Sir Arthur Elton, 10th Baronet

Sir
Arthur Elton
Bt
Born
Arthur Hallam Rice Elton

(1906-02-10)10 February 1906
London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Died1 January 1973(1973-01-01) (aged 66)
Bristol, United Kingdom
EducationJesus College, University of Cambridge, 1927
Occupations
Spouse(s)Margaret Ann Björnson, Lady Elton
Children3, including Sir Charles Elton, 11th Baronet
Parents
  • Sir Ambrose Elton, 9th Baronet (father)
  • Dorothy Wynne Wiggin, Lady Elton (mother)
FamilyElton Baronetcy

Elton, Sir Arthur Hallam Rice, 10th Baronet (1906–1973) was a British film producer, director, executive and prominent figure in the British Documentary Film Movement.[1][2]

Early life and education

Arthur Hallam Rice Elton was born on 10 February 1906 in London, to Dorothy Wynne Wiggin, Lady Elton (1882–1957) and Sir Ambrose Elton, 9th Baronet (1869–1951), a barrister.[1][3][4]

Elton was educated at Marlborough College.[1] In 1927, Elton graduated from Jesus College.[1]

Career

After graduation, he worked as a scriptwriter in England and Germany, and in 1931 was recruited into the Empire Marketing Board Film Unit (later the GPO Film Unit) by John Grierson. He worked as a director and producer on many films over the next two decades, mainly for the government, though 1932's Voice of the World was sponsored by His Master's Voice, the first example of industrial sponsorship of a documentary film. During the Second World War he became supervisor of films at the Ministry of Information, and afterwards he became an advisor to the Shell Petroleum Company and production head of Shell Films.

Personal life

In 1948, Elton married Margaret Ann Björnson, Lady Elton (1915–1995), an Icelandic-Canadian film producer and historian.[1][5] Together the couple had three children.[1]

Following his father's death in 1951, Elton inherited the Elton Baronetcy title and Clevedon Court. Elton restored the building and donated it to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. He took a keen interest in the town of Clevedon, becoming chairman of the printing company which produced the local paper. He was also prominent in the campaign to restore Clevedon Pier.

Upon Elton's death, his collection of material relating to British industrial development (valued at over a quarter of a million pounds) was given to the Ironbridge Museum. He was succeeded by his son Elton, Sir Charles Abraham Grierson, 11th Baronet (1953–).[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1931Shadow on the MountainDirectorReleased in two versions Shadow on the Mountains (1931) and Experiment in the Welsh Hills (1932)[6][7]
1931Salmon LeapDirector[8]
1932UpstreamDirector[9]
1931Industrial BritainCo-cinematographerWith Basil Wright[10][11]
1932An Experiment on the Welsh HillsDirector[12]
1932The Voice of the WorldDirector[13]
1934John Atkins Saves UpDirector[14]
1934Aero EngineDirector[15]
1935Housing ProblemsCo-producerWith Edgar Anstey. No credited director[16]
1935Workers and JobsDirectorSponsored by the Ministry Of Labour[17][18]
1936A Party Dish by X. Marcel BoulestinDirector[19]
1936A Scratch Meal with Marcel BoulestinDirector[20]
1973GriersonSelfDocumentary about John Grierson, directed by Roger Blais[21]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wenden, D. J.; Street, Sarah (2011). "Elton, Sir Arthur Hallam Rice, tenth baronet (1906–1973), film producer and director". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31074. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 16 August 2025. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ Russell, Patrick (2014). "Elton, Sir Arthur (1906-1973): Producer, Director, Executive". BFI Screenonline. London: British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Arthur Hallam R Elton", England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London: General Register Office, 1906
  4. ↑ "Dorothy Wynne Wiggin, Lady Elton (1882-1957)". National Trust Collections. Swindon, Wiltshire: National Trust. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Goldsborough, Gordon (2019). "Memorable Manitobans: Margaret Ann Bjornson / Lady Margaret Elton (1915-1995)". Memorable Manitobans. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Manitoba Historical Society Archives. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  6. ↑ British Film Institute. "Shadow on the Mountain An Experiment on the Welsh Hills". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Shadow on the Mountains". BFI Player. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  8. ↑ British Film Institute. "Salmon Leap'". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  9. ↑ British Film Institute. "Upstream". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  10. ↑ British Film Institute. "Industrial Britain". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Industrial Britain". Mubi. London. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  12. ↑ British Film Institute. "An Experiment on the Welsh Hills". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  13. ↑ British Film Institute. "The Voice of the World". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  14. ↑ British Film Institute. "John Atkins Saves Up". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. ↑ British Film Institute. "Aero Engine". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  16. ↑ British Film Institute. "Housing Problems". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  17. ↑ British Film Institute. "Workers and Jobs". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  18. ↑ Baker, Simon (2014). "Workers and Jobs (1935)". BFI Screenonline. London: British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  19. ↑ British Film Institute. "A Party Dish by X. Marcel Boulestin". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  20. ↑ British Film Institute. "A Scratch Meal with Marcel Boulestin". Collections Search BFI. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Grierson (1973) – Cast & Crew". Mubi. London. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
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