British film book recommendations - Britmovie

Redstar · 18-12-2007, 11:04 AM

Please could anyone recommend a good book on post war British films?

penfold · 18-12-2007, 11:10 AM

Charles Barr's Ealing Studios; Lethal Innocence, the films of Alexander Mackendrick by Philip Kemp; anything by Ken Russell....

DB7 · 18-12-2007, 11:43 AM

British Sound Films and most Quinlan contributions.

julian_craster · 18-12-2007, 05:24 PM

There are good surveys of each decade from
1940s to present in different books ...check out this list:

Amazon.co.uk: "Want to find out about British cinema?"

VladTheImpala · 18-12-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julian_craster

There are good surveys of each decade from
1940s to present in different books ...check out this list:

Amazon.co.uk: "Want to find out about British cinema?"

Great list - pity it's now too late to ask Santa.

Love The British Film Catalogue by Denis Gifford "£220 - New & Used from £219.96"

orpheum · 19-12-2007, 02:16 PM

I would suggest J Arthur Rank and the British Film Industry.It is a study of the mogul and his empire.It covers the post war years till the 1960s and shows what went so spectacularly wrong with his company.It is one of the few books that i have bought off amazon that i havent relisted for sale.

CALF28 · 01-04-2008, 12:37 AM

Is there a really good book on British films of the sixties? Something similar to Quinlan's British Sound Films.
Cheers, John.

billy bentley · 01-04-2008, 02:19 AM

I don't know much but George Perry's "Forever Ealing" is a nice addition to Barr's book. Jerry Vermilye's "The Great British Films" pub. in 1978 isn't very deep, but it features films from 1933 to 1971 and was a good source for me, some years back. I've just picked up Steve Chibnall's "J. Lee Thompson" book but not read yet and his (S.C.'s) "British Crime Cinema" looks tempting.

AdrianTurner · 01-04-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALF28

Is there a really good book on British films of the sixties?

In my view, the best book on British cinema of the 60s remains Alex Walker's Hollywood England (Michael Joseph, 1974 and still in print). Eloquent, witty, trenchant and exhaustively researched and sourced. What more can you need? Maybe his book on the 70s, National Heroes.

julian_craster · 01-04-2008, 03:57 PM

Robert Murphy's book on SIXTIES BRITISH CINEMA is soon being re-issued by the BFI in a second edition....

dremble wedge · 01-04-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianTurner

In my view, the best book on British cinema of the 60s remains Alex Walker's Hollywood England (Michael Joseph, 1974 and still in print). Eloquent, witty, trenchant and exhaustively researched and sourced. What more can you need? Maybe his book on the 70s, National Heroes.

Yes, but it's still by Alexander Walker isn't it and he was a miserable old goat...

billy bentley · 01-04-2008, 10:01 PM

A few years back I remember being in a used book shop and coming across a softcover book on MIchael Balcon, but it was at the time, out of my price range. Any ideas as to a title ?

CaptainWaggett · 01-04-2008, 10:12 PM

This one, perhaps? It's about A4 sized and has a black cover with the flagwaving at the end of the Captive Heart on the front if that helps.

billy bentley · 02-04-2008, 12:25 AM

There she blows Cap'n, does anyone know if it's any good ?

CaptainWaggett · 02-04-2008, 01:01 PM

I've got it so I can answer specific questions about films you might be interested in. It's certainly not as good as Charles Barr's book and doesn't say much about casting (my main interest). It's published by MOMA and has lots of pictures so presumably was based on an exhibition. Not really essential and probably won't tell you anything you don't know.

18-12-2007, 11:04 AM	#1
Redstar has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 207 Country: iTrader: (0)	British film book recommendations Please could anyone recommend a good book on post war British films?

18-12-2007, 11:10 AM	#2
penfold is feeling moderate Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,208 Country: iTrader: (0)	Charles Barr's Ealing Studios; Lethal Innocence, the films of Alexander Mackendrick by Philip Kemp; anything by Ken Russell.... __________________ Bit of a Bay Window, what??

19-12-2007, 02:16 PM	#6
orpheum is wishing he were sitting in the 3/9s at the Odeon Temple Fortune Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,302 Country: iTrader: (4)	I would suggest J Arthur Rank and the British Film Industry.It is a study of the mogul and his empire.It covers the post war years till the 1960s and shows what went so spectacularly wrong with his company.It is one of the few books that i have bought off amazon that i havent relisted for sale. __________________ Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

01-04-2008, 02:19 AM	#8
billy bentley has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 518 Country: iTrader: (0)	nothing definitive but... I don't know much but George Perry's "Forever Ealing" is a nice addition to Barr's book. Jerry Vermilye's "The Great British Films" pub. in 1978 isn't very deep, but it features films from 1933 to 1971 and was a good source for me, some years back. I've just picked up Steve Chibnall's "J. Lee Thompson" book but not read yet and his (S.C.'s) "British Crime Cinema" looks tempting.

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18-12-2007, 11:43 AM	#3
DB7 is just Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Shrops Posts: 6,053 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	British Sound Films and most Quinlan contributions.

18-12-2007, 05:24 PM	#4
julian_craster has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Isle of Foula, UK Posts: 1,536 Country: iTrader: (0)	There are good surveys of each decade from 1940s to present in different books ...check out this list: Amazon.co.uk: "Want to find out about British cinema?"

01-04-2008, 12:37 AM	#7
CALF28 has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: West Mersea, Essex Posts: 125 Country: iTrader: (8)	Is there a really good book on British films of the sixties? Something similar to Quinlan's British Sound Films. Cheers, John.

01-04-2008, 03:57 PM	#10
julian_craster has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Isle of Foula, UK Posts: 1,536 Country: iTrader: (0)	Robert Murphy's book on SIXTIES BRITISH CINEMA is soon being re-issued by the BFI in a second edition....

01-04-2008, 10:01 PM	#12
billy bentley has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 518 Country: iTrader: (0)	A few years back I remember being in a used book shop and coming across a softcover book on MIchael Balcon, but it was at the time, out of my price range. Any ideas as to a title ?

01-04-2008, 10:12 PM	#13
CaptainWaggett is poised for action like a caged panther Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 3,350 Country: iTrader: (0)	This one, perhaps? It's about A4 sized and has a black cover with the flagwaving at the end of the Captive Heart on the front if that helps.

02-04-2008, 12:25 AM	#14
billy bentley has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 518 Country: iTrader: (0)	There she blows Cap'n, does anyone know if it's any good ?

02-04-2008, 01:01 PM	#15
CaptainWaggett is poised for action like a caged panther Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 3,350 Country: iTrader: (0)	I've got it so I can answer specific questions about films you might be interested in. It's certainly not as good as Charles Barr's book and doesn't say much about casting (my main interest). It's published by MOMA and has lots of pictures so presumably was based on an exhibition. Not really essential and probably won't tell you anything you don't know.