Studio System Copia

8/3/2019 Studio System Copia

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Singing In The

RainStudio & StarSystemHollywood:1930s to

1950s


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s or ca

ContextFirst steps in bursting of sound cinema United States, mid to late 20sFirst feature film presented as a talkingmovie was The Jazz Singer (1927)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaj7FNHnjQ&feature=related

Evolution of musical genre linked to each

decades tendencies and fashion

Common factor combination of

dramatic performances + songs

Theatre vs movies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaj7FNHnjQ&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaj7FNHnjQ&feature=related


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Singin in the Rain MGM studios creative

pinnacle, the 50s (magic of colours on screen,

sound and successful performers)

Blooming of bigger studios taking over the

Hollywood film industry

Film production and exhibition not affected by

post-war

Television competition and alternative


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The StudioSystem


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The Big FivePARAMOUNTPICTURESFounded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor

First to introduce Block Booking

Directors:

J. Von Stenberg: The Dock of NY

1928

E. Lubitsch: Trouble in Paradise

1932C. B Demille: This Day and Age 1933

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich

Cary Grant

The Marx BrothersBob Hope


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METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYERDirectors:

King Vidor: La Bohem 1926

Erich Von Stroheim: The Merry Widow 1925

Tod Browning: Freaks 1932

Victor Seastrom: The Wind 1928

Stars:

Robert Montgomery

Greta GarboJohn Gilbert

Clark Gable

Founded in 1924 when Marcus

Loew merged Loews Inc., with

Metro Pictures Corp, Goldwyn

Pictures Corp. and Louis B.

Mayer Pictures

The studio with

most importance

during the30s


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RKO PICTURESFounded in 1929 after a merge

between Keith-Albee-Orpheum

theaters (KAO) and the JosephP. Kennedys Film Booking

Offices of America (FBO)under

the management of Radio

Corporation of America (RCO).

Only produced talkiestakingadvantage of the inherited audio

technology. (R.C.A photophone)

Directors:

Orson Welles: The Magnificent Ambersons 1942

Jacques Tourneur: I walked with a zombie 1943

Merian C. Cooper: She 1935

Irving Pichel: The Most Dangerous Game 1932

Although producing numerous musicals starring Fred Astaire and

Ginger Rogers in the30s and two of the most famous films in moving

image history: King Kong (1933) and Citizen Kane (1941), RKO

Pictures was dissolved in 1957 after being bought by the General Tireand Rubber company.


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WARNERBROTHERSFounded in 1923 by the, ironically

uncreative, Warner brothers (Harry,Albert, Sam & Jack)

First studio to release a feature

lengthtalkie: The Jazz Singer

1927

Directors:

Michael Curtiz: Casablanca 1942

William Wellman: The Public Enemy

1931

Raoul Walsh: The Roaring Twenties

1939

Mervyn LeRoy: Little Caesar 1930

Stars:

Humphrey Bogart

James Cagney

Barbara Stanwyck


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20TH CENTURYFOXFounded in 1935 due to the merger

of a distribution and a productioncompany.

Famous for the production of

musicals and biographical movies.

Directors:

John Ford: Young Mr. Lincoln

1939

David Butler: The littlest Rebel

1935

Anatole Litvak: The snake Pit

1948

Stars:

Shirley Temple

Janet Gaynor

Henry FondaBetty Grable


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Star System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AdBVCqMXTE 2:12

During the studio era talent worked under long exclusive

contracts.

The performers were issued new clean identities on which to build

their careers were moral values were of great importance.

Movies were specifically designed for each star in which certain

genres predominated.

Stars were there for the audience to relate to. (reaction shots)

DECLINE -> Olivia de Havilland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AdBVCqMXTEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AdBVCqMXTE


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Singin in the Rain (1952)Awards:Best Secondary

Actress, Jean Hagen

(Nomination)

Best Original

Soundtrack

(Nomination)

Director:Stanley Donen

with Gene Kelly.

Cast:Gene KellyDonald OConnor

Debbie Reynolds

Jean Hagen


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Gene KellyGene Kelly Studio of Dancing (1932)

Broadway

Pal Joey (1940)

From For me and

my gal to Les

Girls

Hollywood: Working for MGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN38JLzkug8


14/14Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The bad and the

beautiful (1952)

The day of the Locust

(1975)

The last Tycoon (1976)

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