3 May to 7 August, two of Stella's miniatures were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts: Mrs. Arthur Kelly and Mrs. Edward Oakford.

October, Pat was sent to finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland.

29 October, Monty and Stella set sail from the UK to Australia on the RMS Strathaird via Egypt (Suez Canal) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Monty took on the additional role as General Manager of 'London Imperial Pictures'. His mission was to expand the market for British films across the Empire and thus compete better with Hollywood.

This strategy was in Alexander Korda mind back in January 1935 when he observed that total receipts from Australia were less than the profit he had already made on the run of The Scarlett Pimpernel at the Leicester Square Theatre [source: Karol Kulik and BFI press cutting].

In particular Monty would lobby for the removal of quotas and assess the establishment of a permanent studio in Australia. He also was there to meet with Cecil Marks, General Manager of United Artists, Australasia. Monty's hope was for the production of Australian films with strong, universal stories; films that would show the world the sophistication, modernity and beauty of his homeland and move away from previous clichéd images and caricatures of Australia.

November (beginning of the month), three just completed Films (Paradise for Two, The Return of the Scarlett Pimpernel and South Riding) were flown to Monty's ship then in Marseilles for him to arrange world premières in Australia. 

30 November, Monty and Stella stopped over in Fremantle, Perth. They were welcomed by Eric Lamb, Western Australian Manager for United Artists.

6 December, they stopped over in Melbourne.

7 December, Stella mentioned she aimed to do more oil portraits than miniatures "to preserve her eyesight". (source: 7 December The Sun News-Pictorial)

8 December, Stella and Monty arrived in Sydney.

14 December, Monty praised Ken G. Hall's Australian film Lovers and Luggers after a private showing.

16 December, Monty and Stella attended the première of 'Balalaika' at the Theatre Royal.

December, at the Millions Club, Sydney, Monty met with film executives at the Council of the British Film Industry Association of Australia and New Zealand.

24 December, Monty and Stella had Christmas with family members in Melbourne. (They stayed at Menzies' Hotel)

During this year London Films Productions was in complex discussions* regarding the control of United Artists.

[* note from Anthony Pettifer: much has been written about London Films and United Artists, but I need to study more about what really happened. It was pivotal to the fate of the British film industry, Korda's huge ambitions and, more personally, my grandfather's career.]

12 January, Monty announced that 5 new films from London Films Productions were on show in London's West End. (So what happened to the idea of Australian world premières?)

15 January, 'Paradise for Two' Australian première at the Athenaeum, Melbourne.

1 February, Monty flew to Brisbane for two days.

2 February, Monty urged Sunday evening opening of cinema's in Australia with a % of takings supporting local quality production.

4 February, Monty and Stella sailed to New Zealand on the SS Monterey. (source: 4 February 1938 The Argus, The Sun News-Pictorial and The Age)

7 February, they arrived in Auckland and were met by B. Allen, New Zealand Manager of United Artists.

14 February, Monty was the guest of honour at the 33 Club.

25 February, after the film quota debate in House of Commons on 24 February, Monty tried to reassure the Australian film industry, "I am quite positive there will be no law passed in England that will discriminate against Empire film".

26 February, on behalf of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, The Felton Bequest bought Stella's portrait miniature of Mr Justice McKenna of the U.S. Supreme Court. (source: 26 February 1938 The Argus and The Age)

? to May, Stella's work was exhibited as part of the '150 Years of Australian Art' celebrations at the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. [source: 22 January 1938 The Argus (Melbourne)].

1 March, Monty and Stella set sail on the RMS Orion from Sydney to the UK.

Strongest propaganda in the world is entertainment - Montagu Marks

With storm clouds gathering in Europe, during the January and February months of the Australasian tour, Monty's message became more political: he argued that the emotional power of film to influence national sentiments was greater than the press. Thus, the responsibility of film producers was even greater than newspaper editors.

He wrote, "The strongest propaganda in the world is entertainment" and referred to the ideal of "England and Freedom" embodied in The Scarlett Pimpernel.

He also advocated a British owned chain of cinemas across the Empire. "What would be said if all the newspapers were controlled by a foreign owner with anti-British tendencies?" he asked.

As someone who had called Australia, America and Britain 'home', he believed that America and Britain, with their shared belief in democracy and freedom (albeit with different cultures), should 'stick together' against the looming threat.

January, Monty was in Hollywood preparing for the start of Fairbanks International operations (source: Variety International News, Motion Picture Daily)

28 January, Monty, Sir Adrian Baillie and Fairbanks were guests at a dinner in Hollywood attended by numerous other producers and stars.

Late February, 'Variety' reported that Monty would be back in Hollywood (from London) when "final details will be set forth for outfit's [Fairbanks International's] initial production for United Artists."

During the year plans for Fairbanks International films continued*.

[* note from Anthony Pettifer: I need to find out more on this, why no news after February?]

Stella's miniature of Lady Swan was exhibited at the Royal Academy. (source: Stella's note. ? but not found in Summer catalogue).

1 September, after its pact with Russia, Germany invaded Poland.

3 September, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany. (On 5 September USA declared neutrality, on 10 September Canada declared war on Germany and on 17 September Russia invaded Poland.)

12 December, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.'s sudden death of a heart attack aged 56, combined with the war, finally scuppered the plans of 'Fairbanks International'.

January, with the threat of Spain joining the Axis powers - or of a German invasion - taking Gibraltar and thus controlling the Mediterranean and North Africa, Monty flew to Spain via Lisbon for propaganda and other activities under cover of producing a film, 'Christopher Columbus'*.

[* note from Anthony Pettifer: according to my father, Monty worked with Sydney and Betty Box during the war. Based in London they made propaganda shorts for the British Government. Also, they produced the 1949 film 'Christopher Columbus'. But Monty was not involved with that production. It was not shot in Spain nor approved of by the Spanish Government.]

Monty was part of the British effort to keep Spain neutral. Earlier, the Ambassador, Sir Samuel Hoare, had suggested to Churchill that he ask Alexander Korda to recommend ways to spread the British viewpoint in Spain**. This is likely how Monty ended up in Spain.

[** source: Chapter 10, 'Franco's Friends' by Peter Day, published 2011.]

Monty had previously met Churchill through London Films. His links to Sir Robert Vansittart and the intriguing story behind the original financing of London Films, alluded to in Drazin biography of Korda, may have qualified him for the role. The fact that years earlier Monty had been a friend of Sidney Reilly may (or may not) have been a factor.

To help him in Spain the British Embassy's Press Attaché, Tom Burns, introduce him to a young Irish-American Catholic, Aileen O'Brien. As a devout Christian and charismatic advocate against communism, with a determination to make sure that Stalin style regimes would not succeed elsewhere, she actively supported the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War and thus became well connected with Franco's Government. She also opposed Nazi Germany, which she considered no better than the communists. She had useful access to high level anti-Axis circles in Spain and was also engaged to and after the war married Baron Felix von Vittinghoff-Schell, a Catholic German aristocrat who refused to fight for Hitler.

Monty worked with, and became close friends with, Hugh Ellis-Rees, Financial Advisor to the British Embassy (the Ministry of Economic Warfare's representative in Madrid). After the war, and in retirement, Alan Hillgarth visited Monty in London on numerous occasions. So it is clear that during the war Monty and the Naval Attaché were connected. In a letter written in 1964 to his relations, Chris and Rae Harris, Monty alluded to his activities: "we did 'funny' things for our Govt., which was acknowledged in a book written by the Chief of Staff". It is likely that Monty, as an "independent" film producer, was able to channel money for clandestine activities that the British Government did not want to be directly associated with*.

[*note from Anthony Pettifer: I have no evidence from my limited research to date, but it is possible that Monty was involved in some way with the SOE and 'Operation Reproach' -  the plan, masterminded by Alan Hillgarth, for anti-German Traditionalist in the military to oust Franco if he abandoned Spanish neutrality and allied with Hitler.]  

One of Monty's activities was to help arrange passage back to England for escaped Prisoners of War and Jews, who had made it over the Pyrenees to Spain. Another likely activity was filming the Mediterranean coast. However, using films to aid the propaganda effort was his most obvious task. 

During this time Monty converted to Roman Catholicism and remained devoted to the faith for the rest of his life.

Stella & Pat moved out of Hengrove, which was taken over by Government for war communications activity. Stella's address up to 1945 is Bacombe Rise, Wendover, Bucks.

Stella painted a portrait miniature of Sir Winston Churchill's youngest daughter, Mary Churchill (later Lady Soames), whom Pat met while both worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. (source 1 November 1941 Daily Telegraph and Morning Post). It is said Churchill always traveled with this miniature on his wartime journeys. (source: Finest Hour, Journal of the International Churchill Society, Summer 1986)

March and April, Stella painted a miniature portrait of Sir Winston Churchill (not from live sittings).

Stella's miniatures were shown at the Royal Academy. (? not found in Summer catalogue).

Summer, Pat joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry as an ambulance driver.

7 December, Pearl Harbour and America declared war on the Axis powers.

Monty's address was Avda. Del Generalisimo, 9, Madrid.

1 June, actor Leslie Howard was tragically shot down by the Germans on a flight back to Britain following a propaganda visit to Spain and Portugal. Monty knew Leslie Howard well from London Films Productions. He played the title role in 'The Scarlett Pimpernel' and visited Hengrove a number of times before the war. In Spain he was mostly famous for his recent role as Ashley Wilkes in 'Gone with the Wind', produced by David O. Selznick. He, like Monty, was of Jewish decent and strongly anti-Nazi. He had produced and starred in the war propaganda films: 'Pimpernel Smith'*, about rescuing Jews from Germany, and his last film, 'The First of The Few', about the designer of the Spitfire, which was released in America just days after his own death.

[* Note: Monty was also a friend of Anatole de Grunwald, screenwriter for 'Pimpernel Smith' and 'The First of The Few'] 

18 June, Stella's portrait miniature of Miss Betty Ince of Melbourne was stolen from the Royal Scottish Academy. It was never found.

Stella had a studio at 18 The Bolton Studios, Gilston Rd. London SW10.

Monty was 'Production Manager' of a Spanish film comedy, 'Castillo de Naipes' (House of Cards), based on a story by Aileen O'Brien. Good cover for their real activities.

February, Monty, Aileen O'Brien and Marita flew to the UK from Madrid. Stella had retaken Hengrove for Monty's arrival. Monty nearly killed himself and Aileen in a car crash while driving his Buick in snow.

June to Nov?, Monty, Stella Pat and Aileen visited Spain and Gibraltar.

With his film enterprises stalling, Monty was in debt and was forced to sell Hengrove.

22 September, Monty and Stella's first grandson, Michael, was born.

December, Monty and Stella moved in to live with Pat and John at 27 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, London.

"Nothing is too big for us. Let us earn in the autumn of our lives what we have lost in the summer." - Montagu Marks letter to Kay Harrison, 1952

January, Monty was n Madrid setting up deals and financing for the Film Locations Ltd. production of 'Decameron Nights' (based on Boccaccio's stories). He had become involved with Mike Frankovich at the early stage of the latter's career as a producer. Frankovich was not at this time a shareholder of Film Locations Ltd., but a few years later was to take it over. He had met Monty since Mike's wife was the actress, Binnie Barnes.

6 February, H.M. King George VI died and H.R.H. The Princess Elizabeth became H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

In March, Monty wrote to his brother: "Nothing is too big for us. Let us earn in the autumn of our lives what we have lost in the summer". He talked about the two brothers building something that would last - a legacy for their grandchildren. There were ambitious plans to produce 'Salammbo' (based on Flaubert's novel), 'Carmen' and a number of other films.

May, Stella and Monty were in Spain, where 'Decameron Nights' was being filmed. Stella painted a miniature of the actor Sir Godrey Tearle, as the character, 'Ricciardo', for a miniature worn by Joan Fontaine's 'Bartolomea' in the film. She also painted a portrait miniature of María del Carmen Franco y Polo, the Marquise of Villaverde (Franco's daughter).

August, Monty (due to Kay's Technicolor influence in India) got the western hemisphere and European distribution rights for the highly acclaimed 'Aan', India's first Technicolor film, starring Dilip Kumar, Nimmi and Prem Nath. It was at a party in Pembroke Gardens that Nimmi famously turned down Errol Flynn's advances towards her.

Stella was commissioned by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II to paint a portrait miniature of H.R.H. The Princess Anne. (source: letters, and 17 October 1952 Daily Express?)

1953 - Stella Marks paints oil portraits of Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Film Locations produce 'Malaga' starring Maureen O'Hara. Stella Marks miniature of Maureen O'Hara

January/February, Stella was commissioned by Woman's Illustrated to paint a commemorative oil portrait of H.R.H. The Prince Charles.

April*, it was announced that Richard Sale under the banner of Film Locations Ltd. would produce 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes' (a sequel to 'Gentlemen Prefer Blonds'). However, eventually the film was produced by Russ-Field Corp.

[* note from Anthony Pettifer: a few weeks earlier, on 16 March, Hollywood Reporter stated that Sale was to direct the film for Alexander Korda.]

August/September, Stella was commissioned by Woman's Journal and Woman's Pictorial to paint two commemorative oil portraits of H.R.H. The Princess Anne.

Oct 20, Film Locations Ltd. started production of 'Fire Over Africa'/'Malaga' starring Maureen O'Hara. The Director was Richard Sale and Vincent Korda was Art Director. According to notices, e.g. Variety 1953 November 13th (page 10), 20th (page 10) and 27th (page 10), Frankovich was billed as Producer and Montagu Marks and Colin Lesslie as Associate Producers of 'Fire Over Africa'. But, subsequently Monty's name has been omitted (e.g. on IMBD's website). Oddly Montagu Marks and Colin Lesslie were originaly billed as the Co-producer of Malaga (the name of the film in Britain and some other locations) with Frankovich omitted on early notices (see 1954 below). It seems that around this time Mike Frankovich was in the process of taking over control of Monty's company, Film Locations Ltd.

December, at 27 Pembroke Gardens Stella painted a portrait miniature of her and Monty's friend, Maureen O'Hara.

1956 - Sir Alexander Korda dies

23 January, Sir Alexander Korda died.

According to Tabori, Monty said "when Korda died, I died too." It was at this time that Monty started to reconsider what to do with the rest of his life.

5 February, Stella's 1948 portrait miniature of H.R.H. The Princess Elizabeth was featured on the front page of The Sunday Times to commemorate the 4th anniversary of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II accession. (source: 5 February The Sunday Times)

28 October, Monty and Stella's granddaughter, Annie, was born.

She was christened "Anne Maureen" after Maureen O'Hara.

1959 - Montagu Marks retires from the film business. Monty paints Maureen O'Hara. Move to 64 Addison Road.

Monty and Stella moved to 64 Addison Rd. Kensington, London. An important attribute was a large studio with a north facing light.

During his time at 27 Pembroke Gardens (1951 to 1959) Monty had attempted to make it big back into the film business.

• Together with his brother his plans had been a co-production with Paul Henreid in a film co-starring Ingrid Bergman. Also productions of 'Salammbo' and 'Carmen'.
• He was the western hemisphere distributor of India's first Technicolor film
• He went into business with Mike Frankovitch.
• He co-produced 'Decameron Nights' and 'Malaga'.
• He used his connections in Spain to help facilitate locations for many other films. These included locations for the Battle of Bosworth in Laurence Olivier's and Korda's production of 'Richard III', and Robert Rossen's 'Alexander The Great'. 
• In addition to Kay Harrison, Mike Frankovich, Binnie Barnes, Robert Rossen and Maureen O'Hara, others who Monty was dealing with while at Pembroke Gardens included: Errol Flynn, Peter Ustinov, Richard Burton, Joan Fontaine, Godfrey Tearle and Jill Bennett........

But, approaching 70 years old, Monty started to loose his vigour. In the end he turned back fully to his first love, painting.

1961 - Monty exhibits in Germany

January, Monty's work was exhibited in Cologne.

5 January, Stella received an Australian passport (in addition to her British one). She wanted to visit her homeland again and her relatives, especially her elder sister Eileen. Sadly she never did.

30 December, in recognition of her work, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II awarded Stella the Honour, Member of the Victorian Order. (source: The London Gazette 30 December 1978)

Stella was touched by many letters of congratulations and particularly one from the Parliament of Australia (24 January 1979).