Transformation and Tradition in 1960s British Cinema - by Richard Farmer & Laura Mayne & Duncan Petrie & Melanie Williams (Paperback)

About the Book

Making substantial use of new and underexplored archive resources that provide a wealth of information and insight on the period in question, this book offers a fresh perspective on the major resurgence of creativity and international appeal experienced by British cinema in the 1960s.

Book Synopsis

Over half a century on, the 1960s continue to generate strong intellectual and emotional responses - both positive and negative - and this is no less true in the arena of film. Making substantial use of new and underexplored archive resources that provide a wealth of information and insight on the period in question, this book offers a fresh perspective on the major resurgence of creativity and international appeal experienced by British cinema in that dramatic decade.
Transformation and Tradition in 1960s British Cinema is the first scholarly volume on this period of British cinema for more than twenty-five years. It provides a major reconsideration of the period by focusing on the central tensions and contradiction between novelty/revolution and continuity/tradition during what remains a highly contentious period of cultural production and consumption.

From the Back Cover

'Scholarly and authoritative, yet lucid and intelligible, this is a timely new assessment of British cinema's most vibrant decade. The authors' collective approach provides valuable insights which demonstrate there was much more to 60s film culture than the Beatles and Bond. Undoubtedly one of the most important contributions to British cinema history of recent times.' James Chapman, editor of the Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Televison An in-depth reassessment of the nature and significance of British cinema and the British film industry during the 1960s Over half a century on, the 1960s continue to generate strong intellectual and emotional responses - both positive and negative - and this is no less true in the arena of film. Making substantial use of new and underexplored archive resources that provide a wealth of information and insight on the period in question, this book offers a fresh perspective on the major resurgence of creativity and international appeal experienced by British cinema in that dramatic decade. Transformation and Tradition in 1960s British Cinema is the first scholarly volume on this period of British cinema for more than twenty-five years. It provides a major reconsideration of the period by focusing on the central tensions and contradiction between novelty/revolution and continuity/tradition during what remains a highly contentious period of cultural production and consumption. Richard Farmer is a Lecturer at the University of East Anglia. Laura Mayne is an Associate Lecturer at the University of York. Duncan Petrie is Professor of Film at the University of York. Melanie Williams is Reader in Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia. Cover image: Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie in Billy Liar (1963). Directed by John Schlesinger (c) The Criterion Collection Photographer: Harry Gillard / Photofest Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-2311-3 Barcode

Review Quotes

Scholarly and authoritative, yet lucid and intelligible, this is a timely new assessment of British cinema's most vibrant decade. The authors' collective approach provides valuable insights which demonstrate there was much more to 60s film culture than the Beatles and Bond. Undoubtedly one of the most important contributions to British cinema history of recent times.--Professor James Chapman: editor of the Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television

About the Author

Richard Farmer is Lecturer in Film and Media at the University of East Anglia. He has published widely on British cinema and is the author of two monographs: The Food Companions: Cinema and Consumption in Wartime Britain, 1939-45 (2011) and Cinemas and Cinemagoing in Wartime Britain, 1939-45: The Utility Dream Palace (2016).

Laura Mayne is a Lecturer in Film and Media at the University of Hull

Duncan Petrie is Professor of Film at the University of York. His publications include Creativity and Constraint in the British Film Industry (1991), The British Cinematographer (1996), Screening Scotland (2000), Contemporary Scottish Fictions (2004), Shot in New Zealand (2007) and Educating Film-Makers (2014).

Melanie Williams is Reader in Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia. Her publications include the monographs David Lean (2014) and Female Stars of British Cinema (2017) and the co-edited collections British Women's Cinema (2009) and Ealing Revisited (2012).