Distorted images

"During the 1920s, the slogan 'British is Best' was a regular rallying call to British film producers and audiences. Distorted Images illuminates this period, when British film-makers first had the opportunity to secure an audience for their films but failed. Using contemporary sources, it tells the story of British cinema in the 1920s, showing how the British film industry invoked patriotism, xenophobia, government intervention and cultural and social supremacy in order to save itself. Moviegoers inevitably ignored the propaganda and chose instead to spend the cost of admission on American films. Why they did so is the central focus of Distorted images."--BOOK JACKET.