British Children's Cinema : From the Thief of Bagdad to Wallace and Gromit

"British children's films have played a part in the childhoods of generations of young people around the world for over a century. Until now, however, their cherished status has remained largely unexplored. In this book, Noel Brown relates the history of children's cinema in Britain from the early years of commercial cinema to the present day, to reveal the reasons behind its acclaim in international popular culture. Drawing on multiple sources, Brown provides in-depth analysis of a range of iconic films, including The Railway Children, The Thief of Bagdad, Bugsy Malone, the Harry Potter films, Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee, Paddington, Oliver!, and Aardman's Wallace and Gromit series. Futhermore, he investigates industrial and commercial contexts, such as the role of the Children's Film Foundation; and includes revealing insights on changing social and cultural norms, such as the once-sacred tradition of Saturday morning cinema. Brown challenges common prejudices that children's films are inherently shallow or simplistic, revealing the often complex strategies that underpin their enduring appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In addition, he shows how the films allow a privileged access to historic cultures and the nation's political past. In doing so, Brown firmly establishes children's cinema as an important genre not only for students and scholars of film studies but also for those interested in socio-cultural history, the production and reception of popular entertainment and anyone looking for entertainment, escapism and nostalgia."--Page 4 of cover Cover Half-title Endorsement Cinema and Society series Title page Copyright information Table of contents Illustrations Acknowledgments General Editor’s Introduction Introduction 1 In the Beginning: Children and British Cinema in the Silent Era Early British Films and Children The ‘Child’ Audience Children and Reformers Children and the Talkies 2 The Children’s Adventure Movie, 1930–60 Emil and the Detectives and the Children’s Adventure Movie Cycle Sabu: The Child as Star The Child as Outsider The Child and the Family 3 Family Entertainers: Formby, Hay, Lucan, Wisdom Child Appeal Symbolic Childhood Populism and National Identity Self-Parody and the Child Audience 4 J. Arthur Rank, Saturday Morning Cinema and the Children’s Film Foundation 1930s Children’s Film Culture J. Arthur Rank and Children’s Entertainment Films The Children’s Film Foundation and Mary Field Branching out in the 1960s Geddes and the Later Years 5 Happiest Days: British Cinema and the Family Audience in the Fifties The School Film The Domestic Comedy Adaptation and Halas and Batchelor’s Animal Farm Teen Films and ‘Adult’ Movies Whistle Down the Wind and the End of Consensus 6 Disney in Britain Disney’s Gambit: Treasure Island and the British Cycle Disney and British National Identity Disney and the British Family 7 Summers of Love and Winters of Discontent: The Sixties and Seventies The Missing Audience The Boom: Family Films in the 1960s The Beatles on Film Family Blockbusters: Oliver! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ‘Permissive’ Films The Railway Children and Other Stories The Animal Film The Fantastic Turn 8 From Thatcher to Blair: The Eighties and Nineties Black Jack, Time Bandits and The Witches A New Outlet: Television and the Made-for-TV Children’s Film Branded Britishness 9 Exporting Englishness Harry Potter, Britishness and Contemporary Family Entertainment Aardman Liminality in Contemporary British Children’s Cinema Conclusion Notes Introduction Chapter 1: In the Beginning: Children and British Cinema in the Silent Era Chapter 2: The Children’s Adventure Movie, 1930– 60 Chapter 3: Family Entertainers: Formby, Hay, Lucan, Wisdom Chapter 4: J. Arthur Rank, Saturday Morning Cinema and the Children’s Film Foundation Chapter 5: Happiest Days: British Cinema and the Family Audience in the Fifties Chapter 6: Disney in Britain Chapter 7: Summers of Love and Winters of Discontent: The Sixties and Seventies Chapter 8: From Thatcher to Blair: The Eighties and Nineties Chapter 9: Exporting Englishness Conclusion Select Filmography Select Bibliography Index "British children's films have played a part in the childhoods of generations of young people around the world for over a century. Until now, however, their cherished status has remained largely unexplored. In this book, Noel Brown relates the history of children's cinema in Britain from the early years of commercial cinema to the present day, to reveal the reasons behind its acclaim in international popular culture. Drawing on multiple sources, Brown provides in-depth analysis of a range of iconic films, including The Railway Children, The Thief of Bagdad, Bugsy Malone, the Harry Potter films, Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee, Paddington, Oliver!, and Aardman's Wallace and Gromit series. Futhermore, he investigates industrial and commercial contexts, such as the role of the Children's Film Foundation; and includes revealing insights on changing social and cultural norms, such as the once-sacred tradition of Saturday morning cinema. Brown challenges common prejudices that children's films are inherently shallow or simplistic, revealing the often complex strategies that underpin their enduring appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In addition, he shows how the films allow a privileged access to historic cultures and the nation's political past. In doing so, Brown firmly establishes children's cinema as an important genre not only for students and scholars of film studies but also for those interested in socio-cultural history, the production and reception of popular entertainment and anyone looking for entertainment, escapism and nostalgia."--Cover page 4