--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The British film industry has always…" description: "\"The British film industry has always tried to sell itself as something rather sophisticated. It's almost as if it thinks it is by royal command. It has..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg" --- # The British film industry has always tried to sell itself… ![“The British film industry has always tried to sell itself as something rather sophisticated. It's almost as if it thinks it is by royal command. It has always tried to claim the high ground, not only over Hollywood but over the whole of humanity!” quote by Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg) > “The British film industry has always tried to sell itself as something rather sophisticated. It's almost as if it thinks it is by royal command. It has always tried to claim the high ground, not only over Hollywood but over the whole of humanity!” [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The British film sector often portrays itself as elite, claiming superiority over Hollywood and humanity. **In simple terms:** Britain claims cultural superiority in film. Key Takeaway Recognize and question inflated cultural narratives. Themes cultural pride film industry national identity Mood critical skeptical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - film festivals - marketing campaigns - national cinema discussions Key Concepts elitism self-presentation media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How does this self-image affect international collaborations? - What evidence supports or refutes this superiority claim? A Different Perspective Such claims can overlook diverse global contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-film/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-industry/) [High ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-ground/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) ## Related quotes > [The thing that runs through the British film industry even today is a lot of unsung movies are financially the bigger ones. Even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-thing-that-runs-through-the-british-film-industry-even-today-is-a/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It's weathered many a storm, but the British film industry is, thankfully, still afloat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-weathered-many-a-storm-but-the-british-film-industry-is/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'm somebody who is very, very proud to have been a part of the British film industry all my life and to have kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-m-somebody-who-is-very-very-proud-to-have-been-a-part-of-the/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [A lot of the reasons that I'm resistant to making films in the U.S. have nothing to do with not doing a film in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/a-lot-of-the-reasons-that-i-m-resistant-to-making-films-in-the-u-s/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [People say, "How do you get into the British film industry?" There is no British film industry, there are just people making films and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wheatley/people-say-how-do-you-get-into-the-british-film-industry-there-is-no/) [Ben Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wheatley/) > [Film-makers should remain true to their principles and never compromise, there is a real revival in the British film industry but there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/film-makers-should-remain-true-to-their-principles-and-never/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [In the 40 or so years I've known David Puttnam, not only has he pursued an outstanding career in films and now politics, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvyn-bragg/in-the-40-or-so-years-i-ve-known-david-puttnam-not-only-has-he/) [Melvyn Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvyn-bragg/) > [The problem with the British film industry is that it's really the American film industry, or a small branch of in lots of ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mackenzie/the-problem-with-the-british-film-industry-is-that-it-s-really-the/) [David Mackenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mackenzie/) > [I like the constant rise and fall of the British film industry. But above all, I like the workhorses who kept going no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-like-the-constant-rise-and-fall-of-the-british-film-industry-but/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [The Hollywood image of the movie business is all about ambition and high achievers like James Cameron. But the British film industry is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-hollywood-image-of-the-movie-business-is-all-about-ambition-and/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'd rather do theater and British films than move to L.A. in hopes of getting small roles in American films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-d-rather-do-theater-and-british-films-than-move-to-l-a-in-hopes-of/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [After 'The Gamekeeper' I made one other film called 'Looks and Smiles,' but making British films was very difficult. There wasn't a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/after-the-gamekeeper-i-made-one-other-film-called-looks-and-smiles/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [The BFI recently did a study of the British films that have the most people of color in them in the last 10 years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/the-bfi-recently-did-a-study-of-the-british-films-that-have-the-most/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) ## More by Peter Capaldi > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-ve-only-lost-my-temper-three-times-in-my-whole-life/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Comic-Con is so legendary, so a great thrill to be invited along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/comic-con-is-so-legendary-so-a-great-thrill-to-be-invited-along/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-americans-just-have-a-great-sort-of-wit-about-them/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [ I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to \[play Kafka in the film\]?" and he said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-knew-richard-e-grant-and-i-went-to-him-and-said-would-you-like-to/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > ['Atlantic City' is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/atlantic-city-is-very-good/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It's one thing getting the job of Doctor Who, which is wonderful. And then the next thing they say to you is, 'We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-one-thing-getting-the-job-of-doctor-who-which-is-wonderful-and/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [One of the very, very exciting things I have found here in L.A. is that no one talks to you about being Scottish. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/one-of-the-very-very-exciting-things-i-have-found-here-in-l-a-is-that/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Everybody loves monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/everybody-loves-monsters/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I think the nice thing about 'Doctor Who' is whether people like it or don't like it, somewhere, someone loves you and will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-think-the-nice-thing-about-doctor-who-is-whether-people-like-it-or/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/even-though-i-am-a-lifelong-doctor-who-fan-i-ve-not-played-him-since/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'm not an extravagant man. The fact that I can have a coffee out whenever I want still makes me feel grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-not-an-extravagant-man-the-fact-that-i-can-have-a-coffee-out/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Explore all 162 Peter Capaldi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The British film industry has always tried to sell itself as something rather sophisticated. It's almost as if it thinks it is by royal command. It has always tried to claim the high ground, not only over Hollywood but over the whole of humanity!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Capaldi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-british-film-industry-has-always-tried-to-sell-itself-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-british-film-industry-has-always-tried-to-sell-itself-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/peter-capaldi-2535_british_the-british-film-industry-has-always-tri_2286633.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The British film industry has always tried to sell itself as something rather sophisticated. It's almost as…” — Peter Capaldi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Capaldi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The British film industry has always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-british-film-industry-has-always-tried-to-sell-itself-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-british-film-industry-has-always-tried-to-sell-itself-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```