Continuity Girls

‘Continuity Girls’ Beryl Booth and Helen Whitson reading through scripts on set.

The film industry in the mid-20th century was very male dominated. It is more challenging to research the women who worked behind the scenes as often they were uncredited.

Women had the opportunity to take up roles within the film industry during the Second World War to fill gaps in the workforce, on the understanding that when the war ended these roles would be returned to men. Women typically held low-level positions, although one area of film production seemingly dominated by women was continuity.  

‘Continuity Girls’ were responsible for recording details of each take, to ensure that editing remained consistent. It was largely (and to some extent still is) seen as a role for women. Martha Robinson was one of the most experienced ‘Continuity Girls’ during the early 20th century said:

"[The job] is extremely important but deals with the kinds of details that appear insignificant. This apparent insignificance is made the most of by the men. In a typically good-humoured way, they keep the ‘Continuity Girl’ ‘in her place’.” 

Did you know?

Beryl Booth was a well-respected ‘Continuity Girl’ in the film and television industry, and the wife of Roy Gough. They met on the set of Ealing Studios film Nowhere to Go in 1958. Roy was working as a Stills Photographer, and Beryl as a ‘Continuity Girl’. They instantly fell in love, and married shortly after.

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