🎞️American Cinema – Before 1960 Unit 3 – Hollywood and the Studio System's Rise

Historical Context

• Early 20th century saw the rise of motion pictures as a new form of mass entertainment
• Nickelodeons, small storefront theaters, popularized movies and attracted working-class audiences (immigrants)
• World War I disrupted the European film industry, allowing American studios to gain dominance
• Post-war economic boom in the United States fueled the growth of the film industry
• Increasing urbanization and leisure time contributed to the demand for entertainment
• Social changes, such as women's suffrage and prohibition, influenced the content of films
• Immigration from Europe brought talented filmmakers and actors to the United States

The Birth of Hollywood

• Early film production centered in New York and New Jersey due to proximity to theater districts and patent control by Edison's company
• Independent filmmakers sought to escape Edison's control and moved to Los Angeles
  • Attracted by year-round sunshine, diverse landscapes, and distance from Edison's enforcers
• First permanent film studio in Hollywood established in 1911 by Nestor Studios
• Other studios followed, including Universal, Paramount, and Warner Bros., establishing Hollywood as the center of the American film industry
• Favorable conditions in Hollywood included cheap land, varied landscapes, and a large labor pool
• By the 1920s, Hollywood had become synonymous with the American film industry

Major Studios and Their Founders

• Paramount Pictures founded by Adolph Zukor, focused on feature films and vertical integration
• Warner Bros. founded by Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, pioneered sound in films (The Jazz Singer)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) formed through a merger, known for its lavish productions and star power
• 20th Century Fox founded by William Fox, later merged with Darryl F. Zanuck's 20th Century Pictures
• RKO Pictures created through a merger of Keith-Albee-Orpheum theaters and Radio Corporation of America
  • Produced influential films like King Kong and Citizen Kane
• Columbia Pictures founded by Harry and Jack Cohn, initially focused on low-budget films
• Universal Pictures founded by Carl Laemmle, known for its horror films and movie monsters

The Studio System Structure

• Vertically integrated system where studios controlled production, distribution, and exhibition
• Studios owned large production facilities, known as "dream factories"
• Centralized decision-making, with studio heads and producers overseeing all aspects of filmmaking
• Assembly-line approach to film production, with specialized departments (writing, costuming, set design)
• Studios maintained stables of actors, directors, and technical staff under long-term contracts
• Block booking and blind bidding practices ensured studio control over theaters
  • Block booking required theaters to book a studio's entire output
  • Blind bidding forced theaters to book films without seeing them first
• Studio system allowed for efficient, standardized production and control over the creative process

Key Films and Genres

• Silent era dominated by slapstick comedy (Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton) and melodrama (D.W. Griffith)
• 1920s saw the rise of the Western genre, with stars like Tom Mix and William S. Hart
• Horror films gained popularity, with Universal's monster movies (Dracula, Frankenstein)
• Gangster films reflected the public fascination with organized crime (Little Caesar, The Public Enemy)
• Musicals flourished with the introduction of sound (The Broadway Melody, 42nd Street)
• Screwball comedies showcased witty dialogue and romantic misadventures (It Happened One Night, Bringing Up Baby)
• Social issue films addressed contemporary concerns (I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, The Grapes of Wrath)
• Epic historical dramas demonstrated the grandeur of studio productions (Gone with the Wind, The Ten Commandments)

Technological Advancements

• Introduction of synchronized sound in the late 1920s revolutionized the film industry (The Jazz Singer)
• Sound technology evolved from sound-on-disc to sound-on-film, improving quality and synchronization
• Technicolor introduced three-strip color process, enabling vibrant color cinematography (The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind)
• Improvements in camera technology allowed for greater flexibility in cinematography
  • Dolly tracks and cranes enabled smooth camera movement
  • Faster film stocks and improved lenses allowed for better low-light photography
• Advancements in editing techniques, such as continuity editing and montage, enhanced storytelling
• Special effects techniques, including matte paintings and miniatures, created convincing illusions
• Air conditioning in theaters made moviegoing more comfortable and increased attendance

Star System and Publicity

• Studios cultivated a star system to attract audiences and ensure box office success
• Actors signed long-term contracts with studios, giving studios control over their careers
• Studios carefully crafted the public personas of their stars to maintain a favorable image
• Fan magazines and studio publicity departments promoted stars and their films
• Stars became icons and role models, influencing fashion, hairstyles, and behavior
• Studio-arranged marriages and romances generated publicity and fed the fan culture
• Stars' private lives were often controlled and manipulated by the studios to avoid scandal
• Some stars, such as Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, gained immense popularity and bargaining power
• The star system helped create a loyal fan base and ensured consistent ticket sales for studios

Impact on American Culture

• Movies became a shared cultural experience, uniting diverse audiences across the country
• Films reflected and shaped American values, aspirations, and social norms
• Hollywood glamour and the star system influenced fashion, beauty standards, and consumer culture
• Movies provided escapism and entertainment during the Great Depression and World War II
• Films served as propaganda tools during wartime, promoting patriotism and the war effort
• Hollywood's global dominance exported American culture and values worldwide
• Movies tackled social issues and sparked public discourse on topics such as crime, poverty, and racism
• The studio system's influence extended beyond entertainment, with ties to politics and business
• Hollywood's success contributed to Los Angeles' growth and development as a major metropolitan area