Sir Arthur Elton, 10th Baronet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elton, Sir Arthur Hallam Rice, 10th Baronet (1906–1973) was a British film producer, director, executive and prominent figure in the British Documentary Film Movement.[1][2]
10 February 1906
Arthur Elton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Hallam Rice Elton 10 February 1906 |
| Died | 1 January 1973 (aged 66) |
| Education | Jesus College, University of Cambridge, 1927 |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Ann Björnson, Lady Elton |
| Children | 3, including Sir Charles Elton, 11th Baronet |
| Parents |
|
| Family | Elton Baronetcy |
Early life and education
Arthur Hallam Rice Elton was born on 10 February 1906 in London, to Dorothy Wynne Wiggin, Lady Elton (1882–1957) and Sir Ambrose Elton, 9th Baronet (1869–1951), a barrister.[1][3][4]
Elton was educated at Marlborough College.[1] In 1927, Elton graduated from Jesus College.[1]
Career
After graduation, he worked as a scriptwriter in England and Germany, and in 1931 was recruited into the Empire Marketing Board Film Unit (later the GPO Film Unit) by John Grierson. He worked as a director and producer on many films over the next two decades, mainly for the government, though 1932's Voice of the World was sponsored by His Master's Voice, the first example of industrial sponsorship of a documentary film. During the Second World War he became supervisor of films at the Ministry of Information, and afterwards he became an advisor to the Shell Petroleum Company and production head of Shell Films.
Personal life
In 1948, Elton married Margaret Ann Björnson, Lady Elton (1915–1995), an Icelandic-Canadian film producer and historian.[1][5] Together the couple had three children.[1]
Following his father's death in 1951, Elton inherited the Elton Baronetcy title and Clevedon Court. Elton restored the building and donated it to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. He took a keen interest in the town of Clevedon, becoming chairman of the printing company which produced the local paper. He was also prominent in the campaign to restore Clevedon Pier.
Upon Elton's death, his collection of material relating to British industrial development (valued at over a quarter of a million pounds) was given to the Ironbridge Museum. He was succeeded by his son Elton, Sir Charles Abraham Grierson, 11th Baronet (1953–).[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Shadow on the Mountain | Director | Released in two versions Shadow on the Mountains (1931) and Experiment in the Welsh Hills (1932) | [6][7] |
| 1931 | Salmon Leap | Director | [8] | |
| 1932 | Upstream | Director | [9] | |
| 1931 | Industrial Britain | Co-cinematographer | With Basil Wright | [10][11] |
| 1932 | An Experiment on the Welsh Hills | Director | [12] | |
| 1932 | The Voice of the World | Director | [13] | |
| 1934 | John Atkins Saves Up | Director | [14] | |
| 1934 | Aero Engine | Director | [15] | |
| 1935 | Housing Problems | Co-producer | With Edgar Anstey. No credited director | [16] |
| 1935 | Workers and Jobs | Director | Sponsored by the Ministry Of Labour | [17][18] |
| 1936 | A Party Dish by X. Marcel Boulestin | Director | [19] | |
| 1936 | A Scratch Meal with Marcel Boulestin | Director | [20] | |
| 1973 | Grierson | Self | Documentary about John Grierson, directed by Roger Blais | [21] |