Stewart McAllister
| Stewart McAllister | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 December 1914 Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 27 November 1962 (aged 47) Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Documentary film-maker |
Stewart McAllister (27 December 1914 – 27 November 1962) was a British documentary film editor who collaborated closely with Humphrey Jennings during the Second World War to produce films for the Crown Film Unit of the Ministry of Information. His contributions towards these films was largely neglected until Dai Vaughan's biography of him, Portrait of an Invisible Man, was published in 1983.
McAllister was born in the Scottish county of Lanarkshire on 27 December 1914. While studying painting at the Glasgow School of Art, McAllister became involved in the Film Society.
During his time in the Film Society, one of McAllister's films brought him to the attention of documentary film-maker John Grierson. Grierson invited him to join the GPO Film Unit.
During the Second World War, McAllister continued working with this unit, which was renamed the Crown Film Unit in 1940. In this time, he worked as an editor for most of the films directed by Humphrey Jennings, including Fires Were Started and Listen to Britain. Other films he edited during the war include the Harry Watt film Target for Tonight.
Following the death of Humphrey Jennings in 1950, McAllister began working for the British Transport Films unit, under Edgar Anstey. With Anstey's encouragement, McAllister began working as a producer, resulting in films such as the humorous I Am a Litter Basket (1959). He also narrated many of the films that he produced.
McAllister died in the Law Hospital, Lanarkshire on 27 November 1962.
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