Learning on ScreenJohn Reid ("Reid of England")
Profile
- Role
- Camera; Producer; Director
- Newsreels / Cinemagazines
- Mining Review; Review
- Search
- Search for all stories where John Reid is credited
Career
John Reid serves for over 30 years as cameraman, director and sometime producer of Mining Review. He started as an apprentice of Michael Balcon in his youth. He left for Hollywood at 21, and with the help of Gary Copper started work at Paramount Studios. He returned to England in 1935 and then joined the Army Cinematographic Service making documentaries during the war.
After demob and as a member of the ACT he was directed to Manchester to meet Francis Gysin [qv] who was working at Paul Rotha Films. Reid became assistant to Cyril Arapoff [qv] there. Through Gysin, he joined Data Film Productions [qv] and in 1950 was seconded to the BBC to work at the Festival of Britain. During this period as a Data employee, Reid filmed several stories for Mining Review, including ‘COAL ON ICE’ in Mining Review 1st Year No.7 of March 1948, and ‘ON THE DUMPS’ in 7th Year No.4 of December 1953. He also made his first forays into directing on stories such as ‘DOWN DIESELS’ in 5th Year No.6 of February 1952. Between 1960 and 1964, he was producer of the series.
Reid returned to the NCB [qv] in 1973, on a freelance basis. Again, he mainly did camera work, on stories like ‘TODAY TOMORROW’ in Review 31st Year No.7 of March 1978 and ‘OUT INTO THE WORLD’ in 35th Year No.8 of April 1982. But he also occasionally directed stories, such as ‘POLICE CONSTABLE - JOHN PATTERSON’ in 33rd Year No.8 of April 1980.
After demob and as a member of the ACT he was directed to Manchester to meet Francis Gysin [qv] who was working at Paul Rotha Films. Reid became assistant to Cyril Arapoff [qv] there. Through Gysin, he joined Data Film Productions [qv] and in 1950 was seconded to the BBC to work at the Festival of Britain. During this period as a Data employee, Reid filmed several stories for Mining Review, including ‘COAL ON ICE’ in Mining Review 1st Year No.7 of March 1948, and ‘ON THE DUMPS’ in 7th Year No.4 of December 1953. He also made his first forays into directing on stories such as ‘DOWN DIESELS’ in 5th Year No.6 of February 1952. Between 1960 and 1964, he was producer of the series.
Reid returned to the NCB [qv] in 1973, on a freelance basis. Again, he mainly did camera work, on stories like ‘TODAY TOMORROW’ in Review 31st Year No.7 of March 1978 and ‘OUT INTO THE WORLD’ in 35th Year No.8 of April 1982. But he also occasionally directed stories, such as ‘POLICE CONSTABLE - JOHN PATTERSON’ in 33rd Year No.8 of April 1980.
Sources
H. Donaldson, ‘Coal Film Makers: An Appreciation’ (NCB, London, 1981) p.8, 40, 41: NoS Number 334744; Mining Review 1st Year Number 7; Date released March 1948: NoS Number 345811; Mining Review 7th Year Number 4; Date released December 1953: NoS Number 345732; Mining Review 5th Year Number 6; Date released February 1952: NoS Number 346731; Review 31st Year Number 7; Date released March 1978:
NoS Number 346829; Review 35th Year Number 8; Date released April 1982: NoS Number 346781; Review 33rd Year Number 8; Date released April 1980: Gifford, Dennis, ‘The British Film Catalogue. Vol. 2’ (London, 2001), p365.
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