Beryl de Querton

Beryl de Querton worked for British Movietone News, where she was described as ‘Britain’s only regular commentatrice.' She was apparently appointed as part of Movietone’s redesign in April 1935, and her first credit is for ‘FRENCH JEWELLERY FASHIONS DESCRIBED BY BERYL DE QUERTON’ in British Movietone News No.307A from that month. Soon afterwards Movietone recruited Sheila Borrett [qv] and Dorothy Hope [qv] to provide fashion commentaries, but they did not last very long. De Querton principally covered fashion and supposedly feminine items, but she also worked on society and royal items - the New Statesman noting in September 1935 that she ‘comments impeccably on social happenings.' Her last credit is for ‘WOMAN’S WORLD: EASTER HAT FASHIONS’ in British Movietone News No.462A from April 1938, and it may be that her annual contract was not renewed after this date.

Sources

G. Roberts ‘News-Reels,' New Statesman, 7/9/1935, p.305: World Film News, December 1937, ‘Newsreel rushes: newsreel notes by The Commentator,' p.39: P. Purser ‘Voices off,' Sunday Telegraph, 28/10/1962.