The Hollywood Studio System

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 HOLLYWOOD STUDIO SYSTEM


  • The Hollywood studio system was at its most powerful around the 1920s and 30s during the Golden age. 
  • THE MAJOR BIG 5 STUDIOS: 
  1. MGM
  2. Paramount
  3. Warner Brothers
  4. RKO
  5. Fox
  • The studio system benefitted from any studios involved, greatly increasing profits. This was as a result of the studio system having control over the film production overall. In some cases, one studio would control all the theatres in one city. This ensured that their films would be distributed, no matter the quality. By 1945, studios owned either partially or outright 17% of the theatres in America. Moreover, they also had control over the movie-making process. They usually had the actors, producers, directors and writers under contract, owned the film processing and laboratories as well as created the prints. Further, the studios were infamous for 'owning' their stars, known as 'The Star System'.
  • The factory method was a success in film production because it ensured that films would be distributed and seen in theatres regardless of the quality of the film. Because of this, it enabled studios to manufacture movies on a low budget as it was guaranteed that they would be seen regardless. 
  • The decline of the Studio System began in the 1950s and 60s, with the decision of the antitrust case. This verdict outlawed the practice of block booking and obligated the studios to sell their theatre chains. 'The big five' suffered after the court decision because they didn't have the assurance that their movies will be seen anymore. Therefore, they had to cut back on productions and their list of stars, producers, directors and writers as well as producing fewer movies. Paramount's profit dropped from 20 million to 6 million dollars in one year. However, other people benefited from this. Independent filmmakers and small studios a chance to demonstrate their own films without the major studios interfering. Even then, 'The Little Three' had a chance to grow and become successful. 

    • Soon enough the film industry suffered a final blow in which changed Hollywood forever: The rise of Television. 








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