25 Facts About Julius Hagen

Julius Hagen was a German-born British film producer who produced more than a hundred films in Britain.

Julius Hagen then worked his way up to become a production manager in the British silent film industry before becoming an independent producer in 1927.

Julius Hagen later switched to making more prestigious films, but in 1937 he was forced into bankruptcy and lost control of Twickenham.

Julius Hagen was born in Hamburg but emigrated to Britain when he was still a child.

Julius Hagen began his entertainment career as a stage actor, but in 1913 moved into the film industry and worked for several years as a film salesman.

Julius Hagen was then given a job as production manager with Stoll Pictures, one of the leading British Studios, whose main studio was based in Cricklewood.

Julius Hagen then moved to the rival company Astra-National where he co-produced The Flag Lieutenant, one of the biggest hits of 1926, starring Henry Edwards.

The film was made at Twickenham Studios in Middlesex, and Julius Hagen used it as his primary base of operations thereafter.

Julius Hagen tried to secure financial backing for further films from the City of London, but after a brief boom in the late 1920s it was increasingly difficult to secure backing there for film production.

Julius Hagen gradually began to gain commissions from British distributors who needed cheap films to help them comply with the quota.

Julius Hagen founded the Strand Film Company in 1928 and in December that year secured the lease on Twickenham Studios.

Julius Hagen kept an eye to the international market, and imported overseas stars such as Margot Landa to appear in his films.

Julius Hagen arranged for co-productions including the Anglo-French At the Villa Rose.

Julius Hagen employed former silent directors such as George Pearson, Henry Edwards and Maurice Elvey.

Julius Hagen steadily built his business up during the early years of sound.

Julius Hagen introduced a policy of round the clock filming, which meant that separate crews worked in the day and night on different films.

Julius Hagen eventually tried to remedy the lack of space by rebuilding Twickenham, and by purchasing additional studios in Merton Park and Elstree.

From 1933, Julius Hagen began making a greater number of quality films including I Lived with You with Ivor Novello, a leading 1920s film star, and The Wandering Jew with the German actor Conrad Veidt and This Week of Grace, a comedy starring the British comedian Gracie Fields.

Julius Hagen created his own distribution company in an attempt to gain more control over his product's access to cinemas.

In 1936, Julius Hagen's output fell to eleven films because he had decided to switch to a programme of making quality over quantity.

Julius Hagen's strategy involved employing British stage and music hall stars, as well as employing leading American or European directors and actors to work on his films.

The announcement generally caught the film world and financial markets by surprise as Julius Hagen's empire had appeared to be doing well.

Julius Hagen attempted to persuade his creditors to allow him to go into Voluntary liquidation, but a group led by the Westminster Bank refused to accept the proposal.

Julius Hagen was unable to secure the sort of reliable bookings from the domestic market which the larger British studios such as Gaumont British and British International Pictures enjoyed.

Julius Hagen effectively retired from the industry with the collapse of his control of Twickenham Studios.