Historical Dictionary of British Cinema

Alan Burton, Steve Chibnall

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2026
• Edition: 2
• eBook ISBN:
  9798216390824
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Film & Video

British filmmakers were among the pioneers of motion pictures, and British cinema has participated in all the great historical transitions of the medium, from black and white to colour, from talkies to sound, and from flat screen to 3-D and Imax.

Many British performers, artistes and directors, after success in their home country, have been lured to Hollywood, including such giants as Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Alfred Hitchcock. Today, cinema in Britain remains vibrant, turning out films that appeal to a wide variety of audiences, and initiating and sustaining such popular and lucrative series as the James Bond, Harry Potter and Bridget Jones franchises. British studios and technicians are regularly first choice for the production of Hollywood blockbusters.

Historical Dictionary of British Cinema contains a chronology, an introduction, appendices, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section contains cross-referenced entries on significant actors, producers, directors and crafts people, leading organizations and studios, important genres like comedy and horror, and for memorable films. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about British cinema.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Series
• Title
• Contents
• PREFACE
• READER’S NOTES
• ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
• CHRONOLOGY
• INTRODUCTION
• THE DICTIONARY
• APPENDIX 1: BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS ANNUAL AWARDS SINCE 1948
• APPENDIX 2: EVENING STANDARD BRITISH FILM AWARDS
• APPENDIX 3: THE BFI 100
• APPENDIX 4: TIME OUT 100 BEST BRITISH FILMS
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• ABOUT THE AUTHORS
• Copyright