Founded, for reasons of publicity
and information, in 1949 by Edgar Anstey who was Films Officer for the British
Transport Commission (1949-55). Anstey sought out the best talent (e.g., Arnold
Bax, Michael Redgrave), and BTF produced a series of notable short films which
focused on such matters as the workings of British institutions, the beauties of
the British countryside, and, perhaps most famously, Waterloo Station in John
Schlesinger's award-winning Terminus (1961). Anstey was the regular
producer and directors included John Taylor and Alexander Shaw in the company's
heyday until the mid '60s. Its entire library is now administered by the
BFI.
Bibliography
Reed, John, Moving Images
(1990)
Brian McFarlane, Encyclopedia of British Film
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