British Popular Films 1929-1939

Challenges the conventional assumption that British feature films of the Thirties were oriented mostly towards the middle-class and demonstrates that far from being alienated, working class men and women flocked to the cinema.

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Shafer's study challenges the conventional historical assumption that British feature films during the Thirties were mostly oriented to the middle-class. Instead, he makes the critical distinction between films intended for West End and international circulation and those intended primarily for domestic, working-class audiences. Far from being alientated by a 'middle-class institution', working men and women flocked to see pictures featuring such music-hall luminaries as Gracie Fields and George Formby.