Adelphi linked Gainsborough Pictures and the raw “kitchen sink” dramas of the early 1960s.

Dating mainly from the 1940s and 1950s, the Adelphi film collection features many British stars of the period, including James Mason, Max Bygraves, Spike Milligan, Diana Dors, Peter Sellers, Petula Clarke, Prunella Scales, Sid James, Wilson, Keppel and Betty and Rolf Harris’ screen debut.

Dorothy Squires’ only film appearance was in Stars in Your Eyes (1956) which was co-scripted by Talbot Rothwell before he wrote scripts for the Carry On movies.

The collection holds many long unavailable films including featuring The Goons, first released in 1951, with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Bill Kerr and Alfred Marks (Penny Points to Paradise and Let's Go Crazy).

The list of players reads like a ‘who's-who’ of British acting and comedy talent of the period – Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Hermione Baddeley, Fred Emney, Cardew Robinson, Freddie Frinton, Ted Ray, Dora Bryan, Rachel Roberts, Tommy Trinder, Brian Rix, Vera Day, Joan Hickson, Joan Sims, Harry Fowler, Diana Dors John Gregson, and David Tomlinson.