Includes bibliographical references and index.

A social history of the crime film -- The age of austerity: post-war crime films -- Class and crime: social divisions -- Between Left and Right: politics and individuals -- Heritage Britain -- Shame of a nation: juvenile delinquents and exploitation -- The new violence: the loss of innocence -- Scourging the unacceptable: censorship battles -- Metropolitan murder: London -- The regions -- Breaking taboos: sex and the crime film -- Corporate crime: curtains for the maverick -- Mockney menace: the new wave -- The age of acquisition: new crime -- 21st century hybrids -- Appendix 1. The directors: makers of key crime films -- Appendix 2. TV crime -- Appendix 3. Crime and espionage -- Appendix 4. Films, TV and books -- Index.

"A comprehensive social history of British crime film by the UK's principal expert on crime film and fictionPresenting a stunning social history of Britain through classic crime film, Barry Forshaw, one of the UK's leading experts on crime fiction and fiction, focuses on how crime films have portrayed our changing attitudes towards class, politics, sex, delinquency, violence and censorship. Focusing on these key issues, British Crime Film examines strategies used by film makers in order to address more radical notions of society's decline. Spanning post-war crime cinema, from Green for Danger to Get Carter, from The Lady Killers to Layer Cake, from The Long Good Friday to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, British Crime Film contextualizes the movies and identifies important and neglected works which will delight and intrigue film fans of this well-loved genre."--Publisher's website.