Welcome to the 'glamorous' world of the Script Supervisor 'Once upon a time' there were queues round the block at the local cinema. Patrons were greeted, if lucky, by an organist.  Then a familiar film company logo....

The Gainsborough lady bowing her head

MGM's roaring lion

The Big Ben clock tower for Alexander Korda's London Films

Rank Films' gong being struck by the gleaming figure of Bombardier Billy Wells. (In fact it was a papier mache gong that he struck, the sound was made by percussionist, James Blades, striking a Chinese gong.)

Before multi channel television and DVD's came along "going to the cinema" was an exciting, once-weekly event.   People went to see what ever was on, a main plus second feature or even a double bill! The team that made those films, whether they were melodramas, patriotic propaganda, literary adaptations, comedy, musicals, quirky individual statements, action adventure, or even TV spin offs, is effectively the same today as it was then.

 

A key member of that team was, and still is, THE CONTINUITY SCRIPT SUPERVISOR. Observation, adaptability, diplomacy and dedication are essential qualities for this challenging role - to say nothing of stamina! Records of the contribution of such key personnel were rarely kept in the early days of film making. On screen credits were slow in coming.

 

Here's a mention of some of those early Script Supervisors and a few of their memorable credits.   This list, spanning the 1930's to the 1970's, also presents an intriguing time capsule of that era, mentioning as it does some films that set a 'benchmark' for the time - as in "Come Play with Me", an almost pornographic film directed by George Harrison Marks (which has an interesting history all of its own), and a film, which should be on the list but has no recorded Script Supervisor "The Private Life of Henry VIII", the success of which confirmed the financing of Denham Film Studio. The credits of a particular Script Supervisor are not, therefore, necessarily the biggest pictures in her resume, but may be memorable for an historical reason.

ANGELA ALLEN
	The Happiest Days of Your Life The African Queen Moby Dick The Misfits The Dirty Dozen The Charge of the Light Brigade ('68) Women in Love Jesus Christ Superstar Murder on the Orient Express The Man Who Would be King	Frank Launder John Huston John Huston John Huston Robert Aldrich Tony Richardson Ken Russell Norman Jewison Sidney Lumet John Huston

PADDY ARNOLD
	The Silver Fleet A Canterbury Tale I Know Where I'm Going I see A Dark Stranger Green for Danger Chance of a Lifetime The Holly and the Ivy	Vernon Sewell Michael Powell Michael Powell Frank Launder Sidney Gilliatt Bernard Miles George More                   O'Ferrall

YVONNE AXWORTHY
	Caesar and Cleopatra Encore The Million Pound Note Genevieve All For Mary The Truth About Women The Horse's Mouth Romanoff and Juliet Avanti	Gabriel Pascal French. Jackson.                Pelissier Ronald Neame Henry Cornelius Wendy Toye Muriel Box Ronald Neame Peter Ustinov Billy Wilder

SHIRLEY BARNES
	Old Mother Riley's New Venture Seven Days to Noon                          Another Man's Poison Reach For The Sky The Admirable Crichton Carve Her Name With Pride The Hound of the Baskervilles ('59) Sink The Bismarck The Grass Is Greener	John Harlow Roy Boulting Irving Rapper Lewis Gilbert Lewis Gilbert Lewis Gilbert Terence Fisher Lewis Gilbert Stanley Donen

ZELDA BARRON
	And Now For Something Completely                    Different                               Dad's Army                          Steptoe and Son Valentino Agatha Yanks	Ian MacNaughton Norman Cohen Cliff Owen Ken Russell Michael Apted John Schlesinger

JOAN BARRY
	Henry V ('44)                               The Way To The Stars                          Last Holiday ('50)	Laurence Olivier Anthony Asquith Henry Cass

BERYL BOOTH
	Portrait of Alison Carrington VC Lucky Jim Brothers In Law The Angry Silence Murder She Said	Guy Green Anthony Asquith John Boulting Roy Boulting Guy Green George Pollock

VALERIE BOOTH
	Privilege                          If Ann of a Thousand Days 10 Rillington Place O Lucky Man	Peter Watkins Lindsay Anderson Charles Jarrott Richard Fleischer Lindsay Anderson

OLGA BROOK
	The Black Sheep of Whitehall                          Odd Man Out Reluctant Heroes Folly To Be Wise The October Man The Belles of St. Trinian's Its a Great Day (aka The Grove Family) Private's Progress The Green Man I'm Alright Jack Across The Bridge Heavens Above	Basil Dearden &             Will Hay Carol Reed Jack Raymond Frank Launder Roy Ward Baker Frank Launder John Warrington John Boulting Robert Day John Boulting Ken Annakin John & Roy Boulting

JANE BUCK
	The Smallest Show on Earth Night of the Eagle     The Knack..... And How to Get It Georgy Girl Porridge The Dock Brief	Basil Dearden Sidney Hayers Richard Lester Silvio Narizzano Dick Clement James Hill

BETTY CALAGHAN
	The Way Ahead Perfect Strangers	Carol Reed Alexander Korda

PAMELA CARLTON
	I Was Monty's Double The Day the Earth Caught Fire Dr. Strangelove     The Yellow Rolls Royce 2001: A Space Odyssey The Lion In Winter The Night Comers	John Guillermin Val Guest Stanley Kubrick Anthony Asquith Stanley Kubrick Anthony Harvey Michael Winner

BARBARA COLE
	The Maggie The Colditz Story    A King In New York Carlton-Browne of the F.O. Lawrence of Arabia Doctor Zhivago	Alexander      Mackendrick Guy Hamilton Charles Chaplin Roy Boulting &     Jeffrey Dell David Lean David Lean

PHYLLIS CROCKER
	Hue and Cry Kind Hearts and Coronets The Lavender Hill Mob Father Brown Fortune is a Woman Law and Disorder ('58) Becket The Deadly Affair     Ryan's Daughter	Charles Crichton Robert Hamer Sidney Gilliat Robert Hamer Sidney Gilliat Charles Crichton Peter Glenville Sidney Lumet David Lean

BETTY CURTIS
	49th Parallel One of Our Aircraft is Missing In Which We Serve	Michael Powell Michael Powell &     Emeric Pressburger Noel Coward &           David Lean

PENNY DANIELS
	Tiger in the Smoke A Night to Remember The League of Gentlemen ('60) Make Mine Mink Whistle Down the Wind Waltz of the Toreadors The L Shaped Room Sky West And Crooked Where Eagles Dare Saturn 3	Roy Ward Baker Roy Ward Baker Basil Dearden Robert Asher Bryan Forbes John Guillermin Bryan Forbes John Mills Bryan G. Hutton Stanley Donen

PAMELA DAVIES
	Home at Seven The Captain's Paradise Richard III ('55) The Guns of Navarone Lolita ('62) A Kind of Loving The Servant The Pumpkin Eater Oliver The Go Between The Straw Dogs	Ralph Richardson Anthony Kimmins Laurence Olivier J. Lee Thompson Stanley Kubrick John Schlesinger Joseph Losey Jack Clayton Carol Reed Joseph Losey Sam Peckinpah

JOAN DAVIS
	The Importance of Being Earnest ('52) Doctor in the House A Town Like Alice Carry on Sergeant Victim The Third Secret The Mask of the Red Death On Her Majesty's Secret Service	Anthony Asquith Ralph Thomas Jack Lee Gerald Thomas Basil Dearden Charles Crichton Roger Corman Peter R. Hunt

ANNABEL DAVIS-GOFF
	The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Performance Walkabout The Great Gatsby	Ronald Neame Nicolas Roeg & Donald Cammell Nicolas Roeg Jack Clayton

RITA DAVISON
	Escapade Peeping Tom Tunes of Glory Mr. Topaze A Taste of Honey The Loneliness of the Long Distance          Runner Tom Jones A Hard Day's Night	Philip Leacock Michael Powell Ronald Neame Peter Sellers Tony Richardson Tony Richardson Tony Richardson Richard Lester

TILLY DAY (aka Lilian G Day)
	The Burgomaster of Stilemonde Her First Affaire Vice Versa The Rocking Horse Winner The Clouded Yellow Too Many Crooks Sapphire Never Take Sweets from a Stranger Cash On Demand Up Pompeii	Captain G. Banfield Allan Dwan Peter Ustinov Anthony Pelissier Ralph Thomas Mario Zampi Basil Dearden Cyril Frankel Quentin Lawrence Bob Kellett

DOREEN DEARNALEY
	Dracula ('58) Hell is a City Charlie Bubbles Get Carter ('71) On The Buses	Terence Fisher Val Guest Albert Finney Mike Hodges Harry Booth

SPLINTERS DEASON
	Life with the Lyons Follow a Star 80,000 Suspects The Intelligence Men	Val Guest Robert Asher Val Guest Robert Asher

WINNIFRED DYER
	Black Narcissus Mine Own Executioner	Michael Powell Anthony Kimmins

SUSAN DYSON
	House of Secrets High Tide at Noon Tiger Bay The Battle of the Sexes Life for Ruth The Mind Benders Only When I Larf The Assassination Bureau	Guy Green Philip Leacock J. Lee Thompson Charles Crichton Basil Dearden Basil Dearden Basil Dearden Basil Dearden

ELIZABETH EVERSON
	Hamlet ('48) Odette	Laurence Olivier Herbert Wilcox

JUNE FAITHFUL
	Calling Paul Temple The Last Days of Dolwyn The Franchise Affair Laughter in Paradise ('51) The Magic Box Now and Forever ('56) Woman in a Dressing Gown Billy Budd	Maclean Rogers Emlyn Williams Lawrence Huntington Mario Zampi John Boulting Mario Zampi J. Lee Thompson Peter Ustinov

KAY FENTON
	Bugsy Malone The Duellists Midnight Express Firepower Alien	Alan Parker Ridley Scott Alan Parker Michael Winner Ridley Scott

BETTY FORSTER
	The Heart of the Matter The Sea Shall Not Have Them The End of the Affair ('55) Footsteps in the Fog The Cockleshell Heroes	George More O'Ferrall Lewis Gilbert Edward Dmytryk Arthur Lubin Jose Ferrer

JOSIE FULFORD
	The Family Way Baby Love Age of Innocence	Roy Boulting Alastair Reid Alan Bridges

PAMELA GAYLER
	The Long Arm Night of the Demon Chase a Crooked Shadow The Good Companions ('57)	Charles Frend Jacques Tourneur Michael Anderson J. Lee Thompson

RENEE GLYNNE
	The Adventures of PC49 The Quatermass Xperiment The Nanny Casino Royale ('67) The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins The Likely Lads Aces High	Godfrey Grayson Val Guest Seth Holt Guest/Hughes/ Huston/McGrath/ Parrish Graham Stark Michael Tuchner Jack Gold

GLADYS GOLDSMITH
	The Gypsy and the Gentleman Conspiracy of Hearts No Love for Johnnie The Abominable Dr. Phibes	Joseph Losey Ralph Thomas Ralph Thomas Robert Fuest

JEAN GRAHAM
	Scott of the Antarctic Passport to Pimlico The Blue Lamp Where No Vultures Fly Mandy The Cruel Sea The Ship That Died of Shame The Shiralee Barnacle Bill	Charles Frend Henry Cornelius Basil Dearden Harry Watt Alexander Mac-              kendrick Charles Frend Basil Dearden Leslie Norman Charles Frend

GEORGINA HAMILTON
	One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Let's Get Laid Candle Shoe Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe The Spaceman and King Arthur	Robert Stevenson Gene Wilder James Kenelm Clarke Norman Tokar Ted Kotcheff Russ Mayberry

JO HARCOURT
	Cottage to Let We Dive at Dawn The Winslow Boy ('48)	Anthony Asquith Anthony Asquith Anthony Asquith

BETTY HARLEY
	The Late Edwina Black The Battle of the River Plate Windom's Way Murder at the Gallop Blow Up Burke and Hare	Maurice Elvey Michael Powell Ronald Neame George Pollock Michelangelo                 Antonioni Vernon Sewell

EILEEN HEAD
	Bonjour Tristesse The Amorous Prawn She Khartoum Funeral in Berlin Til Death Us Do Part Scream And Scream Again	Otto Preminger Anthony Kimmins Robert Day Basil Dearden &     Eliot Elisofon   Guy Hamilton Norman Cohen Gordon Hessler

DAPHNE HEATHCOTE
	The Dancing Years Went the Day Well My Learned Friend Dead of Night	Harold French Alberto Cavalcanti Basil Dearden &    Will Hay Cavalcanti / Crichton / Dearden / Hamer

KATHLEEN HOSGOOD
	The Final Test Trouble in Store Simon and Laura Eyewitness	Anthony Asquith John Paddy Carstairs Muriel Box Muriel Box

MAISIE KELLY
	The Ghost Train Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It The Wicked Lady ('45) Anna Karenina ('48) Cry The Beloved Country ('51) The Crimson Pirate Curtain Up	Walter Forde Walter Forde Leslie Arliss Julien Duvivier Zoltan Korda Robert Siodmak Ralph Smart

JOAN KIRK
	Ice Cold in Alex No Trees in the Street Sammy Going South	J.Lee Thompson J.Lee Thompson Alexander                      Mackendrick

JOSEPHINE KNOWLES
	Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush Marat / Sade Rocket to the Moon Alfred the Great	Clive Donner Peter Brook Don Sharp Clive Donner

MARJORIE LAVELLY
	Robberty Under Arms The Mummy ('59) French Dressing Stevie	Jack Lee Terence Fisher Ken Russell Robert Evans

PEGGY McCLAFFERTY
	Quiet Wedding London Town An Ideal Husband ('47) The Fallen Idol The Third Man Night and the City	Anthony Asquith Wesley Ruggles Alexander Korda Carol Reed Carol Reed Jules Dassin

 

KAY MANDER
	From Russia With Love The Heroes of Telemark Dateline Diamonds Fahrenheit 451 Tommy The Human Factor	Terence Young Anthony Mann Jeremy Summers Francois Truffaut Ken Russell Otto Preminger

FELICIA MANHEIM
	The Man in the White Suit The Titfield Thunderbolt The Night My Number Came Up The Ladykillers ('55)	Alexander                    Mackendrick Charles Crichton Leslie Norman Alexander                              Mackendrick

PAMELA MANN FRANCIS
	Saturday Night and Sunday Morning A Taste of Fear The Innocents ('61) This Sporting Life Billy Liar	Karel Reisz Seth Holt Jack Clayton Lindsay Anderson John Schlesinger

ANGELA MARTELLI
	Calling Bulldog Drummond Ivanhoe ('52) Bhowani Junction The Bridge on the River Kwai Sons and Lovers The Wrong Arm of the Law The Spy Who Came In From the Cold Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Railway Children Frenzy	Victor Saville Richard Thorpe George Cukor David Lean Jack Cardiff Cliff Owen Martin Ritt Ken Hughes Lionel Jeffries Alfred Hitchcock

DORIS MARTIN
	Radio Cab Murder Decline and Fall	Vernon Sewell John Krish

JOY MERCER
	Very Important Person Those Magnificent Men in their Flying          Machines Battle of the Bulge Hot Millions Bless This House	Ken Annakin Ken Annakin Ken Annakin Eric Till Gerald Thomas

DOREEN MERRIMAN (aka FRANCIS. JONES. NORTH)
	The Red Shoes The Small Back Room Sailor Beware Room at the Top	Michael Powell Michael Powell Gordon Parry Jack Clayton

SUSANNA MERRY
	Murphy's War The Boy Friend Au Pair Girls The Wicker Man ('73) The Rocky Horror Picture Show The Man Who Fell To Earth	Peter Yates Ken Russell Val Guest Robin Hardy Jim Sherman Nicolas Roeg

PAT MOON
	Emergency Danger By My Side The Ipcress File Shalako	Francis Searle Charles Saunders Sidney J. Furie Edward Dmytryk

M. NORTON
	Demobbed The Seventh Veil 29 Acacia Avenue	John E Blakeley Compton Bennett Henry Cass

THELMA ORR
	The Dam Busters Yield To The Night	Michael Anderson J. Lee Thompson

MARJORIE OWENS
	Just William's Luck Whisky Galore! The Queen of Spades Train of Events Angels One Five Pay Roll	Val Guest Alexander                       Mackendrick Thorold Dickinson Cole/Crichton/             Dearden George More O'Ferrall Sidney Hayers

BUNNY PARSONS
	A Matter of Life and Death	Michael Powell

JUNE RANDALL
	Here Come the Huggetts Look Back In Anger The Anniversary A Clockwork Orange Lady Caroline Lamb Barry Lyndon Are You Being Served The Spy Who Loved Me	Ken Annakin Tony Richardson Roy Ward Baker Stanley Kubrick Robert Bolt Stanley Kubrick Bob Kellett Lewis Gilbert

KAY RAWLINGS
	How To Murder A Rich Uncle The Naked Truth The Flesh and the Fiends A Prize of Arms Born Free The Birthday Party Fear is the Key	Nigel Patrick Mario Zampi John Gilling Cliff Owen James Hill William Friedkin Michael Tuchner

GLADYS REEVE
	Brighton Rock Up The Creek ('58)	John Boulting Val Guest

ALMA REVILLE
	The 39 Steps ('35) Secret Agent Sabotage ('36) The Lady Vanishes ('38)	Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock

YVONNE RICHARDS
	Danger Within Drop Dead Darling To Sir With Love Carry On Up The Khyber	Don Chaffey Ken Hughes James Clavell Gerald Thomas

PHYLLIS ROSS
	Contraband Dangerous Moonlight The True Story of Lilli Marlene Thunder Rock Western Approaches	Michael Powell Brian Desmond Hurst Humphrey Jennings Roy Boulting Pat Jackson

BARBARA ROWLAND
	Sparrows Can't Sing Hostile Witness The File of the Golden Goose Two Gentlemen Sharing Every Home Should Have One	Joan Littlewood Ray Milland Sam Wanamaker Ted Kotcheff Jim Clark

ROSAIRE RUTLAND
	Sally In Our Alley The Ringer The Water Gypsies	Maurice Elvey Walter Forde Maurice Elvey

ELAINE SCHREYECK
	The Cure For Love Happy Ever After The Prince and the Showgirl Gideon's Day The Nun's Story Suddenly Last Summer The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Battle of Britain Fiddler on the Roof Superman	Robert Donat Mario Zampi Laurence Olivier John Ford Fred Zinnemann Joseph L. Mankiewitz Billy Wilder Guy Hamilton Norman Jewison Richard Donner

LORNA SELWYN
	Rasputin The Mad Monk The Plank Ulysses The Witchfinder General Come Play With Me	Don Sharp Eric Sykes Joseph Strick Michael Reeves George Harrison                          Marks

PEGGY SINGER (aka ROBERTSON)
	George in Civvy Street Silent Dust Under Captricorn	Marcel Varnel Lance Comfort Alfred Hitchcock

ANN SKINNER
	Darling Far From The Madding Crowd Isadora Oh! What A Lovely War Sunday Bloody Sunday The Devils Young Winston Star Wars	John Schlesinger John Schlesinger Karel Reisz Richard Attenborough John Schlesinger Ken Russell Richard Attenborough George Lucas

DOREEN SOAN
	The Curse of Frankenstein The Sorcerers Mosquito Squadron A Warm December Arabian Adventure	Terence Fisher Michael Reeves Boris Segal Sidney Poitier Kevin Connor

HAZEL SWIFT
	Brandy for the Parson Roman Holiday Yangtse Incident The Haunting ('63)	John Eldridge William Wyler Michael Anderson Robert Wise

PHYLLIS TOWNSEND
	Tomorrow At Ten The Face of Fu Manchu Sandy the Seal Please Sir The Internecine Project	Lance Comfort Don Sharp Robert Lynn Mark Stuart Ken Hughes

LEE TURNER
	Dunkirk Village of the Damned ('60) Two Way Stretch Only Two Can Play The Caretaker The Hill	Leslie Norman Wolf Rilla Robert Day Sidney Gilliat Clive Donner Sidney Lumet

MARGARET UNSWORTH (aka SHIPLEY.  SIBLEY)
	The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Blithe Spirit Brief Encounter ('45) Great Expectations ('46) Oliver Twist ('48) The Browning Version ('51) Hobson's Choice ('54) Our Man in Havana The Entertainer Cromwell	Michael Powell David Lean David Lean David Lean David Lean Anthony Asquith David Lean Carol Reed Tony Richardson Ken Hughes

DEE VAUGHAN
	Repulsion Cul de Sac	Roman Polanski Roman Polanski

HELEN WHITSON
	The Siege of Pinchgut School for Scoundrels ('60) The Trials of Oscar Wilde Johnny Nobody The Young Ones Dr. No A High Wind in Jamaica Robbery The Italian Job ('69)	Harry Watt Robert Hamer Ken Hughes Nigel Patrick Sidney J. Furie Terence Young Alexander                         Mackendrick Peter Yates Peter Collinson

CONNIE WILLIS
	Trio A Shot in the Dark Goldfinger A Man For All Seasons ('66) Sinful Davey Heironymus Merkin Tales That Witness Madness A Bridge Too Far Death on the Nile	Ken Annakin & Harold         French Blake Edwards Guy Hamilton Fred Zinnemann John Huston Anthony Newley Freddie Francis Richard Attenborough John Guillermin

HAZEL WILKINSON
	Pygmalion Come on George The Four Just Men The First of the Few Stolen Life	Anthony Asquith &         Leslie Howard Anthony Kimmins Walter Forde Leslie Howard Paul Czinner

EVE WILSON
	Undercover Girl Circus of Fear Blood Beast Terror The Girl on a Motorcycle The Fiend	Francis Searle John Moxey Vernon Sewell Jack Cardiff Robert Hartford-                Davis

JOAN WYATT
	Mrs Fitzherbert The Ghosts of Berkeley Square My Brother Jonathan The Hasty Heart	Montgomery Tully Vernon Sewell Harold French Vincent Sherman