analyzes the politics of film and establishes the difficult context within which British producers and directors have worked. Sarah Street questions why British film-making, production and distribution have always been subject to government apathy and financial stringency. In a comparison of Britain and Hollywood, the author asks to what extent was there a star system in Britain and what was its real historical and social function. An examination of genres associated with British film, such as Ealing comedies, Hammer horror, heritage films and hybrid forms, confirms the eclectic nature of British cinema. In a final evaluation of British film, she examines the existence of other cinemas: film-making which challenges the traditional concept of cinema and operates outside mainstream structures in order to deconstruct and replace classical styles and conventions.