MOVIES - July 7, 1988

At least one of the mystery men behind the recent purchase of Britain’s famous Elstree movie studios emerged from the shadows: British financier Peter Earl. But he’s keeping mum about his colleagues. Earl, in a statement issued in London on Wednesday, declined to disclose the identities of other members of the consortium put together by his group, Tranwood Earl and Co. He also declined to say how much had been offered for Elstree, Britain’s oldest and most famous film studio, to the Cannon Group, which previously owned the studio. Nor did Earl divulge what plans he and his partners might have for the Elstree land. “It would be quite inappropriate to elaborate on our plans at this stage,” he said.