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Feed the Camera

Every film set runs on food. For decades, on location for some of the biggest productions Britain made, that food came from one company — and nobody has ever told its story.

The Location Caterers Ltd was registered in 1946 by Philip Alan Hobbs, a wartime glider pilot who bought two ex-forces canteens and started feeding film crews because a production manager walked up to the back of one and asked. His son Philip Hobbs left boarding school at 15 to join him, and was running the company at 17, when his father died of cancer at 47. He ran it for the decades that followed, and he is the reason there is anything left to make a film out of.

The record

264 productions, and counting.

Every one of them is a Location Caterers job, kept by the family and now written down. David Lean eight times, Kubrick, Huston, Carol Reed. It is not a showreel; it is a list of who needed feeding, and where.

What is partial is the asking. 19 recorded conversations with Philip Hobbs since April, one most weeks, have covered 136 of them so far. The dates are going the same way, matched against the record one at a time, which is why no years appear on this page yet.

Threaded through it are 15 rows that are not films at all. A letter home asking to leave boarding school. A death at forty-seven. A car accident, six months in hospital, four children born, a farm bought — sitting in the chronology between the productions they happened during. That is the film: a family business and a family on one timeline, because for this family they were never separable.

  • Great ExpectationsDavid Lean
  • LolitaStanley Kubrick
  • Lawrence of ArabiaDavid Lean
  • Doctor ZhivagoDavid Lean
  • Barry LyndonStanley Kubrick
  • Eyes Wide ShutStanley Kubrick

All of it

The whole list, in the order it happened.

Roughly chronological, because that is how the sheet keeps it. Titles are the sheet’s own spellings, question marks included. Directors where it has one — 193 of 264. The blanks are blanks in the record, not gaps filled in from somewhere else.

  1. 001Great ExpectationsDavid Lean
  2. 002Bonnie Prince Charlie
  3. 003Oliver TwistDavid Lean
  4. 004The Winslow BoyAnthony Asquith
  5. 005Boy and Girl on a bikeRalph Smart
  6. 006The Clouded Yellow
  7. 007Island Rescue
  8. 008The Assassin
  9. 009No Resting Place
  10. 010The Browning Version
  11. 011Ivanhoe
  12. 012The Sound BarrierDavid Lean
  13. 013A Day To Remember
  14. 014Innocents in Paris
  15. 015Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue
  16. 016Hobson's Choice
  17. 017The Sea Shall Not have ThemLewis Gilbert
  18. 018The Dam BustersMichael Anderson
  19. 019A Kid for Two FarthingsCarol Reed
  20. 020Cast a Dark ShadowLewis Gilbert
  21. 021SummertimeDavid Lean
  22. 022Moby DickJohn Huston
  23. 023Private's ProgressJohn Boulting
  24. 024Lucky Jim
  25. 025Around the World in 80 DaysMichael Anderson
  26. 026Bridge Over the River KwaiDavid Lean
  27. 027Room at the Top
  28. 028The Wind Cannot Read
  29. 029A Tale of Two CitiesRalph Thomas
  30. 030Gideon of Scotland Yard
  31. 031The KeyCarol Reed
  32. 032The Mouse That Roared
  33. 033The 39 Steps
  34. 034Tarzan's Greatest Adventure
  35. 035Tiger Bay
  36. 036Look Back in AngerTony Richardson
  37. 037Shake Hands with the Devil
  38. 038The Devil’s DiscipleGuy Hamilton
  39. 039Expresso BongoVal Guest
  40. 040The Entertainer
  41. 041The Millionairess
  42. 042Saturday Night and Sunday MorningKarel Reisz
  43. 043The Innocents
  44. 044Guns of NavaroneJ Lee Thompson
  45. 045A Taste of HoneyTony Richardson
  46. 046Wonderful to Be Young! ( The Young Ones)Sidney Furie
  47. 047The Lion (didn't cater)
  48. 048LolitaStanley Kubrick
  49. 049The Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerTony Richardson
  50. 050Dr NoTerence Young
  51. 051Lawrence of ArabiaDavid Lean
  52. 052Summer HolidayPeter Yates
  53. 053Billy Liar
  54. 054The List of Adrian MessengerJohn Huston
  55. 055Tom JonesTony Richardson
  56. 056Call Me Bwana
  57. 057The V.I.P.s
  58. 058The VictorsCarl Forman
  59. 059The Pink PantherBlake Edwards
  60. 060The Pumpkin Eater
  61. 061Dr StrangeloveStanley Kubrick
  62. 062BecketPeter Glenville
  63. 063The BargeeDuncan Wood
  64. 064Girl with Green EyesDesmond Davis
  65. 065633 SquadronWalter Grauman
  66. 066A Hard Day’s NightRichard Lester
  67. 067The Yellow Rolls-Royce
  68. 068Darling
  69. 069The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
  70. 070A Shot in the DarkBlake Edwards
  71. 071Young Cassidy
  72. 072The Heroes of Telemark
  73. 073The Ipcress FileSidney Fury
  74. 074Those Magnificent Men in there Flying MachinesKen Annakin
  75. 075The KnackRichard Lester
  76. 076HelpRichard Lester
  77. 077Bunny Lake is MissingOtto Preminger
  78. 078The Family Way
  79. 079AlfieLewis Gilbert
  80. 080Doctor ZhivagoDavid Lean
  81. 081KhartoumBasil Dearden
  82. 082The Blue MaxJohn Guillerman
  83. 083ArabesqueStanley Donan
  84. 084The Quiller MemorandumMichael Anderson
  85. 085Funeral in BerlinGuy Hamilton
  86. 086A Man for all SeasonsFred Zinemann
  87. 087Grande PrixJohn Frankenheimer
  88. 088Casino RoyalJohn Huston
  89. 089The Dirty DozenRobert Aldrich
  90. 090Far from the Madding CrowdJohn Schlesinger
  91. 091Billion Dollar BrainKen Russell
  92. 092BedazzledStanley Donan
  93. 093I will Never Forget whats his NameMicheal Winner
  94. 094Half a SixpenceGeorge Sidney
  95. 095Smashing TimeDesmond Davis
  96. 096Up the JunctionPeter Collinson
  97. 097A Dandy in AspicAnthony Mann
  98. 098Charge of the Light BrigadeTony Richardon
  99. 099The Girl on a Motorcycle
  100. 100OliverCarol Reed
  101. 101Isadora
  102. 102Where Eagles DareBrian Hutton
  103. 103Chitty Chitty Bang BangKen Hughes
  104. 104The Assassination BureauBasil Dearden
  105. 105If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
  106. 106Sinful DaveyJohn Huston
  107. 107Battle of BritainGuy Hamilton
  108. 108Goodbye, Mr. ChipsHerbert Ross
  109. 109The Games
  110. 110The Walking StickEric Till
  111. 111Anne of a Thousand DaysCharles Jarrot
  112. 112Darling LiliBlake Edwards
  113. 113One More TimeJerry Lewis
  114. 114The Private Life of Sherlock HolmesHal Wallis
  115. 115ToomorrowVal Guest
  116. 116Fragment of Fear
  117. 117The Adventurers
  118. 118Kelly's Heroes
  119. 119Ryans DaughterDavid Lean
  120. 120Say Hello To Yesterday
  121. 121The Go - BetweenJoseph Losey
  122. 122Fiddler On the RoofNorman Jewison
  123. 123X, Y & Zee (Zee and Co)Brian G Hutton
  124. 124Mary, Queen of ScotsCharles Jarrot
  125. 125Sitting TargetDouglas Hickox
  126. 126Young WinstonRichard Attenbourgh
  127. 127The Protectors (TV)Jeremy Summers
  128. 128Jesus Christ SuperstarNorman Jewison
  129. 129The Mackintosh ManJohn Huston
  130. 130Barry LyndonStanley Kubrick
  131. 131The Glass MenagerieAntony Harvey
  132. 132Take Me HighDavid Askey
  133. 133The Black Windmill
  134. 134Undercovers Hero (Soft Beds and Hard Battles)Roy Boulting
  135. 135Dead CertTony Richardon
  136. 136The Tamarind SeedBlack Ed
  137. 137The Little PrinceStanley Donan
  138. 138Murder on the Orient ExpressSidney Lumet
  139. 139The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’s Smarter BrotherGene Wilder
  140. 140Alfie Darling
  141. 141Rollerball
  142. 142Mr. Quilp
  143. 143The Man That Would be KingJohn Huston
  144. 144The Return of the Pink PantherBlake Edwards
  145. 145All Creatures Great and Small
  146. 146One of Our Dinosaurs Is MissingRobert Stevenson
  147. 147The MessageMoustapha Akkad
  148. 148The OmenRichard Donner
  149. 149The Pink Panther Strikes AgainBlake Edwards
  150. 150A Bridge To FarRichard Attenborough
  151. 151The Spy who Loved MeLewis Gilburt
  152. 152JuliaFred Zinemann
  153. 153It Shouldn't Happen to A Vet
  154. 154Star Wars: Episode IV - A New HopeGeorge Lucus
  155. 155The Medusa TouchJack Gold
  156. 156Death on the NileJohn Guillerman
  157. 157The Greek TycoonJ Lee Thompson
  158. 158AbsolutionAnthony Page
  159. 159Force 10 from NavaroneGuy Hamilton
  160. 160Tomorrow Never Comes
  161. 161SupermanRichard Donner
  162. 162The First Great Train RobberyMichael Crichton
  163. 163The Corn is GreenGeorge Cukor
  164. 164Meetings With Remarkable MenPeter Brooke
  165. 165Escape to AthenaGeorge Pan Cossmatus
  166. 166Tess?
  167. 167MoonrakerLewis Gilburt
  168. 168Players?
  169. 169Yesterdays HeroNeil Leifer
  170. 170Nijinsky: Unfinished ProjectHerbert Ross
  171. 171North Sea HijackAndrew McLaglen
  172. 172Star Wars: Episode 2 - The Empire Strikes BackIrvin Kershner
  173. 173The ShiningStanley Kubrick
  174. 174Rough Cut
  175. 175Bad Timing
  176. 176The Elephant ManDavid Lynch
  177. 177The Dogs of WarJohn Irvin
  178. 178The Mirror Crack'dGuy Hamilton
  179. 179For Your Eyes OnlyJohn Glenn
  180. 180Time BanditsTerry Gilliam
  181. 181Raiders of the Lost ArkSteven Spielburg
  182. 182The Lion of the DesertMoustapha Akkad
  183. 183The Great Muppet Caper
  184. 184Peter and Paul
  185. 185History of the World: Part I
  186. 186Heaven’s GateMichael Cimino
  187. 187The French Lieutenants WomanKarel Reisz
  188. 188GandhiRichard Attenbourgh
  189. 189DragonslayerMathew Robbins
  190. 190Ivanhoe (TV)
  191. 191Five Days One SummerFred Zinemann
  192. 192The MissionryRichard Loncraine
  193. 193The Dark CrystalJim Henson
  194. 194The HungerTony Scott
  195. 195Star Wars: Episode 3 - Return of the JediRichard Marquand
  196. 196Non Film FALKLANDS WAR 5 UNITS FOR BBC AND MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
  197. 197OctopussyJohn Glenn
  198. 198Superman IIIRichard Lester
  199. 199RunnersCharles Sturridge
  200. 200BetrayalDavid Huge Jones
  201. 201Never say never AgainIrvin Kershner
  202. 202The Far PavillionsPeter Duffell
  203. 203The Jewel in the CrownChristopher Morahan
  204. 204The DresserPeter Yates
  205. 205YentilBarbra Strisand
  206. 206Kim
  207. 207Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomSteven Spielburg
  208. 208SupergirlJeannot Szwarc
  209. 209CalPat O'Connor
  210. 210Top Secret!Jim Abrahams and others
  211. 211Give My Regards to Broad StreetPeter Webb
  212. 212Passage to IndiaDavid Lean
  213. 213Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend
  214. 214King DavidBruce Beresford
  215. 215A View to a KillJohn Glenn
  216. 216Return to OzWalter Murch
  217. 217Full Metal JacketStanley Kubrick
  218. 218The Emerald ForestJohn Boorman
  219. 219Lady JaneTrevor Nunn
  220. 220Spies Like UsJohn Landis
  221. 221Little Shop of Horrors?
  222. 222Out of AfricaSydney Pollack
  223. 223White NightsTaylor Hackford
  224. 224The MissionRoland Roffe
  225. 225Labyrinth
  226. 226Queenie (TV)Larry Peerce
  227. 227The Living DaylightsJohn Glenn
  228. 228Hope and GloryJohn Boorman
  229. 229The SicilianMichael Cimino
  230. 230Cry FreedomRichard Attenbourgh
  231. 231Consuming PassionsGiles Foster
  232. 232Aryan Papers
  233. 233Hawks
  234. 234Who Frames Rodger Rabbit
  235. 235WillowRon Howard
  236. 236Gorillas in the MistMichael Apted
  237. 237SlipstreamSteven Lisburger
  238. 238Traffik
  239. 239A Man For All Seasons (TV)
  240. 240Indiana Jones and the Last CrusadeSteven Spielburg
  241. 241BatmanTim Burton
  242. 242DealersColin Bucksey
  243. 243Mountains on the MoonBob Rafelson
  244. 244Treasure IslandFraser Heston
  245. 245Memphis BellMichael Caton -Jones
  246. 246The Russia HouseFred Schepisi
  247. 247PlayboysGillies Mac Kinnon
  248. 248Batman ReturnsTim Burton
  249. 249Chaplin
  250. 250Far and AwayRon Howard
  251. 251A.I
  252. 252City of JoyRoland Roffe
  253. 2531492: Conquest of ParadiseRidley Scott
  254. 254Wuthering Heights
  255. 255Cliff HangerRenny Harlan
  256. 256Being HumanBill Forsyth
  257. 257War of the ButtonsJohn Roberts
  258. 258Rob RoyMichael Caton-Jones
  259. 259First KnightJerry Zucker
  260. 260Judge DreddDanny Cannon
  261. 261Eyes Wide ShutStanley Kubrick
  262. 262Cutthroat IslandRenny Harlin
  263. 263Seven Years in Tibet
  264. 264IncognitoJohn Badham

One thread in particular

They fed Kubrick, and then they became family.

The Location Caterers Ltd catered 6 Stanley Kubrick productions — Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut. Every film he made in Britain from 1962 on, bar two.

Decades after that first job, the two families became one. The director of this film is Christiane Kubrick’s grandson, and made a documentary about her for JW Anderson. A caterer’s son standing at a gate in Letchworth watching Kubrick line up a shot turns out to be the start of a longer story than anyone on that set could have known.

Where it is

Research, while the people who were there still are.

What exists today is the verified filmography, a written family memoir, recorded interviews and an archive search for the things that survive a location shoot — menus, call sheets, photographs. What does not exist is the film.

Two projects share that research and they are not the same thing. The book is Philip Hobbs’s. The short documentary is ours.

That order matters and it is the same order we work in for a client. Nobody should be shooting a documentary whose story is still being established, and the reason this one is urgent is not a commissioning window — it is that first-hand memory has a deadline nobody sets.

The rest of our own work

The creative stays yours. The production becomes ours.

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