'There is something about these films that keeps drawing people back every generation or so. Here is a fine addition to the literature on them, both as entry-level summary for novices and required reading for devotees: synthesising previous accounts, surfacing new information and adding insights.'
— Patrick Russell, Journal of British Cinema and Television

Introduction
1 A shaky start – the British Government and film, 1900–30
2 The Empire Marketing Board Film Unit: Tallents, Grierson, documentaries and the revival of government interest, 1930–33
3 The General Post Office Film Unit in peacetime, 1933–37
4 Rumours of War and the creation of the Crown Film Unit, 1938–40
5 The Crown Film Unit’s wartime productions, 1940–45
6 The Crown Film Unit’s post-war productions, 1946–52
7 Non-theatrical exhibition and audiences
8 Commercial and theatrical exhibition
9 The end of Government film making, 1951–52
10 Legacy
Index