It Happened Here and Winstanley
His interest in World War II prompted the creation of an alternative-history film, It Happened Here in which the Nazis have conquered Britain. Brownlow began work on the film at the age of 18 and began to collaborate with a friend Andrew Mollo, who was 16. After 8 years of struggle, during which the film's content changed dramatically, it was completed in 1964 with the last-minute aid of Tony Richardson but not released until 1966.
In 1968 Brownlow published a book, How It Happened Here, which described the making of the film, and the reception it received. Not only does it explain how two teenage boys made a feature film, it also explores the provocative social issues raised by the movie. Brownlow had allowed genuine British Fascists to play themselves in the film, which angered some Jewish organizations. The book contained almost 100 pictures, mostly stills from the film and an introduction by film critic and author David Robinson. It was re-issued in 2007 by The UKA Press.
After this cinematic feat Mollo and Brownlow began another project, Winstanley, about Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers commune following the English Civil War. The duo spent several years trying to gain support and following a long and difficult shoot, the film was released in 1975. In 2009 The UKA Press published Winstanley: Warts and All, a making-of book. Brownlow had written it shortly after completing work on the film, but the manuscript had sat on the shelf for 34 years before being published.
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