MGM-British Studios Meanwhile, Amalgamated Studios Ltd constructed a large studio on the north side of Elstree Way between 1935 and 1937. A January 1937 deal for eight films to be made for the American studio Columbia Pictures soon collapsed. The company was unable to meet the cost of building work, and sold the facility to the Rank Organisation, which was not interested in using the studios itself, but wanted to stop John Maxwell's rival British International Pictures (BIP) from being able to compete more effectively with its own new Pinewood Studios. During the war, the studios were leased from Rank by the
Denham Film Studios the land was redeveloped once more as luxury flats, with only the laboratory designed by Gropius surviving from the original buildings. Made on the site during construction: The first film to be made at the studio proper was "Southern Roses" (1936). Others included: The last film to be made at Denham was Disney's "The Sword and the Rose" (1953). Denham Film Studios Denham Film Studios were a British film production studio operating from 1936 to 1952. Founded by Alexander Korda, notable films made at Denham include "Brief Encounter" and David Lean's "Great Expectations". From the 1950s to the 1970s the