[20th Century Photographer] — Anna Neagle

London: British & Dominions Films, [Ca. 1930s]. Original B&W sepia-toned photograph issued as a postcard. 5.5 x 3.5 inches. Very Good+. Made in Great Britain. Signed in the plate. Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox, DBE (née Robertson; 20 October 1904 - 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema for 20 years and was voted the most popular star in Britain in 1949. She was known for providing glamour and sophistication to war-torn London audiences with her lightweight musicals, comedies and historical dramas. Almost all of her films were produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox, whom she married in 1943. In her historical dramas Anna Neagle was renowned for her portrayals of British historical figures, including Nell Gwynn (Nell Gwynn, 1934), Queen Victoria (Victoria the Great, 1937 and Sixty Glorious Years, 1938) and Edith Cavell (Nurse Edith Cavell, 1939). British and Dominions Imperial Studios was a short-lived British film production company located at Imperial Place, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire that was active from 1929 to 1936, when it ceased production after the studio facilities were destroyed by fire. British and Dominions Imperial was a successor to British National Pictures, which began operations in 1925 and was taken over by British International Pictures in 1927. British and Dominion Imperial was incorporated for the purpose of physically producing sound films, and the new studio at Borehamwood was the first purpose-built sound studio in Europe. Blackmail (1929), directed by Alfred Hitchcock and the first British talkie, was made at the facility by the company. .