Stewart McAllister

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.

Early life 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 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.

Following the death of Humphrey Jennings in 1950, McAllister began working for the British Transport Films unit, under Edgar Anstey.

Death McAllister died in the Law Hospital, Lanarkshire on 27 November 1962. The recycling of other footage necessitated a greater degree of creative editing.

Personality McAllister was shy and introverted but was also considered bad-tempered and argumentative.

Filmography

As editor 7 Till 5 (1933) North Sea (1938) The Islanders (1939 - as assistant editor) Men of the Lightship (1940) London Can Take It! (1940) The Heart of Britain (1941) Words for Battle (1941) Target for Tonight (1941) Listen to Britain (1942) Fires Were Started (1943) The Silent Village (1943) The Eighty Days (1944) A Diary for Timothy (1945) Family Portrait (1950) Journey Into History (1951) Train Time (1952) Frontline: Memories of the Camps (1985) A Painful Reminder: Evidence for All Mankind (1985)

As producer The Heart is Highland (1952) Ocean Terminal (1952) The Coasts of Clyde (1959) I Am a Litter Basket (1959) Groundwork for Progress (1959) Railway Electrification at Industrial Frequency (1960)

As director Listen to Britain (1942) The Land of Robert Burns (1953)