FH Ch. 10 Flashcards
1
Q
The National Recovery Administration
A
an agency created in 1933 that cast a lenient eye on trusts and oligopolies, which allowed the Hollywood Studio System to continue to flourish
2
Q
Majors
A
Paramount Loew's (MGM) Fox (became 20th Century Fox) Warner Bros. RKO
3
Q
Minors
A
Universal
Columbia
United Artists
4
Q
The Production Code
A
1929
5
Q
RKO was created in order to…
A
exploit RCA’s sound system, Photophone
6
Q
First National
A
prod. + distrib. company sold by Fox to Warner Bros (Fox was struggling financially)= dye to the Depression). helped Warner Bros grow from a small company to one of the Majors
7
Q
Poverty Row
A
the collection of independent firms outside of the Majors + Minors that only produced inexpensive B films
8
Q
Paramount
A
- began as distribution firm
- bankrupt in 1933 because they owned many theaters (profits decreased and they owed on mortgages)
- underwent court-ordered reorganization until 1935
- in early 1930s, known for European-style productions and radio and vaudeville comedians –> turned towards more mainstream productions in 2nd half of decade
9
Q
Loew’s/MGM
A
- consistently did well from 1930–1945 (the most profitable American firm)
- smaller theater chain meant fewer debts
- films looked more glamorous than other studios (averaged high budgets)
- had many stars under contract (biggest star: unglamorous middle-aged Marie Dressler)
10
Q
20th Century Fox
A
- entered Depression in worse shape than other Majors since they were expanding post sound
- Sidney Kent took over as head of distrib. and turned the firm around –> Fox merged with Twentieth Century
- relatively few long-term stars
- biggest star: Shirley Temple
11
Q
Warner Bros
A
- also expanding when Depression hit –> coped with debts by selling off holdings and cutting costs
- large number of low-budget projects
- smaller sets, each actor appeared in more films
- created popular genres and mined them (Busby Berkeley musical, gangster film, combat films, etc.)
- demonstrated ability to succeed with limited resources
12
Q
RKO
A
- shortest-lived Major
- went bankrupt –> profited during wartime prosperity –> had issues again after the war
- lacked big stars (but had Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
- depended on distribution of Disney animated films
- early 1940s: Orson Welles produced Citizen Kane, Val Lewton produced many creative B films
13
Q
Universal
A
- largest of Little Three and extensive distribution
- consistent money problems from 1930–1945
- few major stars –> promoted new stars in visually striking horror films
- B series were important (slapstick duo Abbott and Costello)
14
Q
Columbia
A
- remained profitable throughout the Depression
- produced popular films with low-budgets by borrowing directors and stars from bigger studios
- most important director was Frank Capra (It Happened One Night)
15
Q
United Artists
A
- sound era = beginning of decline for UA
- Griffith, Pickford, and Fairbanks retired and Chaplin was barely releasing films anymore
- only company whose profits fell during wartime boom
