ABSTRACT
The 1930s in Great Britain were years of devastating economic problems. With the jobless rate rising from about 10.5 per cent in 1929 to over 22 per cent by 1932, and with the number of unemployed shifting between two and three million for much of the decade, those without positions faced grim prospects. Those fortunate enough to be employed could feel little security in the permanence of their jobs, and many workers derived little comfort from solutions proposed by politicians. In Britain's gloomy economic, social, and political climate, people turned in increasing numbers to forms of escape, and films rapidly became recognized as 'easily the most important agency of popular entertainment'. Lighter productions from America such as Frank Capra's upbeat social comedies were usually box office successes in Britain, and England's own motion picture releases often centered on positive themes emphasizing national unity and the indomitability of the British personality.
