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BRITISH FILM HISTORY |
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>A brief resume on British Cinema. |
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EARLY BRITISH CINEMA
In the first part of the 20th century, British cinema struggled to compete with Hollywood (a difficulty that has continued to the present day), and low quality “quota quickies” were produced en masse to fulfil government quotas.
Alfred Hitchcock, the most significant early British director, established his reputation in the 1930s, with The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935) and The Lady Vanishes (1938). The two most famous British film studios, Pinewood and Ealing, were set up, although both achieved their fame in later years.
Key British directors: Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin
WWII
World War II and the post war years were successful times for British Cinema, producing films including Lawrence Olivier’s Henry V, A Matter of Life and Death, and The Third Man¸ while Ealing Studios made their most famous comedies between 1947 and 1956. Fewer films were produced than in the 1930’s, but the quality had improved and British cinema established a firmer identity, paving the way for later more experimental filmmakers.
Key British directors: Michael Powell, Alexander Mackendrick, Carol Reed
BRITISH NEW WAVE AND THE 60s
The British New Wave sought a degree of “kitchen sink” realism in their filmmaking (The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Kes, A Taste of Honey) and the 1960s saw a series of films that challenged taboos concerning sex on film, capitalising on the concept of ‘swinging London’ with great success –Alfie (1966) is perhaps the epitome of this genre. James Bond, the most popular film franchise to date, was launched with Dr No (1962).
Key British directors: Ken Loach, John Schlesinger
1970s AND 80s
An economic downturn in Britain and America limited film production in this period. Monty Python and the Life of Brian was the most successful British film of the 1970s, and a loosening of censorship laws saw the release of soft-core pornography and sex comedies, such as the infamous Confessions of... series.
1982 saw the lowest number of British films made since 1914, with only 24 films produced. However, new film studios such as Goldcrest, Channel 4 and Merchant Ivory all began producing high quality work, and the decade saw the emergence of significant new talent.
Key British directors: Nicolas Roeg, Mike Hodges, Ridley Scott
THE 1990’s AND BRITISH CINEMA TODAY
The early 90s saw a resurgence in British film, characterised by costume dramas and romantic comedies – these two trends were respectively started by The Madness of King George and Four Weddings and a Funeral , both released in 1994. Gangster movies (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and darker, grittier films (Trainspotting) also become common British film genres.
Contemporary British cinema is in many ways at something of a high point. Directors such as Paul Greengrass and Ridley Scott have achieved huge popularity internationally, and Working Title has emerged as the largest and most successful production company in the UK.
It has become harder to identify what exactly defines a British film – many British actors and directors have achieved success abroad, foreign films use British studios for shooting, and successful British directed and acted films (such as the Harry Potter series) are financed by American production companies. Films which are funded, directed, acted and produced entirely in Britain are becoming a thing of the past, even as the industry becomes increasingly successful.
Key British directors: Mike Leigh, Danny Boyle, Edgar Wright |
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