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Two Cities Films

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Opening logo from This Happy Breed

Two Cities Films is a British film production company. Formed in 1937, it was originally envisaged as operating both in London and in Rome, and this fact gave the company its name.

The driving forces behind the company were the flamboyant, Italian-born Filippo Del Giudice,[1] and his partner the multitalented Mario Zampi,[2] born in Sora, Italy, who often worked in the dual role of director and producer. Two Cities produced a number of quintessentially English[3] film classics including the most popular British film from the wartime period, In Which We Serve (1942).[4]

The Two Cities films This Happy Breed, The Way Ahead, Laurence Olivier's patriotic epic Henry V (all 1944), The Way to the Stars, and Blithe Spirit (both 1945) contributed significantly to the high critical reputation acquired by the British cinema of the time.[5][3][6][7]

In the mid-1940s Two Cities Films became part of the Rank Organisation. Earl St John became managing director.[8]

Filippo Del Giudice had found himself forced to surrender the company's independence because of the strain on its finances produced by raising more than £470,000 for the production of Henry V.[1] Under Rank the company produced key films such as Odd Man Out (1947), Hamlet (1948), and Vice Versa (1948).[9]

Two Cities Films is now owned by Gregory Motton.[10]

New production

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The company went back into production in 2017 with the shooting of The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah, a quartet of films: The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah, part one: A Voice Crying In The Wilderness, The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah part two; Conquering Death, The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah part three, The Seducer, The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah part four is to be released in January 2022,[11][12] Lilith (2022), Dracula (2022)

Select filmography

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New company

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  • The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah (2019)
  • Dracula (2022)
  • Lilith (2022)

Unmade films

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  • Ann Veronica (1950)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Filippo del Giudice". IMDb.
  2. ^ "Mario Zampi". IMDb.
  3. ^ a b Tom Ryall, Encyclopedia of British Film
  4. ^ "In Which We Serve". IMDb.
  5. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Film Studios and Industry Bodies > Two Cities Films".
  6. ^ "Two Cities Doing New Coward Pic". Variety. 17 February 1943. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Olivier to Produce, Direct, Star in Henry V". Variety. 26 May 1943. p. 17.
  8. ^ Vagg, Stephen (20 April 2025). "Forgotten British Moguls: Earl St John". Filmink. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Somlo vamps Two Cities". Variety. 29 October 1947. p. 15.
  10. ^ "TWO CITIES FILMS LIMITED people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
  11. ^ "The Four Gospels of Dracula the Messiah, pt one a Voice Crying in the Wilderness B". YouTube. 31 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Dracula the Messiah - Two Cities Films".
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