1949 was a bad year financially partly due to a speight of good, but big budget movies. The Red Shoes; Hamlet; Fallen Idol; Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. Smaller budget productions also left there mark with Passport to Pimlico; Whiskey Galore and the very successful Kind Hearts and Coronets that established Alec Guiness as a star.

It was symptomatic of the changing entertainment habits of the general public that Rank sold their Lime Grove Studios in West London to the BBC in 1949. Television was just beginning to have an effect on the film industry. During the 1950' and early 60's Films had to learn to be more exportable and welcome to foreign audiences. Many achieved both of these criteria among them works by David Lean, Carol Reed and the Ealing Comedies.

There were important newcomers in the acting field that had international appeal, JackHawkins, Keneth More, Richard Todd, Laurence Harvey, Richard Burton and Peter Finch. British actresses of this caliber remained scarce. Films like The Lady Killers; Genevieve; The Cruel Sea and The Colditz Story helped to keep the UK's reputation high. Funding was also kept up by well made popular, but erring on schoolboy bathroom humour series. Which included the Doctor and the Carry On series.