The Decline of the Hollywood Studio System - Essay Example

Introduction Before one can begin explaining the possible causes of the Hollywood industry during the late forties and sixties, perhaps an understanding of the social and economic system in the US needs to be understood in order to place the question in context. 1The late forties were landmark years for the United States. In a year like 1948, inflation rates were quite low. Unemployment rates were also quite low because most of the booming manufacturing sectors such as oil, steel and automobile industries. Consequently, there was enough for every one. At that time, there were also other advances in the fields of science. This was because there was discovery of the telescope, a cure for arthritis and even new advancements in astronomy. 2 With all these factors going so well for America; Hollywood home, one would presume that there would be greater opportunities for the studio system. However, this did not happen. 3 The main reasons were that there was a shift from cinema to television4, there was also politics involved and also other managerial and technological reasons came into play. 5 Details of these factors shall be examined below. Reasons for the decline: Televisions purchases In the wake of the country's economic boom, many people could now afford to purchase their own television sets. 6This meant that there was no need for any of them to go to the movies. By the year 1946, cinema attendance had diminished by a whooping 20 million consumers. 7 The studio that felt the highest pinch was the leader at that time; MGM. Before the decline in the Hollywood studio system, most studios were producing about eighteen billion dollars in revenue. However, after the popularisation of television, most studios were now making a mere four billion dollars. 8 De-linking of theatres and studios There were also other political reasons that affected the Hollywood Studio system in the late forties. Prior to the decline, most studio owners or movie producers had exclusive rights to movie theatres. The five major studios in Hollywood (Fox, Warner's, Paramount, RKO and Lowe's) 9 had the ability to control distribution of their movies through these vested interests in movie theatres. However, The US Justice Department felt that that monopoly was going against the rules of free market and fair competition. 10Therefore, the Attorney General serving at that time gave a notice to the five major studios to appear in court. They were charged with conspiracy in the theatre industry. They were not supposed to control distribution as stated by the government and they were expected to let go of their vested interests in theatres During their appearances in court, top studio executives agreed to surrender their vested interests in the distribution sector and just after a short while all the big five studios gave up their rights to the movie theatres. 11Most of theses theatres were then sold to other vested interests. Consequently, studio producers had very little revenue to give their actors. Before selling away their theatres, most studios would contract actors for a period of seven years. But after the decline of theatres and studios, it was difficult to make such contracts anymore. Most studios started getting into deficits and they started closing down. 12These results came into play during the sixties. Eventually, the legacy of the Hollywood Studio system came to an end during those fateful years. Rise of independent movie producers During the 1960s more and more movie producers would choose locations that were outside Hollywood. They would prefer other countries such as England, Rome and Pinewood. Consequently, most of the equipments needed in studios were exported to the outdoors. This seriously affected the studio system as movie producers no longer considered the studio system as the norm. 13 The situation was made worse by increased competition from some independent movie producers. These movie producers were affiliated to their own movie producing companies and made the Hollywood studio system seem traditional. The movie producers wet not the only ones who had high levels of independence, the sixties saw the rise in high numbers of actors at that time. Some of them had a lot of control in their reproductions and took the power from studios consequently leading to their decline. 14 External factors Hollywood was no longer seen as the only movie haven in the 60s, American audiences were now becoming conscious of foreign-produced movies. They acquired preferences for French made movies by directors such as Francois Truffaut. 15 These movie producers brought in anew wave of French Cinemas. The reason why Americas were inclined towards the latter's methods of production was because they produced movies that stayed away from the traditional narrative structure that most Hollywood movies had become synonymous with. Italian movies also interested many audiences. For example, there was the 'La dolce vita'; it stunned audiences through its dramatic style. 16 Other countries were also posing serious competition to Hollywood. A country like Britain also started producing its own movies. British movies were mostly the realistic kind and they also depicted lots of creativity. In the mid sixties, movies like 'James Bond' and 'Repulsion' brought something new to the table. As if Britain's competition was not enough, other continents were also challenging Hollywood's dominance in their film industries. For example, a region like Latin America now started its own version of Cinema called Third Cinema. Their purpose was to replace the typical and well known versions of movies from Hollywood and Europe. This saw the emergence of film makers such as Fernando Delano. 17 Even in the African continent, certain movie maker's started emerging. The overall effect of all these foreign movie producers was to increase competition for Hollywood made movies. The new producers were still tapping into the same markets that Hollywood was targeting. But the difference between the two types of movies was the fact that the new ones brought fresh talent and styles to the cinema industry. 18Consequently, the won many people over and Hollywood felt the pinch. Hollywood was influenced to use creative ways to deal with their audiences hence shunning away from the traditional studio systems. This eventually led to their decline. Changes in lifestyle The studio system also declined because of changes in lifestyle preferences. What happened was that there was the introduction of a five day long working weeks. 19 This implied that most citizens had plenty of time in the weekend to get away. Americans were moving away from the passive cinema industry and preferred certain outdoor captivities Examples of these included; Fishing Boat riding Hiking Bowling Gardening 20 Because the movie industry was created as leisure activity, any other leisure captivity introduced would diversely affect its revenue. This is exactly what happened and it led to lower numbers in movie theatres. Consequently, studios could not make enough money to support themselves and their production costs. Most studios ended up merging with local televisions stations and the rest of them became independent movie producers21; this was the decline of the studio era. Conclusion There were five major factors that led to the decline of the Hollywood studio system in the 40s and sixties. First of all, studios no longer had monopoly over movie theatres after an antitrust law made by the government. 22Secondly, there was shift in leisure preferences from movie-going to other outdoor captivities. In addition, there was the rise of independent movie producers and more powerful actors. 23 This was made worse by increased competition from the television industry. Lastly, Americans became aware of other foreign made films. All these factors made studios run out of business and hence their decline. 24 Reference: Gomery, D. (2006): The Hollywood Studio System: A History. London: British Film Trotsky, L. (1973): Problems of Everyday Life; Pathfinder Publishers, p32 Barna, E (1973): The Growth of a Cinematic Genius; Little Brown Publishers Halliwell, L. (1986): Halliwell's Film Guide, Fifth Edition, p183; Scribners Publishers Hollows, J. (2001): Approaches to Popular Film; Blackwell Publishers Mast, G. and Kawin, B, (1992): A Short History of the Movies; Macmillan Publishers Sklar, M. (1998):A Cultural History of American Movies; Vintage Publishers Shatz, T. (1988): The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era, Pantheon Publishers Navasky, M. (1991): Naming Names; Penguin Publishers Schwartz, M. (1988): Hollywood Writers' Wars; Knopf Publishers Neve, T. (1992): Film and Politics in America: A Social Tradition; Routledge Publishers Pye M. and Myles L. (1979): The Movie Brats: How the Film Generation Took Over Hollywood; Holt Rinehart Winston Publishers Bach, S. 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