Film & TV Database

Biography Full name: William George Barker. See G/5. Producer, film director, cameraman. Born 1867, died 1951. Pioneer of newsfilm and feature film production in Britain. Began career as a commercial traveller, turning to film first on an amateur basis, then professionally with his Autoscope Company (based at 50 Gray's Inn Road, later the address of the Topical Film Company) in 1900. Specialised in topicals, with rapid production methods, enjoying a friendly rivalry with William Jeapes, and a taste for bold actions and some rather strong-arm defences of exclusive rights. Made manager of Warwick Trading Company in 1906 (merging it with Autoscope on January 1st), and became one of the leading figures in British film production for this period. Brought out the short-lived daily newsreel LONDON DAY BY DAY in July 1906. With Jeapes, who joined Warwick in 1908, patented the Warwick Cinephone sound film process. In 1909 formed his own Barker Motion Photography, with studios at Ealing, and produced increasingly spectacular and lengthy fiction films such as SIXTY YEARS A QUEEN (1913) and JANE SHORE' (1915). Working on these was cameraman Oscar Bovill. Announced his retirement after the Armistice, with Barker Motion Photography carrying on without him, but was persuaded by William Jeapes to be cameraman for Topical on the Prince of Wales' Empire tour of 1920. Barker's work was released as individual news items in the TOPICAL BUDGET (between issues 453-1 and 477-1), and then as the feature-length 50,000 MILES WITH THE PRINCE OF WALES (1920). Appears to have worked for William Jeapes' Film Laboratories Ltd. for a short period in the mid-1920s, then ran a photographic company in Wimbledon. His influence on the early British newsfilm industry was huge. Virtually all Topical's main cameramen worked for him at some period, often gaining their training in film by beginning in the Barker darkrooms, and graduating to camerawork. Gave a talk on his career, published in 'Proceedings of the British Kinematograph Society No. 38 "Before 1910. Kinematograph Experiences"' (3.2.1936). Checked death at Family Records Centre, London. Died in the Surrey North East registration district. Checked will at First Avenue House, London. Died 6/11/1951.