British National Cinema traces the development of the British Film industry, from the Lumiere brothers' first screening in London in 1896, through to the dominance of Hollywood and the severe financial crises which affected Goldcrest, Handmade Films and palace Pictures in the late 1980s and 1990s. Exploring the relationship between British cinema and British society, Sarah Street uses the notions of 'official' and 'unofficial' cinema to demonstrate how British cinema has been both 'respectable' and 'disreputable' according to the prevailaing notions of what constitutes 'good cinema'. British National Cinema analyses the politics of film and quesitons why British cinema has always been subject to government apathy and financial strigency. Comparing Britain and Hollywood, the author asks what was the real historical and social function of the British 'star system'. An examination of British film genres, such as Ealing comedies, Hammer horror and 'heritage' films confirm the eclectic nature and British cinema. In a final evaluation of British film, Sarah Street examines the existence of 'other cinemas'; film-making which challenges the traditional concept of cinema, operating outside mainstream structures in order to deconstruct and replace classical styles and conventions.