ABSTRACT
The war closed down cinemas for a time; it was impossible for the authorities to know when the bombing of cities would begin or what damage might come of it. A shortage of films was immediately felt, and it was feared that the Government would black out studios altogether, leaving the supply entirely to the Americans. Sidney Bernstein of the Granada circuit, appealed to the Government to keep the studios at work. In practice, film production met with great difficulties. In 1941 the deaths occurred of John Maxwell and of Oscar Deutsch. After 1941 it was difficult to make films at all because of the air raids. In 1944, while Britain was still engaged in a titanic struggle for survival, the report of the inquiry was published and made a resounding tinkle amid the universal gunfire.
