Welcome to FILM2900: Introduction to Film Studies

1. Welcome to FILM2900: Introduction to Film Studies Dr. Amanda Ann Klein

2. In this class you will do well if you: • attend every class (or miss 2 or less classes) & take notes while you are here • keep up with the reading assignments • keep up with film screenings & take good screening notes • participate in class discussions • study for exams

3. Incorrect email: hey is 3 point lite on the exam Sent from my Iphone

4. Correct email: Dear Dr. Klein, Could you please tell me if the term “3 point lighting” will be on our first exam? If so, where might I find a definition of this term? Thank you for your time, Student X

5. Marx • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Gwe5gKgjo • Mae West • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0eJp7V2Zs • James Cagney • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7VIPFLXDrQ • Fred & Ginger • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQkb9_9mfw • Judy Garland • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F24fu46qLkQ

9. Swedish toy catalogue, Leklust

12. The Studio System!

13. Classical Hollywood Cinema term for the the style of film made in the U.S. from approximately 1917-1960 The Studio System the industrial structure of Hollywood from approximately 1917-1948

14. The 5 Majors Warner Brothers RKO 20th Century Fox Paramount MGM The 3 Minors Columbia Universal United Artists *produce films *distribute films *do NOT own theaters *produce films *distribute films *exhibit films (theaters)

16. James Cagney at Warner Brothers

17. A pictures vs B pictures As • A pics had big budgets based on well known story properties • shooting schedules ranging from 3 weeks (quick) to 3 months • had most popular and highly paid stars Bs • had some recognizable stars, mostly character actors • shorter running times • production on B films was fast and cheap • budgets ranging from 50,000 to 125,000 and schedules of 15 to 25 days • average budget for Monogram film in 1930s is 20,000 and shooting schedule of 8 days • usually genre pictures or more topical themes

18. One consequence of the studio system monopoly: Blind bidding: purchasing blocks of films without watching them first Block Booking: when studios would sell films to film exhibitors (aka, theater owners) in packages on an all-or-nothing basis

19. The Paramount Decision • 1938: First filed • 1948: Supreme Court declares Paramount Studios (and, by extension, all of the major studios) a monopoly • studios were told to:stop buying theaters eliminate blind booking limit block booking to 5 films (as opposed to 20) • they also had to establish a regulatory body • this antitrust action led to the end of the studio system

20. Rise of the independent film

22. Irving Thalberg

23. Thalberg with MGM stars Norma Shearer (his wife), Greta Garbo, John Gilbert

24. Poster for Grand Hotel

25. MGM stars: Judy Garland and Joan Crawford

26. Marx Brothers at Paramount Studios

27. Mae West

28. Shirley Temple at 20th Century Fox

29. RKO’s Big Hits

30. RKO’s stars in the 1930s: Fred & Ginger

31. Edward G Robinson

32. Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart

33. Universal Films

34. Columbia Pictures

35. United Artists founders: Fairbanks, Pickford, Griffith and Chaplin

36. Monogram Pictures

37. East Side Kids and Bowery Boys at Monogram Pictures

38. Captain Marvel at Republic Pictures

39. Roy Rogers and John Wayne at Republic Pictures