Gaumont Film Company, France
Hands up anyone who thought that the French had some of the oldest film producing studios in the world. Not too many probably. Also hands up anyone who knew they were at the forefront of technical development until the First World War. Ok, enough questions then but the French film industry ranks as old as any in the world, its position at the top of the tree only lost when the war reared its ugly head.
The Gaumont Film Company, founded in 1895 by Leon Gaumont, is regarded as the oldest running film company in the world. Originally set up as a company to manufacture and sell it’s own photographic equipment, it began to produce short films – the first was in 1897 – to promote their wares. Films were produced under the auspices of Alice Guy Blache, Gaumont’s secretary who subsequently became the world’s first female film director.
By 1905, Gaumont had built what would become the biggest film studio in the world in La Villette and mass production of films commenced shortly afterwards, firstly under the artistic direction of Louis Feuillade and then in 1914, Leonce Perret. Following the war, Perret made his way to the United States to continue his career.
The First World War was the factor which dealt a blow to the fortunes of the entire French film industry. Production was made difficult because of damage to the nation’s infrastructure and this allowed the American’s to take the lead in terms of technological advances in sound and vision. In 1922 the British offshoot – Gaumont British – became independent when it was acquired by Isidore Ostrer.
Despite these setbacks, Gaumont continued to produce films and in the early 1930s was merged with Franco-Film Aubert. Gaumont continued to produce smaller scale and smaller budget productions for the next few decades until in 1975 a Nicolas Seydoux bought a controlling interest in the company, ensuring continuing French ownership.
Gaumont have established strategic partnerships around the world with Paramount Pictures and Sony among others and this has enabled them to remain massively influential within the French film and television industry today.