Although his film career extended from the early days of sound to the British New Wave and beyond, Sir John Mills is nonetheless remembered as the archetypal hero of the Second World War. Regarded as an English 'everyman', his performances crossed the class divide and, in his easy transition from below decks to above, he came to represent a newly democratic masculine ideal. But what was this exemplary masculinity and what became of it in the aftermath of war? John Mills and British Cinema asks how was it possible for an actor to embody national identity and, by exploring the cultural contexts in which Mills and the nation became synonymous, the book offers a new perspective on 40 years of cinema and social change. Through detailed analysis of a wide range of classic British films, John Mills and British Cinema exposes the shifting constructions of 'national' masculinity, arguing that the screen persona of the actor is a fundamental, and often overlooked, dimension of British cinema. Features* Provides the first critical examination of the film career of Sir John Mills.* Uses contemporary feminist and gender theories to examine the body of the actor as a crucial dimension of the film text.* Explores the concept of a 'national cinema' from an innovative new perspective.* Provides stimulating new readings of key British films, including Forever England, The Way to the Stars, Great Expectations, Scott of the Antarctic, Hobson's Choice, Ice Cold in Alex, Tunes of Glory, The Family Way and Ryan's Daughter.

尽管他的电影生涯从早期的有声电影延伸到英国新浪潮及以后，但约翰-米尔斯爵士还是作为第二次世界大战的典型英雄而被人们记住。他被视为英国的 "常人"，他的表演跨越了阶级鸿沟，在他从甲板下到甲板上的轻松转变中，他代表了一种新的民主的男性理想。但是，这种模范的阳刚之气是什么，在战争结束后又变成了什么？约翰-米尔斯和英国电影》问道，一个演员是如何体现国家身份的，通过探索米尔斯和国家成为同义词的文化背景，该书为40年的电影和社会变革提供了一个新的视角。通过对一系列经典英国电影的详细分析，《约翰-米尔斯与英国电影》揭露了 "国家 "男性气质的转变，认为演员的银幕形象是英国电影的一个基本的、经常被忽视的维度。特点*对约翰-米尔斯爵士的电影生涯进行了首次批判性研究。*使用当代女权主义和性别理论来研究演员的身体，作为电影文本的一个重要维度。*从一个创新的新角度探讨了 "民族电影 "的概念。*对主要的英国电影提供了刺激性的新解读，包括《永远的英格兰》、《通往星星的路》、《远大前程》、《南极的斯科特》、《霍布森的选择》、《冰冷的亚历克斯》、《荣耀之调》、《家庭之路》以及《瑞恩的女儿》。