Books in the British Film Guides series

Lindsay Anderson's 1968 film, "If...", deals with England and 'Englishness'. This work draws on Anderson's private archive, which illuminates the film's autobiographical elements; the original script "Crusaders"; the sequel on which he was working at the time of his death and interviews with crew members.

Dubbed 'the Citizen Kane of juke-box movies' and recently given a high-profile release on a two-disc DVD, 'A Hard Day's Night', directed by Richard Lester and produced by United Artists, is viewed by Stephen Glynn as that rare event - a cheap exploitation movie that has entered the cultural canon.

Described by Stuart Hall as 'one of the most riveting and important films produced by a black writer in recent years', My Beautiful Laundrette was a significant production for its director Stephen Frears and its writer Hanif Kureshi.

Alexander Korda's masterpiece "The Private Life of Henry VIII" was arguably the most important British film of the pre-war period and a critical and box-office success. Greg Walker's book examines the film itself, its makers and its place in the cinematic and cultural history of the period.

Released in 1971, "Get Carter" fell out of fashion until the cultural changes of the 1990s gave a new currency to its pessimistic vision of a doomed male within a decaying social order. Steve Chibnall places the film in its social context, describes its making and discusses its characteristics.

"Black Narcissus" is a landmark film in the canon of Powell and Pressburger. This book draws on archival documents, original set drawings and stills to explore its enduring images of both place and gender. It also demonstrate the film's achievements, both as a production and as a vehicle for ideas exploring issues of technique, style and others.

"The 39 Steps" established Alfred Hitchcock's name as the "master of suspense". This book looks at the story of its production, examines its influences, and analyses the film, its critical legacy and the subsequent films also based on Buchan's novel.