Biography of 'Campbell Harper Productions'

Production company

Established around 1934 in Edinburgh by Alan Harper, Campbell Harper Productions based their studios in a rented attic in Alva Street, Edinburgh. Being a fairly small-scale production company they employed only two young men and a secretary. Campbell Harper Films came into being through Alan Harper’s interest in the possibilities of the teaching-film. He assisted the founder members of the Scottish Educational Film Association, and was soon making educational, industrial and social interest films on a full-time basis.

In 1938 at the Glasgow Empire Exhibition’s cinema, nearly twenty of the company’s productions were exhibited. During the Second World War Campbell Harper was commissioned to make home front propaganda and short information films for the Ministry of Information and the Scottish Office. Thanks to this government funded work during the war, Campbell Harper was able to establish themselves firmly.

In 1946 new premises were bought jointly with Edinburgh Film Guild at Nos 6/7 Hill Street. This building was custom built with offices, camera rooms, cutting rooms and sharing its viewing theatre with the Edinburgh Film Guild. The company now employed four men, Alan Harper (producer), Henry Cooper (cameraman), Bill Fulton, Willie J McLean and two office staff. At the height of the company’s established strength, its full complement of staff numbered ten. Its output covered a range of subjects for a variety of industrial, municipal and national agencies.

By 1955 the company began to win contracts from BBC Scotland and later from Scottish TV. It produced a variety of TV sports, filming football matches for the BBC and providing news footage for both the BBC and ITN newsrooms in London. In 1957, it produced all the film work for the BBC’s news and current affairs programme ‘Tonight’ and shot material for an early edition of ‘This is Your Life’. Work of this nature provided a substantial amount of extra income. Campbell Harper secured a slate of work that enabled it to survive and make a modest profit whilst maintaining a healthy and competitive technical capacity through shrewd investment.

In 1972 the business was sold as a going concern to Douglas Gray of Park Films. He however did not have ACTT membership and consequently, twelve months later, the business folded.

Researcher: Joan Allan

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

1 to 50 of 130 hits

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Asc Desc
	ABBOT'S WHISKY COMMERCIAL [2056] Add to my films Advert for Abbott's whisky.		1968 sound bwcol
	ABERDEEN [2320] Add to my films The historical background to the growth of the city of Aberdeen.		1970 sound col
	ABERDEEN ANGUS [0277] Add to my films A look at the history of the Aberdeen Angus breed, its distinctive qualities and characteristics.		1947 sound bw
	ALARM CLOCK CONSTRUCTION AT CARFIN [5293] Add to my films A film showing alarm clock construction at Smith's clock factory in Carfin.		1938 silent bw
	ART AND MOVEMENT [1809] Add to my films A film tracing the introduction of movement as a factor in 20th century art. It records various ways in which artists have tackled this development such as Gabo, Calder and Soto.		1965 sound col
	AULD TAM McGUIRE [2144] Add to my films The dramatised enactment of a comic poem. [Tam McGuire is played by Duncan Macrae.]		1951 sound bw
	AYRSHIRE CATTLE [0278] Add to my films The particular qualities of the Ayrshire breed of cattle are highlighted.		1947 sound bw
	BATHING THE BABY [1346] Add to my films Illustrates how to bathe a baby correctly.		1938 silent bw
	BETTER HAY [2023] Add to my films An electric barn hay drier in operation at Auchencruive Agricultural College, Ayrshire.		1964 sound col
	BRUNTON WIRE WORKS [4053] Add to my films [Shotlisted from A&B rolls only]. Work inside the offices of Brunton Wire Works, Musselburgh.		1963 silent bwcol
	CAIRNGORMS, the [1643] Add to my films A & B Rolls from a documentary on the Cairngorms.		1965 silent col
	CALLER HERRIN' [0388] Add to my films Herring fishing off the north- east coast of Scotland ; the film follows the fishing boats from the time they put out to sea to the unloading of the catch at the fish market. It includes shots of fishwives gutting by hand and the process of traditional 'kippering'.		1947 sound bw
	CAMERON IRON WORKS [2006] Add to my films Shots of the interior and exterior of the Cameron Iron Works. [Rushes only].		1960 silent col
	CATTLE FROM THE UPLANDS [2004] Add to my films Cattle farming in the Uplands of Scotland, from hillside to market.	Onsite only	1955 silent bw
	CEREMONIAL PROCLAIMING HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN... [3418] Add to my films Ceremony proclaiming Queen Elizabeth at the Market Cross of Edinburgh in 1952. (7 mins)		1952 silent col
	CHILD WELFARE [1349] Add to my films The local authority's maternity and child welfare service in operation, showing the benefits to mother and child.		1938 silent bw
	CITY’S FARMS, the [1348] Add to my films Film showing the hygienic care taken of cows before and after milking at farms owned by Glasgow Corporation. Demonstrates the use of sterilising and pasteurisation to produce a "safe" milk supply for hospitals and tuberculosis sanatoria.		1940 silent bw
	CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORTH ROAD BRIDGE [2222] Add to my films The engineering work-in-progress of the construction of the Forth Road Bridge. [See also ref. 2208 for alternative version]. (48 mins)		1965 sound col
	COUNTRY HOMES [1345] Add to my films How "country homes" for needy children were run, recounted through one child's experience.	Onsite only	1938 silent bw
	COUNTRY OF THE BLIND, the [2002] Add to my films The work of the Scottish National Institution for the War Blinded.		1968 sound col
	COUNTY CLERK, the [1351] Add to my films The role of the County Clerk in a small Scottish town. Shot in and around Stirling.		1950 sound bw
	DAY IN THE HOME, a [0017] Add to my films The every day chores and idealised family life in an early 1950s Scottish home.		1951 sound bw
	DISTANCE NO OBJECT [2044] Add to my films The Cable Belt rope driven conveyor at work.		1959 sound bw
	DOBSON'S OF EDINBURGH [2055] Add to my films Film of Dobson's of Edinburgh construction company at work. [Rushes only].		1967 silent col
	DUNBAR - THE A1 RESORT [1815] Add to my films A promotional film for the holiday resort of Dunbar it shows holiday-makers arriving by train, visitors exploring the harbour and castle, amusements and sports available and nearby Tantallon Castle.		1970 sound col
	EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 1964, the [0459] Add to my films Documentary on the Edinburgh Festival 1964 including excerpts from plays, opera, ballet and the military tattoo.		1965 sound col
	EDINBURGH SCHOOL OF CHIROPODY, the [2917] Add to my films A promotional film for the Edinburgh School of Chiropody, made for showing at the Empire Exhibition.		1938 silent bw
	EDINBURGH TATTOO, the [2206] Add to my films The first colour film of the Edinburgh Tattoo. (25 mins)		1958 sound col
	EDUCATION OF THE DEAF, the [7297] Add to my films Instructional film showing the educational facilities provided by local authorities for teaching deaf children to communicate, with an emphasis on speech. Includes footage of education and leisure activities for deaf children and examples of occupational training in later life.		1937 silent bw
	EPSTEIN: The Memorial Exhibition in Edinburgh [2011] Add to my films Footage of Edinburgh and the Epstein exhibition of sculpture as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.		1961 sound bw
	EVERYTHING BY DESIGN [2054] Add to my films A demonstration of how we as individuals are responsible to some degree for the appearance of everything in the world in which we live. It seeks to create awareness of design as something which affects us all.		1971 sound col
	FARM IN SOUTHERN SCOTLAND, a [2050] Add to my films Activities on a farm including shearing, harvesting and ploughing.		1969 silent bwcol
	FARM IS RECLAIMED, a [0490] Add to my films How, with government help and his own good farming sense, a Scottish farmer puts a derelict farm into good heart in one year.		1945 sound bw
	FIBRE WEB, the [2040] Add to my films The processing of the raw materials required for paper-making and some of the end products.		1964 sound col
	FIFE [0885] Add to my films A look at the agriculture, industries and the towns of Fife.		1950 silent bw
	FIFTEEN TO SIXTEEN [1818] Add to my films A look at the work both practical and recreational, undertaken during the extra year at school to hold the interest of pupils, with the emphasis on individual pursuits.		1972 sound col
	FIRES IN TENEMENT BUILDINGS [1353] Add to my films Various methods of fire fighting in tenement buildings in Edinburgh. This film provides detailed views showing how construction of older tenements affects access for firefighting and encourages the progress of fires.		1945 sound bw
	FISH AND THE SEINE NET [0276] Add to my films A demonstration on how to use a Seine net for trawling. This film was planned by the Marine Laboratory Aberdeen, as part of their research programme on the efficiency of fishing gear. "Grateful acknowledgement is made to skipper John Watt and the crew of the "Ploughboy" of Macduff." Teaching notes held.		1952 sound bw
	FITNESS FOR BOYS [2399] Add to my films Aimed at boys just about to leave school, the film promotes a healthy way of life involving regular exercise and sports. Film includes shots of Boys Brigade company performing body building exercises.		1953 silent bw
	FITNESS FOR GIRLS [2400] Add to my films Aimed at girls about to leave school, the film aims to promote the best way to live a healthy life including keeping fit, dancing, sports and the Girl Guides.		1953 silent bw
	FITNESS FOR WOMEN [2398] Add to my films A demonstration of how women can keep fit and healthy through exercise, keep fit classes and dancing. The Margaret Morris dance technique is included.		1953 silent bw
	FORTH - POWERHOUSE FOR INDUSTRY [1820] Add to my films A look at the development of sources of power, the industries, and new towns along the borders of the River Forth.		1968 sound bwcol
	FREEDOM OF ABERFELDY [0107] Add to my films The town of Aberfeldy during wartime when the women provided a 'home' for Dominion troops on leave.		1943 sound bw
	GATEWAY TO SECURITY [2025] Add to my films A promotional film for the Dunfermline Building Society showing how it can help a young couple buy their own home.		1953 sound bw
	GEORGE HERIOT'S SCHOOL, EDINBURGH [1621] Add to my films The activities and facilities offered by George Heriot's School, Edinburgh.	Onsite only	1938 silent bw
	GEORGE IV's EDINBURGH [2210] Add to my films A reconstruction of George IV's visit to Edinburgh in 1822 drawing a contrast between the old town and the New Town which the King was able to see in development. (15 mins)		1960 sound col
	GLASGOW - OUR CITY [0062] Add to my films Glasgow old and new, with shots of contemporary street life and local industries. The film is interspersed with illustrations of 17th and 18th century Glasgow.		1949 silent bw
	GOLDEN WEDDING - NEW DEER, 27TH MARCH 1939 [4064] Add to my films A film about a family celebration celebrating a Golden Wedding at New Deer, Aberdeenshire.		1939 silent col
	GOOD SERVANT, the [2211] Add to my films The story of the Clydesdale horse, from foal to champion at the Royal Highland Show.		1958 sound col
	HARE BUILDS A HOUSE [2028] Add to my films Puppets demonstrate how to build a house. [Based on the book of the same title by Ronald MacKin and Myles Lee].		1960 sound col