distributing films to improve society; she did not believe in giving discounts to religiously motivated film productions. She thought that films were an interesting hobby and similar to her financial interests in Arabian horse breeding. Formation of the company In 1934, Rank, Lady Yule and John Corfield formed the British National Films Company and went into production in answer to the challenge by the "Evening News". British National's first feature film was "Turn of the Tide", which was released in 1935. The script was based upon a 1932 novel by Leo Walmsley called "Three Fevers". The setting, which Rank knew from childhood, was Robin Hood's Bay on the north coast of Yorkshire, England. Having read the book, Rank decided that it would make an excellent family-friendly British film in answer to the Hollywood-style movies that Alexander Korda was making at the Denham Film Studios. Although "Turn of the Tide" featured a good cast, British National were unable to gain wide distribution for the film, and when they did, it was as the second half of a double feature. The company struggled to recoup its costs. Rank knew that for British National to make a profit, he had to create a commercial version of his Religious Film Society to control distribution and exhibition. Pinewood Film Studios In 1934, Charles Boot had undertaken to construct a new film studio in the village of Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire. His location was set among the pine trees on the estate grounds of a mansion called Heatherden Hall that Boot had recently bought at auction. The complex was named Pinewood Film Studios and was completed within a year. By 1935, Boot had approached British National about taking over ownership and management of the new studios, and a contract was entered into. Corfield eventually resigned from the board of Pinewood Film Studios, and Lady Yule sold her shares to Rank. Film distribution The problems that British National experienced in distributing Turn of the Tide were eventually solved by Rank. See also List of British National films Film production companies of the United Kingdom Entertainment companies established in 1934 1934 establishments in the United Kingdom