Gerald Mitchell (production manager)

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Gerald "Gerry" Mitchell (March 28, 1911 – February 1993), born Gerard Hubbard, was best known for his work in film and television in the United Kingdom between 1945 and 1965.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Born on 28 March 1911 in Manchester, Gerard R Hubbard is registered the son of Archibald Hubbard and Charlotte Hubbard (née Anderson). Archibald Hubbard died when Gerard was three years old. Although his registered father was Archibald, it was a common belief within the family that Gerard was the illegitimate issue of a liaison between his mother and Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk[citation needed].

In 1914, Charlotte remarried to Mr Joseph Mitchell who was a successful businessman and socially active in Sheffield. In 1917, when Gerard was six years old his stepfather died. Grief striken, feeling isolated and lonely[citation needed], Charlotte gave all of her belongings to the Roman Catholic Church in Manchester. In 1918, Gerards mother died.

Benefiting from an unidentified sponsor, Gerard was sent at the age of seven to be privately educated at the Xavarian College in Manchester. Later Gerard changed his name from Gerard Hubbard to Gerald Mitchell out of respect for the man who he briefly recognised as his father.

[edit] Military career

Gerald (known as 'Gerry') Mitchell served first in the Kings Own.

aged 17
aged 17
aged 28
aged 28

During the Second World War Gerry served with the Royal Armoured Corps promoted to the rank of Captain and acting as Major. Gerry was hurt during the battle of Dunkirk just prior to leaving the service. Whilst recovering from his wounds Gerry laid alongside another soldier who introduced him to the film industry.

[edit] TV and Movie Work

After the war, Gerald entered the British film industry where he worked as assistant director on films like Wanted for Murder (1946), Brighton Rock (1947) and he was production manager on 1984 (1956) [1].

In the mid 1950's, Gerry left the film industry, entering television and joined ABC with its production centre in Manchester. Mitchell was integral to the development of Oh Boy in 1958 [2], working alongside the producer Jack Good. ([3])

After moving to London in the early 1960s Gerry ceased to work on production and development of independent television. Gerald Mitchell retired seeing that the changes within ITV in the forthcoming 1968 franchise round meant a surplus of studio facilities in London.

He turned down an offer from the London Television Consortium to head the new franchise for London and the South East, which ultimately became London Weekend Television. At the time the name of LWT had not been decided.

[edit] The Tower of London

Within weeks he was back at work again, this time as Jewel House Supervisor at the Tower of London. Gerald Mitchell retired from the Tower in 1967 and did not work again until his death in February 1993.

[edit] Family life

Gerry here with his first wife Betty.
Gerry here with his first wife Betty.

During his life Gerry married three times (Betty, Evelyn and Emilia) and left two children Elizabeth and Gerald Jnr (both born during his first marriage to Betty).

[edit] Grant of Arms

15 Years after his death, a Grant of Arms[4] was posthumously made by the College of Arms, enabling his decendants to use the Arms and Badge illustrated here in accordance with the Laws of Arms.

The motto translates: Heal with Compassion


Badge.
Badge.
Arms.
Arms.

[edit] List of films

  • Man from Morocco (1945), 2nd Assistant Director [5]
  • Wanted for Murder (1946), Assistant Director [6]
  • Piccadilly Incident (1946), Production Manager [7]
  • Night Boat to Dublin (1946), 2nd Assistant Director [8]
  • Brighton Rock (1947), Assistant Director [9]
  • The Silver Darlings (1947), Production Manager [10]
  • Hasty Heart (1949), Production Manager [11]
  • Man on the Run (1949), Production Manager [12]
  • Landfall (1949), Production Manager [13]
  • Stage fright (1950), Production Manager [14]
  • Captain Heratio Hornblower (1950), Production Manager [15]
  • Happy Go Lovely (1951), Production Manager [16]
  • The Woman's Angle (1952), Production Manager [17]
  • For Better/For Worse (1954), Production Manager [18]
  • Yield to the Night (1956), Production Manager [19]
  • Moby-Dick (1956), Production Manager (uncredited)
  • 1984 (1956), Production Manager [20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ See: [1]
  2. ^ See:[2]
  3. ^ See: [3] and [4]
  4. ^ See: [ http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Newsletter/016.pdf]
  5. ^ See: [5]
  6. ^ See: [6] and [7]
  7. ^ See: [8]
  8. ^ See: [9]
  9. ^ See: [10]
  10. ^ See: [11]
  11. ^ See: [12] and [13]
  12. ^ See: [14] and [15]
  13. ^ See: [16]
  14. ^ See:[17] and [18]
  15. ^ See: [19]
  16. ^ See: [20]
  17. ^ See: [21]
  18. ^ See: [22] and [23]
  19. ^ See: [24]
  20. ^ See: [25] and [26]