Eric Owen

Eric Owen was listed as a Gaumont British cameraman from 1933 onwards. His first credits are for two stories in Gaumont British News No.110 of January 1935, ‘VOTING DURING THE SAAR PLEBISCITE’ and ‘RESULT OF THE SAAR PLEBISCITE DECLARED’. In about 1936 he was featured in a Gaumont British publicity photograph, perched on top of a camera car. In October 1937 Owen was listed as one of the two Gaumont British cameramen who had been recruited for the National News, an abortive newsreel project - the other cameraman being Jimmy Humphries [qv]. Production of the National News was suspended soon after its launch that month, and it finally folded in February 1938 when the camera gear was put up for sale. Owen may later have joined Movietone, for in February 1947 he was listed in the camera team that filmed ‘THE ROYAL TOUR/ DEPARTURE OF ROYAL FAMILY TO SOUTH AFRICA,' for British Movietone News No.922. In April 1947 Owen was also listed as one of the cameramen on ‘F.A. CUP SEMI FINALS’ in British Movietone News No.930A, and in July 1947 he provided film for ‘HENLEY - ROYAL REGATTA’ in No.944.

Sources

NoS Number 52366; Gaumont British News Number 110; Date released 17/1/1935: NoS Number 52367; Gaumont British News Number 110; Date released 17/1/1935: NFTVA photograph: World Film News, October 1937, p.35, ‘Newsreel Rushes’: Cine-Technician, March-April 1938, p.220, ‘Newsreel’: J. Ballantyne (ed) ‘Researcher’s Guide to British Newsreels’ (BUFVC, 1983), p.88.