''British Queer Cinema'' draws together a diverse range of accessible, insightful and groundbreaking new essays from some of the world's leading queer cinema theorists and explores, for the first time, the provocative and previously under-valued history of lesbian, gay and queer representation in British cinema. From the early years of 'Pre-Gay, through the post-war gay liberation, and the 'post-AIDS' queer generations, this book provides an historical perspective on queer cinema. Through case studies of key works, ''British Queer Cinema'' studies: ''The Killing of Sister George''; ''Prick up Your Ears''; ''Beautiful Thing''; a reappraisal of the films of Anthony Asquith, Terence Davies and Derek Jarman; the 'queerness of the heritage'; the homoerotic 'New Wave'; the star performances of Dirk Bogarde, Beryl Reid and Stephen Fry; and the representation of gays and lesbians and gay and lesbian actors. A timely collection that maps the relationship between contemporary queer sexuality and its socio-historical, national and critical contexts, ''British Queer Cinema ''will be invaluable reading for students of queer studies and British cinema history alike.