The History The History of of FilmsFilms

1920s: Beginning of Film 1920s: Beginning of Film IndustryIndustry

By the mid-20s, movies were a big By the mid-20s, movies were a big business. By the end of the decade, business. By the end of the decade, there were 20 Hollywood studios, and there were 20 Hollywood studios, and the demand for films was greater the demand for films was greater than ever. than ever.

Most people are unaware that the Most people are unaware that the greatest output of feature films in greatest output of feature films in the US occurred in the 1920s and the US occurred in the 1920s and 1930s (averaging about 800 film 1930s (averaging about 800 film releases in a year) - nowadays, it releases in a year) - nowadays, it is remarkable when production is remarkable when production exceeds 500 films in a year. exceeds 500 films in a year.

Throughout most of the early Throughout most of the early decades, silent films were the decades, silent films were the predominant product of the film predominant product of the film industry.industry.

A silent film is a film with no A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, synchronized recorded sound, especially spoken dialogue.especially spoken dialogue.

In silent films the dialogue is In silent films the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime, and title cards.pantomime, and title cards.

The Silent EraThe Silent Era

One of the most famous examples from the One of the most famous examples from the silent era is silent era is The Great Train RobberyThe Great Train Robbery, a , a 1903 American Western film by Edwin S. 1903 American Western film by Edwin S. Porter. Porter.

Twelve minutes long, it is considered a Twelve minutes long, it is considered a milestone in filmmaking because of its use milestone in filmmaking because of its use of a number of innovative shooting and of a number of innovative shooting and editing techniques. editing techniques.

The Great Train RobberyThe Great Train Robbery

Film Industry BoomFilm Industry Boom

After After The Jazz Singer The Jazz Singer in 1927, "talkies” in 1927, "talkies” (or non-silent films) became more and (or non-silent films) became more and more commonplace and within a decade more commonplace and within a decade silent films essentially disappeared.silent films essentially disappeared.

After the early decades and the silent After the early decades and the silent era, films began to be manufactured, era, films began to be manufactured, assembly-line style, in Hollywood's assembly-line style, in Hollywood's 'entertainment factories,’ 'entertainment factories,’

In these “factories” production was In these “factories” production was broken down and organized into its broken down and organized into its various components (writing, costuming, various components (writing, costuming, makeup, directing, etc.).makeup, directing, etc.).

Film Industry BoomFilm Industry Boom

Even the earliest films were Even the earliest films were organized into genres or types, with organized into genres or types, with instantly recognizable storylines, instantly recognizable storylines, settings, costumes, and characters. settings, costumes, and characters.

Films varied from melodramas and Films varied from melodramas and biblical epics by Cecil B. DeMille, biblical epics by Cecil B. DeMille, to westerns, horror films, to westerns, horror films, gangster/crime films, war films, the gangster/crime films, war films, the first feature documentary or non-first feature documentary or non-fictional narrative films, romances, fictional narrative films, romances, mysteries, and comedies (from the mysteries, and comedies (from the comic masters Chaplin, Keaton, and comic masters Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd).Lloyd).

During the early decades of filmmaking, the During the early decades of filmmaking, the studio system was born.studio system was born.

Studios employed long-term contracts for stars, Studios employed long-term contracts for stars, lavish production values, and rigid control of lavish production values, and rigid control of directors and stars by the studio's big bosses.directors and stars by the studio's big bosses.

After World War I, America was the leading After World War I, America was the leading producer of films in the world. Production fell producer of films in the world. Production fell into the hands of five major studios, sometimes into the hands of five major studios, sometimes referred to as The Big Five.referred to as The Big Five.

These five studios produced more than 90 percent These five studios produced more than 90 percent of the fiction films in America and distributed of the fiction films in America and distributed their films both nationally and internationally. their films both nationally and internationally.

Each studio separated its products from other Each studio separated its products from other studios with logos, specific stars and studios with logos, specific stars and directors.directors.

The Big FiveThe Big Five

Warner Bros – Bugs Bunny cartoons, Warner Bros – Bugs Bunny cartoons, The Jazz The Jazz SingerSinger, Rin Tin Tin, gangster films, Rin Tin Tin, gangster films

Paramount Pictures – stars Mae West, Bob Paramount Pictures – stars Mae West, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, director Cecil B. DeMilleHope, Bing Crosby, director Cecil B. DeMille

RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures – RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures – Astaire/Rogers musicals, Astaire/Rogers musicals, Citizen KaneCitizen Kane, , King King KongKong, once owned by eccentric millionaire , once owned by eccentric millionaire Howard HughesHoward Hughes

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) – famous MGM lion Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) – famous MGM lion roar, roar, The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz, , Gone With the WindGone With the Wind, , Tom & Jerry cartoons, stars Clark Gable and Tom & Jerry cartoons, stars Clark Gable and Spencer TracySpencer Tracy

2020thth Century Fox – stars Shirley Temple and Century Fox – stars Shirley Temple and Betty GrableBetty Grable

The Big FiveThe Big Five

The Big FiveThe Big Five

As anticipated, the arrival of sound As anticipated, the arrival of sound created many problems for film studios.created many problems for film studios.

Many Hollywood actors/actresses lacked Many Hollywood actors/actresses lacked good voices and stage experience.good voices and stage experience.

Acting suffered as studios attempted to Acting suffered as studios attempted to record live dialogue because stationary record live dialogue because stationary or hidden microphones prevented the or hidden microphones prevented the movement of actors. movement of actors.

New investments had to be made for New investments had to be made for expensive new equipment, technological expensive new equipment, technological innovations, and sound-proofed stages. innovations, and sound-proofed stages.

The Introduction of The Introduction of SoundSound

Another technological advance, in Another technological advance, in addition to sound, was the use of addition to sound, was the use of color. color.

In the earliest years of the In the earliest years of the industry, hand-tinting/painting had industry, hand-tinting/painting had been tried, but it was largely been tried, but it was largely impractical, time-consuming, and impractical, time-consuming, and unrealistic looking. unrealistic looking.

In 1915, the Technicolor Motion In 1915, the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation was founded to Picture Corporation was founded to develop a more advanced system to develop a more advanced system to colorize motion pictures. colorize motion pictures.

The Introduction of The Introduction of ColorColor

The non-profit organization, the The non-profit organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)Sciences (AMPAS) was founded in 1927 was founded in 1927 with Douglas Fairbanks as president, with Douglas Fairbanks as president, to recognize and reward excellence to recognize and reward excellence within the film industry. within the film industry.

In the first year of the Academy In the first year of the Academy Awards' presentations, separate Awards' presentations, separate awards (not known as Oscar quite awards (not known as Oscar quite yet) were given for Best Production yet) were given for Best Production (now termed Best Picture). (now termed Best Picture).

Beginning of the Academy Beginning of the Academy AwardsAwards

Hollywood’s Early Mega Hollywood’s Early Mega StarsStars

Clark Gable

Joan Crawford

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Hollywood’s Early Mega Hollywood’s Early Mega StarsStars

Charlie Chaplin

Katherine Hepburn

Bette Davis

The movie industry, like every other aspect of The movie industry, like every other aspect of life, responded to the national war effort by life, responded to the national war effort by making movies, producing many war-time making movies, producing many war-time favorites, and having stars (and film industry favorites, and having stars (and film industry employees) enlist or report for duty. employees) enlist or report for duty.

While the film industry was negatively While the film industry was negatively impacted at first by WWII, Hollywood film impacted at first by WWII, Hollywood film production rebounded and reached its production rebounded and reached its profitable peak during the years 1943 to 1946.profitable peak during the years 1943 to 1946.

Advances in film technology (sound recording, Advances in film technology (sound recording, lighting, special effects, cinematography and lighting, special effects, cinematography and use of color) meant that films were more use of color) meant that films were more watchable and 'modern'. watchable and 'modern'.

Hollywood During the War Hollywood During the War YearsYears