The Golden Age of Cinema Hollywood, 1929-1945

by Jewell, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781405163729
• ISBN10: 1405163720
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-09-04
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This comprehensive book illuminates the most fertile and exciting period in American film, a time when the studio system was at its peak and movies played a critical role in elevating the spirits of the public. Richard B. Jewell offers a highly readable yet deeply informed account of the economics, technology, censorship, style, genres, stars and history of Hollywood during its "classical" era. A major introductory textbook covering what is arguably the most fertile and exciting period in film, 1929-1945 Analyzes many of the seminal films from the period, from The Wizard of Oz to Grand Hotel to Gone with the Wind, considering the impact they had then and still have today Tackles the shaping forces of the period: the business practices of the industry, technological developments, censorship restraints, narrative strategies, evolution of genres, and the stars and the star system Explores the major social, political, economic, and cultural events that helped to shape contemporary commercial cinema, as well as other leisure activities that influenced Hollywood production, including radio, vaudeville, theatre and fiction Written in a jargon-free, lively style, and features a number of illustrations throughout the text

Author Biography

Richard B. Jewell is the Hugh M. Hefner Professor of American Film at the University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Table of Contents

Figures and Captions

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Introduction

Major Historical Events

Economic Situation

Societal Issues

Hollywood Responds to the Crises

Other Leisure Activities

Film Business

The Studios

Production

Distribution

Exhibition

Technology

The Sound Revolution

Color Film Production

Wide-Screen Experiments of 1929-1931

Special Effects

Censorship

Silent Era Background

The Production Code

"Pre-Code " Hollywood

The Production Code Administration

"Exploitation " Films and Foreign Imports

Politics and the PCA

The Outlaw

The Office of War Information Bureau of Motion Pictures

The PCA During the War

Narrative and Style

Narrative Strategies

Stylistic Techniques

Narrative in Stagecoach

Style in Stagecoach

A Note on "Studio " Style

A Note on Genre Style

A Note on Film Noir

A Note on Directorial Style

Genres

The Western

The Gangster Film

The Adventure Film

The Horror Film

The Detective Film

The War Film

Comedy

The Musical

The Woman 's Film 6.10. Other Genres

Stars and the Star System

The Star as Business Commodity

The Multiplicity of Stars

The Star as Actor

The Most Popular Stars

Conclusion

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.