British Film [Paperback]

This book explores British cinema in relation to its social political and cultural contexts.This book explores British cinema in relation to its social political and cultural contexts. Each chapter deals with a specific topic and includes close readings of key films from different historical periods. Demonstrating the richness and variety of a national cinema that has traditionally struggled to define itself between the paradigms of Hollywood popular film and European art cinema, British Film provides comprehensive coverage of British cinema and detailed discussion of specific films that can be used in tandem with screenings.This book explores British cinema in relation to its social political and cultural contexts. Each chapter deals with a specific topic and includes close readings of key films from different historical periods. Demonstrating the richness and variety of a national cinema that has traditionally struggled to define itself between the paradigms of Hollywood popular film and European art cinema, British Film provides comprehensive coverage of British cinema and detailed discussion of specific films that can be used in tandem with screenings.Demonstrating the richness and variety of a national cinema that has traditionally struggled to define itself between the paradigms of Hollywood popular film and European art cinema, this study provides comprehensive coverage of British cinema in general as well as critical discussions of specific films--useful for screenings. Each chapter covers a specific topic and includes detailed descriptions of key films representative of different historical periods.1. The national health: Great Britain/deep England; 2. The magic box: what is British cinema?; 3. The common touch: the art of being realistic; 4. The mirror crack'd: British expressionism; 5. Millions like us: British cinema as popular cinema; 6. The stars look down: acting British; 7. No sex please - we're British: sex, gender, and the national character; 8. l&