Pinewood Studios

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The entrance to Pinewood Studios

Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. Approximately 30 miles west of London on what was the estate of Heatherden Hall, the studios were created in 1934 by Charles Boot and built within 12 months by the Henry Boot Company of Sheffield. Boot drew his inspiration from the latest Hollywood movie studios. J. Arthur Rank later took control of both Pinewood and Denham Film Studios, which were often used by producer Alexander Korda.

In 2001, Pinewood Studios merged with Shepperton Studios, the other leading British film production location. Both studios are linked to the media network Sohonet. In 2004, Pinewood Shepperton floated successfully on the London Stock Exchange. In 2005, Pinewood Shepperton acquired Teddington Studios. Collectively the company has 41 stages, including 6 digital tv studios, audio post facilities, preview theatres, backlots, gardens & woodland for outdoor shooting, one of Europe’s largest exterior water tanks, and a new dedicated underwater stage.

The studios have acted as the base for two long-running British film series, the James Bond films and the Carry On films, both of which also used the studio's main buildings to represent various locations, including SPECTRE Island in From Russia with Love. Occasionally the 007 films use other studios due to booking conflicts and other complications.

Some films have also used the studio itself as a location. Peeping Tom (1960) shows people driving out through the main gate and has various shots in the studios (showing things behind the camera), offices & corridors. Return to the Edge of the World (1978) includes shots of director Michael Powell driving into the studio. Heatherden Hall (originally converted to production offices but now restored and hired out for events) has appeared in several films: it was made to look fire-damaged and derelict for the 1972 children's film The Amazing Mr Blunden and also appeared as the Indian residence of Governor Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On up the Khyber.

1 007 Stage
2 Production history
3 See also
4 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] 007 Stage

Main article: 007 Stage

A vast soundstage, aptly titled the 007 Stage, was built for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me and featured a massive water tank, one of the largest in Europe. The 007 Stage burnt to the ground in 1984 due to gasoline canisters being left over from the filming of Ridley Scott's Legend. It was rebuilt 4 months later and renamed Albert R. Broccoli's 007 Stage in time for filming to commence on A View to a Kill. Another fire on 30 July 2006 seriously damaged the vast 007 stage, which had been transformed into a replica of Venice, the setting of the James Bond film Casino Royale, causing the roof to partly cave in. Eight fire engines took 90 minutes to bring the fire under control; a spokesman for the local fire brigade said gas canisters may have exploded inside the building. Filming had been completed on the stage several days before and it was being dismantled, so it did not delay production or release of the $130 million (£72m) film.[1] The stage is currently being rebuilt; the studio expects it to be ready for use by February 2007.

[edit] Production history

Since its beginning Pinewood Studios has been the location for many well-known films. (For a full list of Pinewood-based productions by year see List of Pinewood Studios productions.)

Some of the most notable Pinewood productions include: