Eros Films

Eros Films was a British film distribution and, later, production company active from May 1947 to June 1961. It was established in London by brothers Philip, Sydney, and Michael Hyams, whose earlier experience came from cinema exhibition and theatre-chain management. The company operated from 111 Wardour Street, then a major center of the British film trade, and appears to have taken its name from the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus. The Hyams family’s cinema background shaped Eros Films’ business model. Their father, a Russian immigrant baker, had helped finance the Popular Cinema in Stepney with architect George Coles in 1912. Philip Hyams began working at that theatre that year, and Sydney joined him in 1919. The brothers subsequently built cinema chains, sold one to Gaumont British in 1928, established another, and in 1935 joined Gaumont again to create Gaumont Super Cinemas, with Michael becoming involved. During the Great Depression, their theatres attracted audiences through double bills, live variety performances, and talent contests. They sold their cinema interests to Gaumont in 1944 after wartime conditions and the London Blitz reduced attendance. Eros initially concentrated on distribution. It acquired American films for British release while also financing and distributing British productions made by independent producers. The company occupied a useful position for smaller British studios that struggled to secure distribution from the country’s dominant production organizations. Producer Robert S. Baker of Tempean Films later recalled that Eros handled roughly 20 to 30 of Tempean’s films, commonly placing them as second features alongside more prominent American titles. This combination of imported films and independently produced British pictures gave Eros a varied catalogue and connected it to the practical economics of the postwar double-feature market. The company also developed an overseas and television-distribution link through Michael Hyams. After he emigrated to the United States, he became vice president of American British TV Movies Inc. That company distributed Eros British productions to the American television market, including television material associated with Colonel March of Scotland Yard and Scotland Yard, as well as several feature films connected with Eros. This relationship broadened the commercial life of the company’s productions beyond their initial British theatrical releases. During the 1950s, Eros moved beyond straightforward distribution into co-production and production. Its co-production credits included The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, released in 1954; The Sea Shall Not Have Them, released in 1955; and Behemoth, the Sea Monster, released in 1959. The latter was an American-British giant-monster project, and Eros reportedly insisted that its creature be designed in the tradition of the monster from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Eros’s sole independently produced feature was Battle of the V-1, a British Second World War film released in 1958. In 1959, filmmakers Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli acquired Eros from the Hyams brothers. Allen and Broccoli had previously worked with Columbia Pictures through Warwick Films, but disagreements within that arrangement encouraged Allen to seek a separate distribution operation. Their plan was to use Eros to release films with a more serious or prestigious profile than Warwick’s established action-oriented productions. Eros distributed their films The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Johnny Nobody, but both performed poorly at the box office. Although the Hyams brothers remained on Eros’s board after the acquisition, the company’s financial position deteriorated. The scale of its creditor claims and unpaid obligations ultimately led to bankruptcy in June 1961, bringing the brand’s active business to an end.

Eros Films grew out of the Hyams family’s long involvement with British cinema exhibition. The family helped finance the Popular Cinema in Stepney in 1912, and Philip Hyams began working there that year. Sydney Hyams joined him in 1919, after which the brothers developed cinema chains. They sold one chain to Gaumont British in 1928, formed another, and later joined Gaumont in 1935 to create Gaumont Super Cinemas with their brother Michael. Their exhibition experience included programming strategies suited to difficult economic conditions: during the Great Depression they used double bills, live variety acts, and talent contests to draw audiences. The brothers sold their cinema interests to Gaumont in 1944, when wartime disruption and the London Blitz had weakened attendance. In May 1947, Philip, Sydney, and Michael founded Eros Films at 111 Wardour Street in London. The company was principally a distributor. It imported American films for British release and supported independent British producers by financing and distributing their work. Smaller production companies often found it difficult to obtain distribution from the major British production organizations, giving Eros a role as an independent outlet. Its releases were frequently structured around the postwar second-feature market. Robert S. Baker of Tempean Films recalled that Eros distributed approximately 20 to 30 Tempean titles, commonly pairing them with commercially stronger American films. Eros also had access to the American television market through Michael Hyams. After emigrating to the United States, he became vice president of American British TV Movies Inc. That organization distributed Eros-linked British productions in the United States, including material associated with Colonel March of Scotland Yard and Scotland Yard, along with several feature films. The arrangement allowed Eros content to generate value through television circulation as well as British theatrical exhibition. The company gradually extended its activities into production and co-production. Its credits included The Man Who Watched Trains Go By in 1954, The Sea Shall Not Have Them in 1955, and Behemoth, the Sea Monster in 1959. Eros also produced Battle of the V-1, a British Second World War film released in 1958, which is identified as the company’s sole fully self-produced feature. Behemoth, the Sea Monster reflected the popularity of postwar giant-monster cinema; Eros reportedly pressed for a creature concept comparable to the monster in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. A change in ownership came in 1959, when Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli acquired Eros. The pair had previously operated Warwick Films through a financing and distribution relationship with Columbia Pictures. Allen believed that an independently controlled distribution company could improve returns on films of a more serious or highbrow character, rather than concentrating only on Warwick’s action-oriented successes. Eros therefore became part of an attempt to diversify the partners’ film business. The company distributed The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Johnny Nobody, but both films failed commercially. The Hyams brothers continued to serve on the board after the acquisition, although operational control had shifted. Eros’s financial condition subsequently worsened. The company faced numerous creditors and substantial unpaid obligations, and it entered bankruptcy in June 1961. This ended its period of operation, which lasted roughly fourteen years. Eros remains historically notable as an independent British distributor that linked American imports, smaller British productions, co-production, and early television circulation during the transition from postwar cinema exhibition to a more diversified film and television market.

• 1961

  Bankruptcy ends operations

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Eros entered bankruptcy in June after creditor pressure and the poor commercial performance of recent releases.

• 1959

  Ownership passes to Allen and Broccoli

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli acquired Eros, while the Hyams brothers remained on its board.

• 1958

  Battle of the V-1

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Eros released its only identified fully self-produced feature, a British wartime film.

• 1955

  The Sea Shall Not Have Them

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Eros co-produced this British Second World War film.

• 1954

  The Man Who Watched Trains Go By

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Eros was involved in co-producing this British film.

• 1947

  Eros Films is established

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Philip, Sydney, and Michael Hyams founded the company in London as a film distributor.

• 1944

  The Hyams brothers sell their cinema interests

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Reduced patronage associated with wartime disruption and the London Blitz contributed to the sale of their interests to Gaumont.

• 1935

  Gaumont Super Cinemas is formed

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The Hyams brothers linked with Gaumont again, forming Gaumont Super Cinemas and bringing Michael Hyams into the business.

• 1928

  First Hyams cinema chain is sold to Gaumont British

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The brothers sold a cinema chain they had built to Gaumont British.

• 1919

  Sydney Hyams joins the cinema business

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Sydney Hyams joined his older brother in the family’s cinema activities.

• 1912

  Philip Hyams begins work at the Popular Cinema

  [1]Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Philip Hyams began working at the Popular Cinema in Stepney, a theatre whose construction his father helped finance.

A postwar British independent distributor that combined American imports with British independent productions, frequently serving smaller producers underserved by the major British studios. In its later period, the company also sought to operate as a producer and as a distributor of more prestige-oriented films.

• Film distribution · 1947

  British film distribution

  Eros’s core activity was distributing films in the United Kingdom. Its catalogue combined American imports with British independent productions, often using the second-feature format. This positioned the company between major studio distributors and smaller producers that needed access to cinemas.

• Film production · 1954

  Film co-production

  During the 1950s, Eros participated in co-productions including The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, and Behemoth, the Sea Monster. These projects extended the company from distribution into financing and production partnerships.

• Feature film · 1958

  Battle of the V-1

  Battle of the V-1 was a British Second World War film released in 1958 and identified as Eros Films’ sole fully self-produced feature.

• Television distribution

  American television distribution

  Through American British TV Movies Inc., where Michael Hyams became a vice president, Eros-linked British productions and television material reached the American television market. The circulated material included titles associated with Colonel March of Scotland Yard and Scotland Yard.

• 1959

  Acquire Eros Films for a separate distribution operationM&A

  Background

  Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli experienced friction in their earlier financing and distribution relationship with Columbia Pictures through Warwick Films.

  Action taken

  Allen and Broccoli acquired Eros and sought to use it to distribute films with a more prestige-oriented profile.

  Aftermath

  Eros released The Trials of Oscar Wilde and Johnny Nobody, but both films failed at the box office and the company later entered bankruptcy.

  Source

• 1947

  Combine American imports with independent British filmsStrategy

  Background

  Independent British producers often struggled to obtain distribution from the major production organizations.

  Action taken

  Eros acquired American films for British release while financing and distributing films made by smaller British producers.

  Aftermath

  The model established Eros as an independent outlet and supported a substantial number of second-feature releases.

  Source

1. 1Eros Filmsen.wikipedia.org