How Did The Great Depression Influence On Hollywood

1930’s Research paper                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The fame of the Great Depression was its outlaws. They remain the subject of movies to this day. At a time when people were struggling for basic needs, the mobsters and gangsters were taking what they could get. For most of the 1930s, Mobsters and outlaws were  in the headlines of newspapers and talk of the town.

In Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a naïve Jefferson Smith sets off for Washington D.C. as a United States Senator, where he learns that politics is not as transparent as it may seem. Released in 1939, one of the most successful years for film, Mr. Smith became a smash hit, easily becoming the second largest blockbuster of that year. However, 1939 was also the year World War II had started, and coupled with the war’s association with the Great Depression, the hit film was bound to cause conflict and controversy among the viewing public, which included global audiences. With post-Depression America seeking realism and optimism and the events that would eventually lead to World War II, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington culminates

The success of the economy introduced “mass culture”. Thing’s like “ready to wear” clothes and radio’s were becoming more and more common. Within 3 years of the first commercial radio station airing, there were 500 stations and radios in more than 12 million homes. The automobile industry entered the mainstream in 1924 when Ford came out with the Model T for just $260, and they were very generous with credit, so that more families could afford them. By 1929, there was one car on the road for every 5 Americans. However In 1929, the stock market crashed and lost billions of dollars, which started The Great Depression. It is the longest lasting economic downfall in history. By 1933, nearly 167 banks closed and 30% of the workforce was unemployed. President Franklin D, Roosevelt lessened the effects of the great depression greatly however it wasn’t until 1939 that the economy started to turn back

THE GREAT DEPRESSION EFFECTS The Great Depression era began in 1929 and ended ten years later in 1939. On “Black Thursday” the stock market suffered, the stocks became worthless and buyers no longer would buy any stocks. Not only did the stock market not succeed, agriculture also did not prosper during the time of  the Great Depression. The business of agriculture had not been successful a few years before 1929, however it continued decrease in the years to follow of the Great Depression.

The article says that after 1929 Hollywood cinema experienced a breakdown due to the Cold War and the Depression and between 1915 and 1960 over 15 000 feature films were made in America

The classic film Gold Diggers Of 1933 is based in the era of the Great Depression, the aftermath of World War I which lasted from 1929 to 1939 thus the result to World War II. The Great Depression occurred during the time when films were evolving and becoming hits, but made it hard for film producers and companies since money was tight, unless you were rich and born into wealth like Brad Roberts in the film, who could easily just loan the money to the film makers. The time period and film go hand in hand as it relates to the time where life was tough in America and money wasn’t a easy thing to have access at all times. Clearly the film Gold Diggers Of 1933 indicates the time period of American life and The Great Depression

The 1930s was a decade in the history of the United States marked by a great deal of suffering of the general public. A failing economy, an anthropogenically-induced disaster in the Midwest and persecution of colored people resulted in a total meltdown of American society. Meanwhile, ordinary people sought escape from this cycle of depression through entertainment such as radio, film and music.

Without people’s desire of ending the Great Depression, America would not be able to be called as “world’s biggest film

During the 1930s, stock market harshly affected the people. It also affected agricultural production in the United States and other countries. The Great Depression has left an everlasting impression on the U.S. and the world because of the hardships it caused the people.

During the Great Depression, the theater industry was also heavily affected during these times. The Federal Theatre Project (FTP) had a goal of making theaters more accessible during these times. However, after all its controversial projects, the government had to step in and shut down the FTP after just a few years it was founded. The FTP is now a failed project left in history. When we think of the Great Depression, we usually think of banks and businesses.

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

Hollywood has influenced American history since it began. It boosted and shaped the morale of a nation for almost a century. But Hollywood has not only been the influencing American society, it has been influenced by American society. In the 1920s, American society was booming; people were getting rich, spending and borrowing money, and they thought life was looking good. Then in October of 1929 the stock market crashed. Many people lost all they owned. People had invested all their money into the banks before the Crash. After the Crash, the banks had nothing. People were destitute. They had no money to pay for their houses, electrical bills, and food. It became the Great Depression. Likewise, Hollywood was impacted by the Great

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in industrial America. There were many powerful impacts on American life from this time period. Homes and businesses all over the country were demolished, and the hopes and dreams of urbanites and farmers alike were ravaged in a symmetrical fashion. The 1930s were a major turning point in American history due to the devastation of the Great Depression and the dust bowl. The most significant impacts of the Great Depression were unemployment, the transformation of family structure, and the influence of the art community.

The Popularity of Gangster Films in the Early Nineteen-Thirties The late 1920s in America was a particularly tumultuous period of time for the country. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 had led to high levels of unemployment and dissatisfaction within the country. The Depression (1929-1934), which was a direct result of The Wall Street Crash, led to a breakdown of industry and commerce within the country and weakened its global position as a superpower. People began to realise that the ideal which had been frequently promoted by governmental propaganda of The American Dream which suggested that "success, in the democratic and classless society guaranteed by the

In chapter two of The Cultures of American Film, the main focus is the establishment of studios. As demand for films rose in the early 1900’s, production companies needed to expand; this lead to the creation of large scale studios.