The period between the two world wars is often named 'the golden age of the cinema' in Britain. This definitive and entertaining book on the cinema and cinema-goers of the era is herewith reissued with a new Introduction. Jeffrey Richards, described by Philip French as 'a shrewd critic, a compulsive moviegoer, and a professional historian', tells the absorbing story of the cinema during the decade that produced Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, the musicals of Jessie Matthews and Alexander Korda's epics. He examines the role of going to the pictures in people's lives during a tough period when, in the sumptuous buildings that housed local cinemas, people regularly spent a few pence to purchase ready-made dreams watching Gracie Fields, Robert Donat and the other stars of the day. He scrutinizes the film industry, censorship, cinema's influence, the nature of the star system and its images, as well as the films themselves, including the visions of Britain, British history and society that they created and represented.

Jeffrey Richards is Professor of Cultural History at the University of Lancaster and a leading authority on Victorian popular culture, the Victorian theatre and twentieth century cinema. His study of Henry Irving (Hambledon 2005) was shortlisted for the Theatre History Book Prize. He is a regular reviewer and broadcaster.

Acknowledgments
New Introduction

Part 1 The Context
1 Going to the Pictures
2 The Dream Merchants
3 'The Devil's Camera'
4 'Our Movie-made Children'

Part 2 The Constraints
5 The Aims and Principles of Censorship
6 Censorship in Operation: Domestic Policy
7 Censorship in Operation: Foreign Policy
8 Censorship in Operation: Imperial Policy

Part 3 The Stars
9 Stars
10 Gracie Fields: Consensus Personified
11 George Formby: The Road from Wigan Pier
12 Jessie Matthews: The Dancing Divinity
13 The Romantic Adventurer: Robert Donat and Leslie Howard

Part 4 The Films
14 Putting Britain on the Screen
15 Visions of the Past - Messages for the Present
16 Images of Peace and War
17 Class and Consensus: Lower Down
18 Class and Consensus: Higher Up

Conclusions
Notes
Sources
General Index
Index of Film Titles