News on Screen

Stanley Russell was a Glaswegian who entered films in 1936, directing sponsored industrial films for Scottish Films Ltd. In August 1936 it was announced that Russell and Malcolm Irvine were to produce a new independent newsreel called the Scottish News Magazine, and that they ‘hope to gain sufficient support to issue the reel once every month.' Russell apparently joined up in 1943, but in 1945 he formed his own company called Thames & Clyde Film Co Ltd, to make films for industry, government departments, and television companies. In May 1947 Russell worked with Frank McLachlan [qv] to help Movietone film a football match in Glasgow, the result being ‘GREAT BRITAIN’S EASY WIN’ in British Movietone News No.936A. In July 1954 Russell was credited with providing the Scottish story ‘DUCHESS LAUNCHED LIFEBOAT’ for British Movietone News No.1310, and he also supplied the Scottish local item ‘BRITISH YOUTH OPEN GOLF’ in No.1314A of August 1954.

Sources

World Film News, August 1936, p.41, ‘Newsreel Clips’: BUFVC, British Paramount News files, Issue Number 1691 (rota dopesheet, c.10/5/1947): P. Noble (ed) ‘British Film and Television Year Book 1956/57’ (London, 1956), p.267.