Frank Chisnell

Frank Chisnell was born in Chelsea, and educated at Marlborough. He entered the film industry in 1930 as assignments editor at British Paramount News, although in September 1936 he was credited with sound engineer Ted Genock [qv] for work on ‘NEW YORK, LONDON -- AND BACK?' in British Paramount News No.577. In January 1937 Chisnell also received a credit for shots of floodwater in ‘NINE COUNTIES FACE WORST FLOODS EVER’ in No.618, and in April 1937 he provided a shot of Greenwich for ‘FATHER THAMES RESUMES ROLE OF ROYAL HIGHWAY.' Late in 1938 Chisnell transferred to Movietone as news editor and production manager, and, according to Terry Gallacher [qv], ‘Frank Chisnell appeared on the Movietonews screen on two famous occasions’: ‘He is to be seen behind the left shoulder of Neville Chamberlain prior to his flight to meet Hitler in 1938 and again on his return with his ‘Peace in our time’ statement when Frank was probably holding a microphone.' Chisnell also appears in the report of ‘THE LORD MAYOR HIS SHOW’ in British Movietone News No.492A of November 1938 - the story card noting that ‘Carl Bernard [qv] and Frank Chisnell butt in frequently from a window.' In the following month Chisnell appeared again in the reporting of ‘THE SHOPPING RUSH’ in No.498, the story card noting that ‘Frank Chisnell goes Xmas shopping and finds more interest in the lady adjacent than in the job in hand.' In August 1943 Chisnell was again in front of the camera, this time in ‘TO ENTERTAIN THE TROOPS’ in No.741, which contained shots of Gracie Fields ‘with group which includes Mr. Chisnell.' During the war Chisnell was also in charge of the MoI Newsreel Section, and in April 1945 he was credited among the cameramen for ‘IN MEMORY OF THE PRESIDENT’ in No.828A. Chisnell left Movietone in 1946, in order to establish his own production company. His credits as director and producer include the crime films ‘Jim the Penman’ (1947), ‘It Happened in Soho’ (1948), and ‘Rover and Me’ (1949).

Sources

BUFVC, T. M. Gallacher, ‘Additional Notes,' October 1998: P. Noble (ed) ‘British Film and Television Year Book 1956/57’ (London, 1956), p.61.