Hollywood's studio system revolutionized filmmaking in the early 20th century. Big studios controlled every aspect of the movie-making process, from production to distribution, creating a monopoly that dominated the industry for decades.
This system shaped how movies were made and watched. Studios owned theater chains, used block booking, and managed actors through long-term contracts. The Production Code also influenced content, setting moral guidelines for films.
Studio System Structure
Vertical Integration and Studio Dominance
- Vertical integration allowed studios to control all aspects of filmmaking from production to distribution and exhibition
- Big Five studios (Paramount, MGM, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, RKO) dominated the industry through vertical integration
- Owned their own theater chains, ensuring their films would be shown
- Controlled the majority of the market share and had the most power
- Little Three studios (Universal, Columbia, United Artists) were smaller and less vertically integrated
- Did not own their own theater chains, making it harder to distribute their films
- Relied on the Big Five for distribution and exhibition
- Studio moguls, powerful executives who ran the studios (Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck), made all the key decisions
- Determined which films were made, who was cast, and how they were marketed
- Wielded immense control over the creative process and the careers of actors and filmmakers
Distribution and Exhibition Practices
Block Booking and Theater Control
- Block booking required theaters to buy a studio's entire slate of films, sight unseen, in order to get the most popular movies
- Ensured that even lesser-quality films would be shown and generate revenue
- Gave studios leverage over independent theaters and limited competition
- Studios owned and operated their own theater chains, giving them complete control over where and when their films were shown
- Allowed them to prioritize their own films over those of competitors
- Enabled them to manipulate the market and maximize profits
Backlots and Efficient Production
- Backlots, expansive studio properties with standing sets and soundstages, allowed for efficient, assembly-line style production
- Films could be shot quickly and cheaply, with multiple productions happening simultaneously
- Provided a controlled environment for filming, minimizing the need for location shoots
- Centralized production on the studio lot enabled tight control over the filmmaking process
- Studio executives could easily oversee multiple projects and ensure they adhered to the studio's standards and style
- Fostered a factory-like approach to filmmaking, with specialized departments handling different aspects of production
Talent and Content Control
Star System and Actor Contracts
- Star system promoted and marketed actors as larger-than-life personalities to draw audiences
- Studios carefully crafted the public images of their stars to fit specific archetypes (glamorous leading lady, rugged hero)
- Stars became valuable commodities, with their popularity often eclipsing the films themselves (Clark Gable, Bette Davis)
- Contract players were actors signed to exclusive, long-term contracts with a particular studio
- Required to appear in whatever films the studio assigned them, often with little creative control
- Contracts could be restrictive, dictating an actor's personal life and limiting their ability to work for other studios
Production Code and Content Restrictions
- Production Code, also known as the Hays Code, established moral guidelines for film content
- Prohibited the explicit portrayal of certain topics (sex, violence, drug use) and required that films promote traditional values
- Enforced through a system of self-censorship, with studios submitting scripts for approval before production
- Studios adhered to the Production Code to avoid controversy and maintain a wholesome public image
- Films that violated the code could be denied a release or face boycotts from religious and moral groups
- Led to the creation of a standardized, formulaic style of storytelling that emphasized happy endings and clear-cut morality