Cecil Hepworth and the Rise of the British Film Industry 1899-1911 (Exeter Studies in Film History)

This book presents a thorough industrial, economic, and aesthetic history of the early years of the British film industry through a case study of one of the most celebrated pioneers of the period, Cecil Hepworth. As film production shifted from being a cottage industry to a complicated, large-scale national industry, Hepworth and his studio were at the heart of developments. Simon Brown presents a picture of daily life in Hepworth’s studio through these changes, along with analysis of the content, production, and marketing of his films. He also charts the larger development of the British film industry, with an emphasis on the changing nature of exhibition and distribution.