History
Cohen and Levy were both cinema owners and Cohen sold some of his cinemas to Levy. They decided to go into business together as Anglo-Amalgmated. The company began as a distributor, putting out some Hal Roach re-issues and documentaries. They then signed a deal with American Leasing Corporation to distribute some American films in Britain.[2][4]
In 1951, the company moved into production with Assassin for Hire. This was made at Merton Park Studios, starting a close relationship between those studios and Anglo.[2]
Anglo Amalgmated expanded into more expensive features with The Sleeping Tiger, which also marked the beginning of a close relationship with producer Julian Wintle. The company had a huge hit with The Tommy Steele Story in 1957. Another profitable association was with producer Peter Rogers who made the Carry On films.[2][5]
In 1959 Kinematograph Weekly wrote "Anglo is acknowledged as Britain’s largest independent distribution company, a success story which rates high even by spectacular Wardour Street standards." The magazine claimed this success was "based on two factors - an unfailing showmanlike flair for catching the public's eye and, just as important, a knack for surrounding themselves with people as enthusiastic as themselves... They have an approving eye for the ingenious; a snort of distaste for the precious."[2] (The same article mentions that Anglo intended to make an expensive international movie about the D-Day landings but this does not appear to have happened.[2])
The year 1961 was the company's strongest to date.[6]
In 1962, Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) purchased 50% of the shares of Anglo Amalgamated.[7][8] In 1967 they took over 74%.[9]
At its peak Anglo Amalgamated made a return of £3 million a year.[10] After the company went into partnership with EMI Films it became "Anglo-EMI".[11]
Its library is now owned by StudioCanal via Lumiere Pictures and Television.[12]
