They Came to a City (Original title)
Date: 05 February 1945 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirector: Basil Dearden
Synopsis: Fantasy of nine characters who are given the choice of living in a dream city free from tension and want. Only two stay.
Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Social change
Releases
Date: 1944Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 77 mins Length: 6992 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: 2016Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 77 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Title: Paradise Postponed: Ealing, Rank and THEY CAME TO A CITYAuthor: KEMP, Philip Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Analytical article.
In: Today's Cinema v70 n5608 11 Feb 1948
Title: [Today's Cinema - v70 n5608 11 Feb 1948: no known title]Language: English
In: New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews v2 n5 19 Feb 1945 Page: 459460
Title: [New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews - v2 n5 19 Feb 1945: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Compilation of reviews
In: Motion Picture Herald v156 n11 9 Sep 1944
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v156 n11 9 Sep 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v63 n5073 18 Aug 1944
Title: [Today's Cinema - v63 n5073 18 Aug 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v11 n129 September 1944 Page: 100
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v11 n129 September 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n1949 24 Aug 1944
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n1949 24 Aug 1944: no known title]Language: English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(23)
Accessible materials to view(6)
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: AcetateSound: CombinedLength: 2784 FeetBFI identifier: C-169316
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Answer PrintBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: N-42038
Status: Viewing - Viewing experience and projection may be compromised by condition of film print (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: PolyesterSound: CombinedStock date: 2011BFI identifier: N-42039
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: MP4MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-51885
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Digital materials(12)
Description: WAVBFI identifier: N-42036
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-51884
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-51885
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483910
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483910-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483922
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483922-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPXBFI identifier: N-715417
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-483876
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-483876-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Film materials(11)
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: AcetateSound: CombinedLength: 2784 FeetBFI identifier: C-169316
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Answer PrintBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: N-42038
Status: Viewing - Viewing experience and projection may be compromised by condition of film print (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 6990 FeetStock date: 1944BFI identifier: C-169314
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: PolyesterSound: CombinedStock date: 2011BFI identifier: N-42039
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: MuteStock date: 2012BFI identifier: N-42035
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 7012 FeetStock date: 1981BFI identifier: C-169312
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Master PositiveBase: SafetySound: SoundLength: 7021 FeetBFI identifier: C-169313
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundLength: 7014 FeetStock date: 1943BFI identifier: C-169310
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteLength: 7014 FeetStock date: 1943BFI identifier: C-169311
Status: Master - Location of material is under review
Description: 35mm PositiveBFI identifier: C-169315
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: SoundBFI identifier: N-42037
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Date: 05 February 1945 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirector: Basil Dearden
Synopsis: Fantasy of nine characters who are given the choice of living in a dream city free from tension and want. Only two stay.
Genre: Fantasy
Subject: Social change
Releases
Date: 1944Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 77 mins Length: 6992 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: 2016Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 77 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Credits
(35)
Production Company: Ealing Studios, Producer: Michael Balcon, Associate Producer: Sidney Cole, Unit Manager: Mickey Brantford, Production Supervisor: Hal Mason, 2nd Assistant Director: Rowland Douglas, 3rd Assistant Director: Claude Hudson, [Continuity]: Elaine Schreyeck, Screenplay: Basil Dearden, Screenplay: Sidney Cole, Screenplay: J.B. Priestley, Based on the play by: J.B. Priestley, Director of Photography: Stan Pavey, Camera Operator: Austin Dempster, Focus Puller: Alan Hume, Clapper Loader: Michael Shepherd, Special Effects: Roy Kellino, Special Effects: Lionel Banes, Editor: Michael Truman, 1st Assistant Editor: Irene Langer, Art Director: Michael Relph, Assistant Art Director: Jim Morahan, Draughtsman: Heather Armitage, Draughtsman: Len Wills, Bernard Sarron, Wardrobe: Marion Horn, Make-up: Tom Shenton, Music Selections: Alexander Scriabin, Music Performed by: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Conductor: Ernest Irving, Sound Supervisor: A.D. Valentine, Recordist: Len Page, Studio Sound Camera: Peter T. Davies, Sound: Eric Williams
Cast
(12)
John Clements (Joe Dinmore), Googie Withers (Alice Foster), Raymond Huntley (Malcolm Stritton), Renee Gadd (Dorothy Stritton), A.E. Matthews (Sir George Gedney), Mabel Terry Lewis (Lady Loxfield), Frances Rowe (Philippa Loxfield), Ada Reeve (Mrs Batley), Norman Shelley (Cudworth), J.B. Priestley ([himself]), Ralph Michael ([Sergeant Jimmy]), Brenda Bruce ([WAAF in frame story])
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(7)
In: Cinéaste v23 n4 July 1998 Pages: 45-47Title: Paradise Postponed: Ealing, Rank and THEY CAME TO A CITYAuthor: KEMP, Philip Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Analytical article.
In: Today's Cinema v70 n5608 11 Feb 1948
Title: [Today's Cinema - v70 n5608 11 Feb 1948: no known title]Language: English
In: New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews v2 n5 19 Feb 1945 Page: 459460
Title: [New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews - v2 n5 19 Feb 1945: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Compilation of reviews
In: Motion Picture Herald v156 n11 9 Sep 1944
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v156 n11 9 Sep 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v63 n5073 18 Aug 1944
Title: [Today's Cinema - v63 n5073 18 Aug 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v11 n129 September 1944 Page: 100
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v11 n129 September 1944: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n1949 24 Aug 1944
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n1949 24 Aug 1944: no known title]Language: English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(23)
Accessible materials to view(6)
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: AcetateSound: CombinedLength: 2784 FeetBFI identifier: C-169316
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Answer PrintBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: N-42038
Status: Viewing - Viewing experience and projection may be compromised by condition of film print (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: PolyesterSound: CombinedStock date: 2011BFI identifier: N-42039
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: MP4MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-51885
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Digital materials(12)
Description: WAVBFI identifier: N-42036
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-51884
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-51885
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483910
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483910-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483922
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-483922-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPXBFI identifier: N-715417
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-483876
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-483876-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-483893-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Film materials(11)
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: AcetateSound: CombinedLength: 2784 FeetBFI identifier: C-169316
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Answer PrintBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: N-42038
Status: Viewing - Viewing experience and projection may be compromised by condition of film print (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: NitrateSound: CombinedLength: 6990 FeetStock date: 1944BFI identifier: C-169314
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: PolyesterSound: CombinedStock date: 2011BFI identifier: N-42039
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: MuteStock date: 2012BFI identifier: N-42035
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 7012 FeetStock date: 1981BFI identifier: C-169312
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Master PositiveBase: SafetySound: SoundLength: 7021 FeetBFI identifier: C-169313
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: NitrateSound: SoundLength: 7014 FeetStock date: 1943BFI identifier: C-169310
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: NitrateSound: MuteLength: 7014 FeetStock date: 1943BFI identifier: C-169311
Status: Master - Location of material is under review
Description: 35mm PositiveBFI identifier: C-169315
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: PolyesterSound: SoundBFI identifier: N-42037
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film