ABSTRACT
It is perhaps worth recalling that there was a British Lion Film Company (not connected with the present one) in 1919. It was formed by an ex-army man, David Falcke and his partner Cyril Hicks from Belfast and its producer was A. V. Bramble. It made several pictures at the Ideal Company's studios at Elstree but after a year or two went bankrupt. Hollywood films were taking second place in the affections of audiences and this was in the independent's favour. The corporation's reports offer a more valuable insight into the state of British film production than any other source outside the Department of Trade and Industry. But the NFFC is compelled, as a state institution, to provide more information both statistically and by way of comment than is offered by private enterprise, and its accounts are therefore a more dependable guide to production expenditure in the industry generally.
