American Film Chapter 2 Summary

Thomas Schatz cites the 1950’s as the inevitable end of the Hollywood film studio system, with the signs appearing as early as the height of the second World War (472). However, the seeds of discontent and disintegration within the system were apparent as soon as the late 1930’s, exemplified in such films as Destry Rides Again (1939, George Marshall) and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939, Frank Capra). The production of these two films and the paths down which they led their star (James Stewart), directors (at least Frank Capra), and studios (Universal and Columbia, respectively) are evidence of the decline of the studio system. The

Outline the main changes the paramount decree effected on the structure of the American film industry and discuss the measures the ex-studios took to remain in control of the film market.

Events that have greatly impacted my family include the American film industry in the 20th century, World War II, and the Cultural Revolution in China. My first interview was about my great uncle, Ching Wah Lee, who was an Asian-American actor from the 1930s to the 1970s. America’s film industry boomed during the 1920s and 30s; sound, color revolutions, and film genres were further developed during the two decades and large companies dubbed “The Big Five” dominated the film industry. In the 40s, war films began to spring up. Films took on a more realistic rather than an escapist tone like in the 30s.

The Production Code Administration emerged in 1934. It was the organic outgrowth of a backlash to immorality in film perceived since the 1920’s (Gomery & Pafort-Overduin, 2011). As an entertainment medium, film was revolutionary: all of the sudden, vivid snippets of life could reach a mass audience. Not long after motion pictures enthralled the country, producers began to recognize the opportunity to attract larger audiences – and increase profits – by filming stories involving provocative subjects and thus stimulating the people’s sense of wonder (Gomery & Pafort-Overduin, 2011). A natural outgrowth of this trend was the increasingly transgressive nature of motion pictures. In an age characterized by both economic and social progress, a backlash against new ideas

Film History: An Introduction. Third ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.

This further demonstrates how the affluence of that period enabled people to support this industry and help its enormous growth. It was during the roaring 20s that the first real celebrities began to appear, with the ever-increasing role of cinema having a huge role to play. Similarly their fame contributed to the growing status of Hollywood and the American film industry. (Source J). Charlie Chaplin is one example of an actor that gained worldwide recognition in the twenties; he was particularly famous for his ‘highly visual style of acting’ (Soucre J). The 1920s was often referred to as “The Golden Age of Hollywood” (Source G) emphasizing how this period represents the era of greatest output in the United States movie market [an average of 800 films were produced annually]. ‘The cinema came of age in the 1920s and Hollywood confirmed its position as the “dream factory” of the English- speaking world. It was there that fame and fortune could be found.’ (Source J) This also highlights the growing image of Hollywood ‘throughout the roaring 20s, which started to represent wealth and achievement. ‘The establishment of the Academy Awards showed the maturing cinema as an industry confident of its own technical and artistic standards.’ (Source J) This further shows how there were many other expansions and transformations from this industry that occurred during this period. Artists, directors and other personalities of the film making industry received acknowledgement and recognition of their work in this industry. ‘The awards soon acquired international status’ (Source J) showing how Hollywood’s film industry developed into a global sensation that was supported by people all over

Beginning in the late 1960’s, a new film movement known as New Hollywood began, rapidly replacing the Classical method of filmmaking. This era was unique because many popular films of the time were produced outside of the studio system, shot on-location, and with non-professional actors and actresses. These “art films” were brash, irreverent, and full of anger. While directors during this time used drastically different methods to achieve their final product, the meaning they attempted to convey through their art was often quite similar in its presentation and encompassment of society. According to David Bordwell, “stylistic devices and thematic motifs may differ from director to director, [but] the overall functions

Modern film was brought to the Americas when the Kinetoscope, the basic film viewer, was first invented by Thomas Edison in 1889. This, along with his Kinetograph allowed short films to be displayed in Kinetoscope parlors; these would later evolve into the movie theaters of today. Many people loved the concept of movies because they allowed one to see different events from the comfort of a theater. Films however do more than just entertain they can also impact society in a beneficial or harmful way. This essay will explore the history of film, its changes throughout time, and its impact on American culture.

Two American cities Tulsa and Miami competed in the All-American City (AAC) Contest set by the famous director Steven Spielberg for the purpose of shooting his movie “The All-American Movie Experience” in one of these cities. Through this competition, each city committee tried to present that their city reflects the American culture more than other. Throughout my essay I will argue that Tulsa should be chosen to be the All-American city rather than Miami. This will be demonstrated by contrasting the differences between the two cities in the following aspects population diversity, special events, and history.

American Experience, a PBS program that shares stories with us from our history, displays the very events and tools that shaped our nation. Their film: Scottsboro Trials, was a moving and informative movie about racism in America and the impact it has left on us. To this day, this movie still has an important message to teach and show. Racism is still a problem and more than likely always will be, this is a sad part of life that we must do our best to deal with. American Experience puts racism up in our faces and reminds us of what we have done. This film opens up our eyes to our past and in doing so, makes us better people.

The introduction of the film industry was a crucial factor in the metamorphosing American Dream. At the time

The motion picture industry has endowed us an ample amount of many years of history and excitement throughout America. Without films in today’s social and cultural society, how could we be perceptive to historical events, current situations, or future expectations? Sony Pictures have come a long way to be where they are now. To begin, Sony Pictures was founded in 1918 by two brothers by the name of Harry and Jack Cohn. Harry Cohn was born on the day of July 23, 1891 in New York City. He was given the most credit of the company throughout his producing years. Jacob “Jack” Cohn was the oldest of 4 children that came from an impoverished family in Germany. He was born on October 27, 1889 in New York City. Even though Harry Cohn was noticed more for the fame of the now Sony Pictures, he could not have done it without the help of his older brother, Jack. There was a love hate relationship between the two. Jack and Harry didn’t get along and had constant feuds with each other. One serious brawl that happened between the two was that Jack tried to preempt Harry by taking over the company due to the fact that he felt as if he was the one who led the company to fame. Jack’s plan didn’t work due to his death in 1955 at the age of 67. A few years after, Harry died of a heart attack in 1958. He was 66 years old. To begin their company, Jack and Harry formed a bonding business partnership with Joe Brandt, a former lawyer who decided to

The Lumiere brothers debuted their first motion picture on their brand new invention, the Cinematographe, in 1895. Since then, the movie industry has soared on to become one of the most influential mediums of the 20th and 21st century. 100 years later, Sarah Moon’s documentary Lumiere and Company (1995) reflected on the impact of the Lumiere brothers’ first films using testimonies and cinematic tributes from multiple international directors. Focusing on two Lumiere films; Workers Leaving the Factory (1895), and Demolition of a Wall (1896), as well as two cinematic tributes from two different directors; David Lynch, and Merzak Allouache, the everlasting impact of the Lumiere films can be recognized in both a current context and the context of

Often regarded as the birthplace of movie studios, the earliest (and seemingly most affluent) film companies to have graced Hollywood included ‘Warner Brothers’, ‘MGM’, and ‘Paramount Pictures’. First cultivated by studios such as these were silent black and white films, with each major production company developing and establishing their own dynamic film genre; for example MGM was one of the first to produce musicals and romances. By the end of the silent era, many of the main genres were established: the melodrama, the western, the horror film, comedies, and action-adventure

Cinema is an innovative form of art that America focused on to help propel themselves pass European powers. In the nineteen-twenties through the nineteen-sixties America controlled the Cinema world, surpassing European industries that were struggling economically and in other ways post-war. “Mass Culture and Sovereignty: The American Challenge to European Cinemas, 1920-1960*”, by Victoria de Grazia, displays European and American history of cinema, and specifically the reason behind Americas rise to the top.