The rise of Hollywood and the studio system transformed American cinema in the early 20th century. Filmmakers flocked to Los Angeles, drawn by its ideal filming conditions and distance from Edison's patent enforcement, establishing a thriving industry.

The studio system emerged, with major companies controlling all aspects of filmmaking. This vertically integrated model, along with practices like block booking, allowed studios to dominate the industry and shape the golden age of Hollywood cinema.

Origins of Hollywood

• The early film industry in Los Angeles emerged in the early 20th century, with filmmakers attracted to the area for its favorable weather, varied landscapes, and distance from Edison's patent enforcement
• Hollywood's development as the center of the American film industry was gradual, with several key factors contributing to its rise to prominence

Early film industry in Los Angeles

• First movie studio in Los Angeles area opened in 1911 (Nestor Studios)
• By 1915, over a dozen film production companies had relocated to Los Angeles from the East Coast
  • Attracted by the mild climate, which allowed for year-round filming
  • Diverse landscapes provided a variety of settings for films (mountains, beaches, deserts)
• Independent filmmakers sought to escape the control of Thomas Edison's Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC)
  • MPPC held patents on key filmmaking equipment and demanded licensing fees
  • Los Angeles' distance from the East Coast made it more difficult for MPPC to enforce its patents

Factors attracting filmmakers to Hollywood

• Consistent sunshine and mild weather allowed for longer filming days and reduced production costs
• Variety of landscapes within close proximity (ocean, mountains, desert, urban settings)
• Lower land and labor costs compared to New York
• Presence of a growing pool of actors and technicians
• Lack of strong union presence in the early years of the film industry
• Hollywood's association with the exotic and the glamorous appealed to filmmakers and audiences alike

Development of studio system

• The Hollywood studio system emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by the vertical integration of production, distribution, and exhibition under the control of a handful of powerful studios
• Studios employed various practices to maintain their dominance, including block booking and blind bidding, as well as exercising strict control over actors and filmmakers

Vertical integration of production, distribution, and exhibition

• Major studios controlled all aspects of the filmmaking process:
  • Production: studios owned their own production facilities and employed creative personnel
  • Distribution: studios had their own distribution networks to market and release films
  • Exhibition: studios owned theater chains to showcase their films
• Vertical integration allowed studios to minimize risks and maximize profits
  • Guaranteed outlets for their films through studio-owned theaters
  • Control over the entire filmmaking process ensured consistency and efficiency

Block booking and blind bidding practices

• Block booking: studios required theaters to book multiple films as a package, often sight unseen
  • Ensured that even less popular films would be shown, as they were bundled with more anticipated releases
• Blind bidding: theaters had to bid on films without having seen them in advance
  • Studios provided limited information about the films, such as star power and genre
• These practices made it difficult for independent theaters and producers to compete with the major studios

Studio control over actors and filmmakers

• Studios held long-term contracts with actors, directors, and other creative personnel
  • Contracts gave studios exclusive rights to an individual's services for a set period
  • Studios could assign actors to specific roles and control their public image
• Star system: studios cultivated the public personas of their contracted actors to attract audiences
  • Carefully managed actors' images through publicity and typecasting
• Filmmakers had limited creative control, as studios dictated the content and style of films
  • Directors and writers were often assigned to projects by studio executives
  • Studio control ensured that films adhered to established formulas and met audience expectations

Major Hollywood studios

• The Hollywood studio system was dominated by eight major studios, divided into the "Big Five" and the "Little Three"
• Each studio developed its own distinctive style and specialized in certain genres or types of films

"Big Five" studios

• Paramount Pictures
  • Known for its sophisticated comedies and dramas
  • Notable stars included Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, and the Marx Brothers
• Warner Bros.
  • Specialized in gritty, socially conscious films and gangster movies
  • Stars included James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis
• 20th Century Fox
  • Known for its musicals and historical epics
  • Notable stars included Shirley Temple, Tyrone Power, and Betty Grable
• RKO Radio Pictures
  • Focused on low-budget films and B-movies
  • Produced iconic films such as "King Kong" (1933) and "Citizen Kane" (1941)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Known for its lavish musicals and prestige dramas
  • Boasted "more stars than there are in heaven," including Clark Gable, Judy Garland, and Joan Crawford

"Little Three" studios

• Universal Studios
  • Specialized in horror films and low-budget westerns
  • Iconic monsters included Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man
• Columbia Pictures
  • Known for its screwball comedies and film noir
  • Notable stars included Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, and Rita Hayworth
• United Artists
  • Unique among studios, as it was formed by actors and filmmakers seeking creative control
  • Served as a distribution outlet for independent producers
  • Released films by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks

Differences in studio styles and specialties

• Each studio developed a distinctive house style that set it apart from its competitors
  • MGM known for lavish, high-quality productions
  • Warner Bros. associated with gritty, urban films
  • Universal famous for its horror movies
• Studios often specialized in certain genres or types of films
  • 20th Century Fox excelled in musicals and historical epics
  • Paramount known for sophisticated comedies and dramas
• Differences in studio styles and specialties helped create a diverse film market and catered to various audience tastes

Studio era filmmaking

• The Hollywood studio system brought about a highly efficient and standardized approach to filmmaking
• Films were produced using an assembly line process, with a focus on creating content that adhered to established genres and formulas
• The star system and celebrity culture played a significant role in marketing films and attracting audiences

Assembly line production process

• Studio era filmmaking was characterized by a highly efficient, factory-like production process
  • Films were produced in a manner similar to an assembly line, with each department responsible for a specific aspect of production
  • This allowed for a high volume of films to be produced quickly and cost-effectively
• Studios maintained a strict division of labor, with specialized departments for writing, casting, set design, cinematography, and editing
  • Each department had its own hierarchy and chain of command
  • Specialization ensured consistency and efficiency in the filmmaking process

Standardization of film genres and formulas

• Studios developed and adhered to established film genres and formulas to meet audience expectations
  • Genres such as westerns, musicals, screwball comedies, and film noir became highly codified
  • Formulas provided a predictable structure for films, making them easier to produce and market
• Adherence to genres and formulas helped studios minimize financial risks
  • Audiences knew what to expect from a particular type of film
  • Formulas could be easily replicated, allowing for efficient production of similar films

Star system and celebrity culture

• The studio system relied heavily on the star power of its contracted actors to attract audiences
  • Studios carefully cultivated the public personas of their stars through publicity and typecasting
  • Stars were often associated with specific genres or character types (Clark Gable as the rugged leading man, Judy Garland as the girl next door)
• Celebrity culture played a significant role in marketing films
  • Studios controlled the public image of their stars, often creating romantic pairings or rivalries for publicity
  • Fan magazines and gossip columns kept audiences engaged with the personal lives of their favorite stars
• The star system helped create a loyal fan base for studio films and ensured consistent box office returns

Challenges to studio system

• The Hollywood studio system faced several challenges in the late 1940s and 1950s that eventually led to its decline
• Antitrust lawsuits against the studios, the rise of independent producers, and the impact of television all contributed to the erosion of studio power

Antitrust lawsuits against studios

• The U.S. government filed antitrust lawsuits against the major studios in the 1940s
  • Lawsuits targeted the studios' control over production, distribution, and exhibition
  • Government argued that the studios' vertical integration and practices like block booking were anti-competitive
• The most significant case was the Paramount Decision of 1948
  • Supreme Court ruled that studios must divest themselves of their theater chains
  • Decision effectively ended the practice of block booking and opened the market to independent theaters

Rise of independent producers

• The weakening of the studio system allowed for the emergence of independent producers
  • Independent producers operated outside the control of the major studios, financing and producing their own films
  • Notable independent producers included David O. Selznick, Samuel Goldwyn, and Walt Disney
• Independent productions often tackled more controversial subjects and experimented with new styles and techniques
  • Films like "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "High Noon" (1952) addressed social issues and challenged Hollywood conventions
• The success of independent productions demonstrated that filmmakers could succeed outside the studio system

Impact of television on film industry

• The rise of television in the 1950s posed a significant challenge to the Hollywood studio system
  • Television provided a convenient and affordable alternative to going to the movies
  • As TV ownership increased, movie theater attendance declined sharply
• Studios initially tried to compete with television by introducing new technologies and formats
  • Widescreen formats like CinemaScope and VistaVision aimed to differentiate the theatrical experience from television
  • Studios also experimented with 3D films to attract audiences
• Eventually, studios began to embrace television as a new market
  • Studios started producing content specifically for television, such as TV movies and series
  • The sale of film libraries to television networks provided a new revenue stream for studios

Decline and legacy of studio system

• The challenges faced by the Hollywood studio system in the post-war era ultimately led to its decline and a shift toward independent production
• Despite its eventual demise, the studio system left a lasting influence on Hollywood filmmaking that can still be seen today

Paramount Decision and divestiture of theater chains

• The Paramount Decision of 1948 marked a turning point for the Hollywood studio system
  • Studios were forced to divest themselves of their theater chains, ending vertical integration
  • Without guaranteed outlets for their films, studios had to compete for screen space with independent producers
• The divestiture of theater chains weakened the studios' control over the film industry
  • Studios could no longer rely on block booking to ensure the success of their films
  • Independent theaters gained more power in deciding which films to show

Shift toward independent production in 1950s and 60s

• As the studio system weakened, independent production became more prevalent in Hollywood
  • Independent producers and filmmakers had more freedom to create films outside the constraints of studio control
  • The rise of the "package-unit system" saw films being produced by temporary alliances of stars, directors, and producers
• The success of independent films in the 1950s and 60s demonstrated the viability of alternative production models
  • Films like "On the Waterfront" (1954) and "The Graduate" (1967) achieved critical and commercial success without studio backing
• The shift toward independent production allowed for greater creative experimentation and diversity in Hollywood films

Lasting influence of studio era on Hollywood filmmaking

• Despite the decline of the studio system, its influence can still be seen in modern Hollywood filmmaking
  • The concept of the "blockbuster" film, with its emphasis on spectacle and star power, has its roots in the studio era
  • Modern film franchises and cinematic universes echo the studios' focus on creating recognizable brands and consistent content
• The studio era's emphasis on genre and formula continues to shape Hollywood production
  • Many modern films adhere to established genres and storytelling conventions popularized during the studio era
  • The use of remakes, sequels, and adaptations of familiar properties reflects the studios' risk-averse approach to filmmaking
• The star system, while less rigid than in the studio era, remains a key aspect of Hollywood marketing and production
  • Actors are still often associated with specific genres or character types
  • The cult of celebrity continues to drive public interest in films and their stars