Pinewood Studios: Celebrating 80 years of films

Pinewood Studios celebrates 80 years of producing some of Britain's most iconic films and movie moments on Friday.

From James Bond to Harry Potter, from the Carry On films to Superman, Pinewood has been at the forefront of the UK film industry for eight decades.

In that time, the studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, have witnessed the emergence of some of the screen's most memorable characters: Norman Wisdom, Barbara Windsor, Luke Skywalker and 007 to name but a few.

Now as Pinewood celebrates its eightieth birthday, ITV News rewinds the years and looks back at some of the most important moments in Pinewood's history.

  • 1936: Pinewood is born

Comedian Norman Wisdom (left) had many films produced at Pinewood Credit: PA

Pinewood Studios were opened in 1936, with work having begun the year before to the tune of £1 million.

In its first year it produced eight films, the first being Talk of the Devil, a crime movie starring Ricardo Cortez and Sally Eilers.

There was a six year pause during World War II, however, when the studios were requisitioned by the Army Film and Photographic Unit.

Back in business in 1946, by the 1950s Pinewood was home to some of Britain's most popular comedy productions including the Carry On filmsand Norman Wisdom's feature-length productions.

Carry on Nurse was filmed at Pinewood Studios in 1959 Credit: PA
Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier on set at Pinewood in 1956 Credit: PA

  • 1962: James Bond emerges

In 1962, Ian Fleming's James Bond stepped onto the world stage when Dr No was filmed at Pinewood in 1962.

Sean Connery went on to star in a number of Bond movies at the studios throughout the sixties and early seventies, including Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.

Sean Connery and Honor Blackman on the Goldfinger set in 1964 Credit: PA
Footballers and film stars mingle at Pinewood Studios in the 1960s Credit: PA
You Only Live Twice being filmed at Pinewood in 1966 Credit: PA
Dick van Dyke starring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968 Credit: PA

  • Superman, 1978

Based on the DC Comics, the first Superman film was produced at Pinewood Studios in 1978 starring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman.

The sequel, Superman II, was also filmed there two years later in 1980.

Another film classic, Alien, was also produced at Pinewood starring Sigourney Weaver in 1979.

Superman was made into film in 1978 Credit: Reuters
Christopher Reeve played Superman in 1978 at Pinewood Studios Credit: PA
The original Alien film was produced at Pinewood Studios Credit: PA

  • Batman and Pink Floyd

Throughout the 1980s, the James Bond films continued to be filmed at Pinewood: For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to Kill, The Living Daylights.

Meanwhile, Pink Panther and Pink Floyd also became the subject of films produced at the studios in 1983 and 1982.

The first Batman film, starring Michael Keaton, was completed at Pinewood in 1989, while Vietnam war film Full Metal Jacket was released in 1987.

Batman was released in 1989 Credit: PA
The Spy Who Loved Me, featuring Roger Moore, was released in 1977 Credit: PA
Matthew Modine starred in Full Metal Jacket in 1987 Credit: PA

  • Lara Croft and The Da Vinci Code

While the 1990s saw another flurry of James Bond films, this time starring Pierce Brosnan, the 2000s saw a number of other characters enter the Pinewood stage.

Lara Craft: Tomb Raider (2001), 28 Days Later (2002), Love Actually (2003) and Nanny McPhee (2005) were all filmed in the early 2000s.

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code was released in 2006, while the Bourne Ultimatum was finished at Pinewood in 2007.

The Dark Knight, featuring Heath Ledger, was then produced at Pinewood in 2008.

Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in 2001 Credit: PA
Love Actually was filmed at Pinewood in 2003 Credit: PA
The Da Vinci Code was filmed at Pinewood in 2006 Credit: PA

  • 2010-present

As of 2010, Pinewood has continued to be the base for some of the most popular films worldwide.

Harry Potter was filmed for the first time there in 2010 for the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Versions of Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny English, X-Men, Sherlock Holmes, The Hobbit, and Les Miserables have all been produced there over the past seven years.

Then in 2015, Pinewood became the base for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Harry Potter first came to Pinewood in 2011 Credit: PA
Eddie Redmayne starred in Les Miserables in 2012 Credit: PA
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released in 2015 Credit: PA