Person    | Male  Born 16/9/1893  Died /1/1956

Sir Alexander Korda

Categories: Cinema

Countries: Hungary, USA

Film producer. Born Sandor Kellner in Hungary. Worked in film in Hungary, Austria and Germany and then in Hollywood  1926-30. He then moved to Britain where he became a leading figure in the film industry, setting up and running a number of companies, and creating Denham Film Studios. He was established by the huge success of the 1933 "The Private Life of Henry VIII" starring Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. For a few years during WW2 he was again based in Hollywood. His brothers, Zoltan, a director, and Victor, an art director, worked closely with him.  In 1942 Korda was knighted - the first filmmaker to be so honoured.

There is an interesting story about Korda and the early days of BBC television. It seems that the BBC made an experimental film of ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ by putting a camera in front of a TV monitor while their own live production was broadcast. The date is uncertain, pre-war or post-war, but Korda, who had produced the 1934 film ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ got to hear about it and objected claiming that the BBC had infringed his mechanical copyright. He insisted that the BBC burn the film. He also insisted on a film being made of the burning and sent to him. And this was done, at Alexandra Palace. Trouble with this story is, the BBC accounts show no record of a production of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Someone needs to rummage through the Korda archives looking for a film of a big bonfire on a hill.

From an Ian Jack article in the Guardian we learn that Korda was a good friend of Winston Churchill. The 1939 "The Four Feathers" was one of Churchill's favourite films and apparently he always cried when Nelson died in the 1937 "Lady Hamilton". They had a business relationship too. Churchill wrote two screenplays for Korda but sadly they were never produced. Korda paid Churchill a large sum of money for the rights to film "A History of the English Speaking People" but this too never made it to the screen. 

It seems to be generally accepted that the anglophile Korda was involved in espionage during WW2, his companies' film-making being a cover which enabled spies to enter European countries and even record on film what may be of interest to the Allies.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Alexander Korda

Commemorated ati

Sir Alexander Korda

English Heritage Sir Alexander Korda, film producer, worked here, 1932 - 1936.

Read More

Other Subjects

Eric Sykes

Eric Sykes

Scriptwriter and actor. Born in Oldham, Lancashire. As a writer, he worked with Spike Milligan on the early scripts for the Goon Shows. He wrote for many of the major comedians of the day, includin...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Malcolm Craddock

Malcolm Craddock

Television and film producer. Born Malcolm Gordon Craddock, London. Began making films while at university. Produced TV commercials for 14 years. Co-founder of Picture Palace, the television produc...

Person, Cinema, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Sir David Hare

Sir David Hare

Playwright, screenwriter and director. Born in St Leonards-on-Sea. Best known for his stage plays including 'Plenty', 'Racing Demon' and 'Amy's View'. He has also written the scripts for many telev...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick

Film director who settled in outer London and made many of his films here. Born New York City.  The first film made in England was Lolita in 1962.  He lived close to the film studios at Elstree and...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, USA

1 memorial
Dame Barbara Windsor

Dame Barbara Windsor

Actor. Born Barabara Ann Deeks in Shoreditch. She made her west end debut in 1952, before joining Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. In the cinema she was a regular in the 'Carry On' series, appea...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio

3 memorials

Previously viewed

Freemason VCs - Z6 - Willis, Wood, Wyatt

Freemason VCs - Z6 - Willis, Wood, Wyatt

WC2, Great Queen Street, Freemasons' Hall

The Freemasons commissioned this memorial to mark the 300th anniversary of The United Grand Lodge of England in 2017 and the centenary of...

War served | WW1
4 subjects commemorated