TAKE HOME FINAL 

Suzy Tramontelli

6/21/12

American Cinema

Thomas Hammond

1.   The classic Hollywood Studio System started in the 19 teens and spanned about 50 years.  Name three of the Major Studios and give a brief background on what type of films they were each known for. 

      One of the Major Studios during the Hollywood Studio System was Warner Brothers, which was known as “the working man’s studio.” Warner Brothers was best known for making gangster films such as The Public Enemy (1931) and Little Caesar (1930). Warner Brothers films can be characterized by films for a lower-middle-class audience that showed the seedy underbelly that was not portrayed by studios such as M-G-M. M-G-M was another major studio during the Hollywood Studio System, but their style of films were more refined and high brow. M-G-M had glamorous stars on contract such as Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. Universal Pictures was another major studio during the Hollywood Studio system, best known for horror films, including The Mummy (1932) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

2.     What were the advantages of the Studio System?  Were there any disadvantages?

     Some of the advantages to the Studio System revolve around the contract actors for the Studio. The Studio’s were able to have actors, actresses, and film artists on contract, therefore, allowing these peoples talents to grow and peak within the Studio.  This proved favorable when Studios like RKO wanted to “crank out” B films and could do so because they had great talent on contract. Also, there have been accounts of the Studio trying to make its contract actors more cultured by having language lessons, dance lessons, and introducing them to art. One could say that one of the disadvantages of the Studio System was the treatment of the stars.  For example, the stars started to become revered and seen as pinnacles of society.  The Studio’s in turn would engage in somewhat unmoral acts to cover up unfavorable actions by its actors, making it seem as if they could get away with anything.  Also, having a major Studio System, can limit the creativity of those involved in the film, as there is a long chain of executives that have to approve of the film’s distribution.

3.     Name and discuss three of the reasons for the decline and eventual end of the original Studio System.

     One of the major reasons for the decline of the Studio System was the suit brought the U.S. Department of Justice and Antitrust Division against 8 major Studios for monopolistic practices. The suit was at first seen as a warning to stop monopolistic practices, but after they continued to occur, Studios were forced to separate themselves from “vertical integration”.  Another reason for the demise of the Studio System was the change in people’s consumption of leisure.  More and more people were trying to find work or out of work, so the attendance dropped off sharply.  Also, another reason for the eventual end of the Studio System was the rise in independent production.  The independent films had more leeway in what they could put on the screen, as they were not responding to as many “corporate types”.

4.     Explain the rise of the Star System and why you think it continues to be an important part of the American Film Industry.

     The rise of the Star System can be directly linked with the rise of the Studio System.  As we need to remember, the film industry is an economic enterprise that has to meet a bottom line.  The Studio’s would invest tons of money into their star actors and actresses along with the investment in the film.  The Star System essentially guarantees viewership, meaning a film with a star actor generally can guarantee on people coming to see the film just because the star is in it. The Studio System, also helped develop the first fan magazine Moving Picture Story Magazine in 1911. The introduction of mass publications like this, allowed people at home to get “insight” into the star’s personal life, which I think just perpetuates the Star System. If we have access to information about the actor or actress not from the silver screen, it makes us become more invested in that person, no matter how “fake” the information is.  I think that the mass publications centered around celebrity gossip helps to perpetuate the Star System today.  For example, right now I’m sure I can go online and found out who the latest pregnant star is, even though that has no effect on the quality of the film they are in.

5.     The French critic Andre Bazin developed the AuteurTheory in the 1950s.  What is it and which filmmakers (name 3) might fit its definition from the first five decades of American Film?

     The Auteur Theory developed by French film critic Andre Bazin can be defined as the emergence of the director’s personal creative vision coming across on the screen.  Also, auteur, a French word, means author, so the theory states that it seems as if the director of the film is the writer. Probably the most notorious filmmaker that fits this theory is Alfred Hitchcock, who made films with suspense and psychological horror. All of Hitchcock’s films fit into this mold and it was clear for the viewer that it was a Hitchcock film.  Two other notable auteur filmmakers are Orson Welles and Howard Hawks, who both left their mark on all of the films they created. I am definitely a fan of directors leaving their marks on films, like a more recent filmmaker, M. Night Shyamalan.

6.     A large part of the decision to make a film is based on its genre.  Every genre has its own conventions and characteristics.  What are some of these in relation to the Horror Film?

     Specific genres tend to draw viewers that already have an interest in that genre. For example, I would probably go see any Comedy film in theatres right now, regardless of the content (I am seeing Madagascar 3 this weekend…). As John Belton wrote in American Cinema, “each new film in the genre banks on a number of familiar genre element, motifs and themes but combines them in a novel way.” Horror Film’s are characterized by films that try to incite true emotions of terror, horror and fear in their viewers. Horror Films tend to have a central villain character and the themes can range from supernatural (Bride of Frankenstein, 1935), death and mental illness. Horror Films use different mechanisms to incite fear in their viewers by use of weapons, scary looking characters, camera angles and special effects.  In contrast to the Horror Genre, the Western Genre typically uses characters such as cowboys, Indians, gamblers and town marshals, where Horror uses monsters and unsuspecting victims, among many others. Also, Westerns are typically set in landscapes that portray the lifestyle depicted in the film, meaning there are shots done in the West to show the Rocky Mountains and sprawling deserts.

7.     What were some of the consequences in the conversion from the Silent to the Sound Film?

     The conversion of Silent to the Sound Film was one that was met with many hurdles that needed to be overcome not only by the Studio, but the actors as well.  Silent films were fluid and glamorous because the actors did not have to worry about where the microphone was, but only if they were in the right spot for the shot.  Also, many of the Silent film stars could not make the conversion, as their voices did not match their glamorous looks.  One famous example is Lina Lamont, who according to John Belton in American Cinema has “shill, lower-class voice lacks refinement and fails to match the glamour and sophistication of her appearance.” She was able to preserve her stardom in Sound Film by having Debbie Reynolds dub all of Lina’s lines in Singin’ in the Rain (1952). It took the Studios awhile to integrate sound into the films in a way that did not detract from the film by making it almost comical at how unrealistic the scenes looked.  Another consequence from the conversion was the loss of international markets because now there were no title cards, which could be translated.  Now it is much easier to resolve this issue with dubbing or subtitles, but in the beginning, it was a major blow to the international viewership.