- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGerard R. Hubbard
- Born in Ancoats, Manchester to Charlotte Hubbard (née Anderson) with three sisters, Gerry was raised by his step father Joseph Mitchell (whose surname he later adopted) before entering the Xaverian College in Manchester.
Upon leaving the Xavarian College, Gerry joined the Kings Own as a regular soldier and witnessed the 2nd Sino-Japanese war, capturing important strategic images on his box browning. These original photos are held by the Imperial War Museum, London.
After returning to the UK from the Far East, Gerry was recruited into the new Royal Armoured Corp which formed part of the British Expeditionary Force campaign against Nazi German forces in France, where he was injured; later to be rescued by a boat which contributed to the flotilla of 'Little Ships'.
During R&R from his duties Gerry courted Betty Cooper and ultimately married her.
Whilst recuperating, Gerry's immediate bedfellow neighbour suggested that when released from service, Gerry should follow him into the British Film Industry. This he did and in 1945, his first production was on nationwide release, 'The Man from Morocco'.
Gerry continued his film career until 1956 when he retired from movies. He immediately started working on television as Production Manager at Granada and later with ABC working on 'Oh Boy' and attending the concept meeting for the new 'man in the street' production which was to become Coronation Street, loosely based on his hometown of Manchester. In 1968, he retired again after a disagreement over the new independent television licensing rules, turning down the position of first controller of London Weekend Television, offered by David Frost of the London Television Consortium.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell
- SpousesBetty Cooper (her death, 2 children)Emilia
- Educated Xavarian College.
- Brighton Rock (1948) Gerry was stuck for a baby during the production of the movie and ultimately offered one of his own; his son, Gerald Mitchell, then still less than a year old, appears in the film.
- Within a week of retiring over the licensing disputes following on from ABC's merger with Associated Redfusion to become Thames Television, Gerry found himself walking over Westminster Bridge where he was recognised by a former military colleague who asked him what he was up to. Gerry explained his lack of work and was immediately 'lined up' to work as the Supervisor of the Royal Crown Jewels housed at The Tower, in London, UK.
- In 2007, Gerry Mitchell was posthumously approved for a Grant of Arms by the Earl Marshal who approved a petition when a letter patent from the senior heralds in Royal service, the Kings of Arms at the College of Arms, was signed. It was awarded to his son, Mr Gerald Mitchell and grandson, Mr Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell, who were also included in the same posthumous representation in petitioning for Arms and Badge.
- [on 1984 (1956)] We had a real job getting clean sewer rats for the torture scene. After hunting around everywhere, in the end I approached Harrod's in Knightsbridge where you can buy anything. "No problem" they said and I had our rats.
- [on Moby Dick (1956)] rubber for the Moby Dick whale was provided by Dunlop, it was operated by a very rudimentary radio control system. Anyway, we needed to test out the model with sea trials. We took it down on the beach near Dover and we pushed it out to sea. It was huge. A big white whale. It floated, bobbed about for a bit, then it sank and was never seen again. We had to build another one.
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