by Ronnie Dauber

Created on: December 08, 2011   Last Updated: December 12, 2011

John Edward Boulting and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting grew up to become the notable filmmakers who changed the British world of film into what it is today. They shared a deep interest in the entertainment business and worked together as producer and director as well as independently, and became well known for their satirical comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. They are the filmmaking pioneers behind many of today’s current British cinema productions.

John and Roy were identical twins born on December 21, 1913 in Bray, Buckinghamshire, England.  In school, the brothers were active in the drama and debating clubs, as well as athletic stars on the rugby field.  Their shared interest in the cinema led them to form the first school film society, while their older brother, Sydney, who also helped with its development, later became the actor and theatrical producer, Peter Cotes.

When John was 24, he returned from the Spanish Civil War and reunited with Roy to form Charter Films in 1937, where they produced their first documentary, “The Ripe Earth”. They went on to produce a series of short thriller films including “The Landlady” and “Consider the Verdict” in 1938. These films won critical attention and led them to produce and direct their first major film in 1940 entitled, “Pastor Hall”. They enjoyed thrillers and so produced several thriller films which earned them a progressive reputation as successful filmmakers, and in 1942 they produced “Thunder Rock” in spite of the fact that John had joined the RAF and Roy had become part of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Separated by the infringement of the Second World War, Roy joined the Army Film Unit in 1941 and helped produce “Desert Victory” in 1943 and “Burma Victory” in 1945. Meanwhile, John had joined the RAF Film Unit and produced “Journey Together” in 1945.  

After the war, they quickly resumed their full-time careers as filmmakers and Roy became famous for his production of “Fame is the Spur” in 1947. John’s film, “Brighton Rock” in 1948 became a box office hit that turned into a British classic. They went on to produce “The Guinea Pig” in 1948, “Seven Days to Noon” in 1950 and “High Treason” in 1951.

The brothers wanted to change the premise of their films from seriously political and war themed to light comedy satires and

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