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Hollywood’s Studio System: Golden Age and Decline

Hollywood’s Studio System: Golden Age and Decline. The Transition to Synchronized Sound. Early sound innovations: Edison’s phonograph Problem of synchronization Lee DeForest : “Sound on Film” (1923) 1927 breakthroughs: The Jazz Singer (w/ Al Jolson) “Big Five Agreement”

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Hollywood’s Studio System: Golden Age and Decline

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  1. Hollywood’s Studio System: Golden Age and Decline

  2. The Transition to Synchronized Sound • Early sound innovations: • Edison’s phonograph • Problem of synchronization • Lee DeForest: “Sound on Film” (1923) • 1927 breakthroughs: • The Jazz Singer (w/ Al Jolson) • “Big Five Agreement” • First “talkies” appear in 1928 • 1930s: U.S. Sound transition complete: • Increased industry profits • Sound creates new genres (i.e., the musical & the screwball comedy) • Silent stars—like Buster Keaton and Greta Garbo—forced to adapt

  3. Hollywood Studio System • The “Big Five” and “Little Three” • Vertical Integration = Big $$$ • Big five studios owned the means of: • Production: studios, equipment, sets . . . as well as major stars and directors • Distribution: Shipping and sales of films; Promotion (relationships with press) • Exhibition: i.e., Movie theater chains (“Little three” did not own theaters) • “Block booking” and double features (“A” and “B” movies) • MPAA and the Hays Code (see LaM, page 452) • 1930s: Restrictions on sex, violence, “immoral” conduct in movies • Good rewarded; Evil punished • Replaced with “MPAA ratings system” in 1968

  4. 1950s: Decline of the Hollywood Studio System • Reasons for the Decline: • Social: Suburbanization, TV, Other Leisure Opportunities (i.e., sports) • Economic: International Protectionism, Paramount Decision (1948), Independent Producers • Political: WWII, HUAC • Strategies to Slow the Decline: • New Technology: TechniColor, Widescreen, 3-D (1952), AromaRama • New Markets: Young People, “Exploitation” Markets, Art House

  5. Singin’ in the Rain (1952) • Think about narrative: • How do the musical numbers fit into the plot? • What are the major “events” in the story? • How are people characterized? • Where does the conflict come from? • What does this film (or its central characters) suggest that movies should do or be? • What does the film tell you about the Hollywood studio system and the transition to sound? • What does it tell you about U.S. culture in the 1950s?

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