5 replies to this topic

[Alan Cox]

Does anyone recall, or has anyone ever seen, a film produced by the Dunlop Rubber Co in 1950 called "Endurance - A fantasy of Le Mans"? I understand that it starred Michael Medwin and Guy Middleton, with female interest provided by Jean Lodge and with cameo roles from "Dunlop Mac" and Norman Freeman, and featured day and night scenes from that year's Le Mans. WB reviewed it in Motor Sport and was not over-impressed with its accuracy, saying that fact and fantasy don't mix, but did describe it as "jolly good fun". He described Jean Lodge as staying remarkably clean after racing her XK120 Jaguar whereas Middleton got "quite dirty" after replacing a coil lead. He felt that there was enough real romance in motor racing not to need the addition of love interest in the film(!)

I must admit that I didn't know Dunlop had ever produced dramatisations in the name of promotion, but I would be fascinated to see a copy.

[RTH]

New one on me Alan .
Nothing in Halliwells film guide, only film of that title was '98 story of Haile Gebrselassie.
Michael Medwin in '56 Rank film 'Checkpoint' also in a huge number of light entertainment films of 50s 60s 70s and in 80s TV series 'Shoestring'.
If anyone can get on the trail of getting hold of a copy in whatever format we would love to give it an airing at the film show.
Not much help but Dunlop clearly did make promotional films

http://cgi.ebay.com/...214124009r15434

This 1969 Dunlop film about Mini Cooper S tyre testing would be really interesting to see as well

http://www.imdb.com/...t1471289/trivia

Dunlop conveyor belting film clip

Edited by RTH, 22 February 2010 - 11:18.

[taylov]

Does anyone recall, or has anyone ever seen, a film produced by the Dunlop Rubber Co in 1950 called "Endurance - A fantasy of Le Mans"? I understand that it starred Michael Medwin and Guy Middleton, with female interest provided by Jean Lodge and with cameo roles from "Dunlop Mac" and Norman Freeman, and featured day and night scenes from that year's Le Mans. WB reviewed it in Motor Sport and was not over-impressed with its accuracy, saying that fact and fantasy don't mix, but did describe it as "jolly good fun". He described Jean Lodge as staying remarkably clean after racing her XK120 Jaguar whereas Middleton got "quite dirty" after replacing a coil lead. He felt that there was enough real romance in motor racing not to need the addition of love interest in the film(!)

I must admit that I didn't know Dunlop had ever produced dramatisations in the name of promotion, but I would be fascinated to see a copy.

I checked on IMDB - the Internet Movie Database. Nothing known under this name nor for "Michael Medwin" under his long list of film credits.

However IMDB does not include all documentary/ promotion films (In the past I've found it a bit hit and miss in this area).

Tony

[RTH]

Just found an address for
Dunlop Films Library
Wilton Crescent
Merton Park
Wimbledon
London SW

However it may be old as there seems not to be a website and 192.com draws a blank for a current address or phone no.

Anyone live in the Wimbledon area who might go and have a look of do some local research ?

Anyone any other ideas ?

[alansart]

It's listed with the BFI, but with no mention of cast etc.

http://ftvdb.bfi.org...ift/title/20381

[RTH]

From that it says produced in Britain in 1950 and the producer was Cecil Musk and that he made 46 films

http://www.citwf.com/person62094.htm.

From the Brit Movie forum

Regarding the source of the films. In the '70s and '80s many of the sponsoring companies ran their own film libraries. There was the Shell Film Library in Hendon, The Royal Mail Film Library, ICI Film Library in Millbank, Texaco, TotalOil, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Dunlop, British Gas, Esso, The Electricity Council etc all had their own film libraries.

Edited by RTH, 22 February 2010 - 12:15.