America Through a British Lens

As the British watched their empire crumble, many British films depicted the danger and allure of American culture, reflecting a common belief that the United States-the newly dominant world power-could be reckless and irreverent. As social mobility became more common in British life, Americans on screen were portrayed as crude, outspoken and ambitious. Yet the same films that portrayed the U.S. as an agent of chaos also suggested Britons might do well to embrace American-style energy and egalitarianism. Movies like Love Actually, The Quatermass Xperiment, 28 Weeks Later, Local Hero and Alfred Hitchcock's The Secret Agent have delved into the storied ""special relationship"" between the U.S. and U.K. These films and many more are examined this first book-length study of British movies about America, revealing much about British attitudes regarding power, gender, class, sexuality and emotion.