crossroads to Crime (1960)
Peeping Tom (1960)
No Kidding (1960)
Carry On Constable’’ (1960)
’’Circus of Horrors’’ (1960)
’’ The Criminal ’’ (1960)
’’ Carry on Regardless ’’ (1961)
’’ Payroll ’’ (1961)
’’ Dentist on the Job ’’ (1961)
’’ The Frightened City ’’ (1961)
Raising the Wind (1961)
On the Fiddle (1961)
Night of the Eagle (1962)
A Kind of Loving (1962)
Play It Cool (1962)
Carry On Cruising (1962)
Crooks Anonymous (1962)
She'll Have to Go (1962)
Twice Round the Daffodils (1962)
Some People (1962)
The Mind Benders (1963)
Nurse on Wheels (1963)
Unearthly Stranger (1963)
Billy Liar (1963)
The Iron Maiden (1963)
Carry On Cabby (1963)
Carry On Jack (1963)
Gonks Go Beat (1964)
Carry On Spying (1964)
This Is My Street (1964)
[co-produced with AIP] The Masque of the Red Death, The Tomb of Ligeia, both 1964
[co-produced] Nothing But the Best, Catch Us If You Can, Carry On Cleo, all 1964
[co-produced] Three Hats for Lisa, Game for Three Losers, The Big Job, all 1965
[co-produced] Carry On Cowboy, Invasion, The Face of Fu Manchu, Darling, all mid-60s
[co-produced] Carry On Screaming, Our Man in Marrakesh, The Brides of Fu Manchu, Circus of Fear, Triple Cross, all mid-60s
[co-produced] Five Golden Dragons, The Vengeance of Fu Manchu, Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon, The Million Eyes of Sumuru, all late-60s
[co-produced] Poor Cow, Eve, Shalako, and The Blood of Fu Manchu, late-60s
[co-produced] All Neat in Black Stockings (1969), All the Way Up and Spring and Port Wine and Entertaining Mr. Sloane early-70s
[co-produced] The 14 1973

External links

Anglo-Amalgamated featured on BFI Screenonline
Insignia Films listed by the BFI