Welcome to FILM2900: Introduction to Film Studies Dr. Amanda Ann Klein
In this class you will do well if you: attend every class (or miss 2 or less classes) & take notes while you are here keep up with the reading assignments keep up with film screenings & take good screening notes participate in class discussions study for exams
Incorrect hey is 3 point lite on the exam Sent from my Iphone
Correct Dear Dr. Klein, Could you please tell me if the term “3 point lighting” will be on our first exam? If so, where might I find a definition of this term? Thank you for your time, Student X
Marx Mae West James Cagney Fred & Ginger Judy Garland
Swedish toy catalogue, Leklust
The Studio System!
Classical Hollywood Cinema term for the the style of film made in the U.S. from approximately The Studio System the industrial structure of Hollywood from approximately
The 5 Majors Warner Brothers RKO 20 th Century Fox Paramount MGM The 3 Minors Columbia Universal United Artists *produce films *distribute films *exhibit films (theaters) *produce films *distribute films *do NOT own theaters
James Cagney at Warner Brothers
A pictures vs B pictures As A pics had big budgets based on well known story properties shooting schedules ranging from 3 weeks (quick) to 3 months had most popular and highly paid stars Bs had some recognizable stars, mostly character actors shorter running times production on B films was fast and cheap budgets ranging from 50,000 to 125,000 and schedules of 15 to 25 days average budget for Monogram film in 1930s is 20,000 and shooting schedule of 8 days usually genre pictures or more topical themes
Blind bidding: purchasing blocks of films without watching them first Block Booking: when studios would sell films to film exhibitors (aka, theater owners) in packages on an all-or-nothing basis One consequence of the studio system monopoly:
The Paramount Decision 1938: First filed 1948: Supreme Court declares Paramount Studios (and, by extension, all of the major studios) a monopoly studios were told to: stop buying theaters eliminate blind booking limit block booking to 5 films (as opposed to 20) they also had to establish a regulatory body this antitrust action led to the end of the studio system
Rise of the independent film
Irving Thalberg
Thalberg with MGM stars Norma Shearer (his wife), Greta Garbo, John Gilbert
Poster for Grand Hotel
MGM stars: Judy Garland and Joan Crawford
Marx Brothers at Paramount Studios
Mae West
Shirley Temple at 20th Century Fox
RKO’s Big Hits
RKO’s stars in the 1930s: Fred & Ginger
Edward G Robinson
Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart
Universal Films
Columbia Pictures
United Artists founders: Fairbanks, Pickford, Griffith and Chaplin
Monogram Pictures
East Side Kids and Bowery Boys at Monogram Pictures
Captain Marvel at Republic Pictures
Roy Rogers and John Wayne at Republic Pictures