15/09/2026
A statement from our Head of Studio, Rebecca Hawkes, on the passing of Jeremy Thomas.
At Elstree Studios we have worked with many of the great film makers over the last 100 years, and when one of these icons passes away we like to pay our respects.
But like many in the industry, the death of Jeremy Thomas last Friday made me also reflect on a personal level on the huge influence he had on my career.
We had many intense conversations about film over the years, and it was Jeremy who introduced me to the world of Independent Cinema and encouraged me to recognise its importance.
Jeremy was born into a film making dynasty, but it was clear from the start that he was determined to make his own path. He was a true maverick film maker, making films he believed in; resisting the influence of demanding studios and financiers. He did it his way and it worked. His groundbreaking collaborations with people like Nagasa Oshima, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Cronenburg, Julien Temple and Nicholas Roge give testimony to this. Who could forget the amazing Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence with David Bowie or the inspired storytelling and technical mastery of The Last Emperor? (For which the Oscar winning soundtrack was mixed at Elstree by the amazing Bill Rowe).
So many great films that stand the test of time.
I had the privilege of overseeing the remastering of the Recorded Picture Company library on two occasions. Some highlights for me were rediscovering such masterpieces as Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, The Hit, Naked Lunch, Sheltering Sky and The Last Emperor - to name a few .
I would urge everyone to take the opportunity of visiting these titles ; as you will be treated to a cinematic journey second to none!
RIP Jeremy Thomas - July 1949 to September 2026.