The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Thomas Schatz
Preface by Steven Bach
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:528
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 140
Category/GenreThe arts - general issues
Electronic, holographic and video art
ISBN/Barcode 9780816670109
ClassificationsDewey:791.430979494 384.80979494
Audience
General
Professional & Vocational

Publishing Details

Publisher University of Minnesota Press
Imprint University of Minnesota Press
Publication Date 3 March 2010
Publication Country United States

Description

Thomas Schatz recalls Hollywood's Golden Age from the 1920s until the dawn of television in the late 1940s, when quality films were produced swiftly and cost efficiently thanks to the intricate design of the system. Schatz takes us through the rise and fall of individual careers and the making-and unmaking-of movies such as Frankenstein, Casablanca, and Hitchcock's Notorious. Through detailed analysis of major Hollywood moviemakers including Universal, Warner Bros., and MGM, he reminds us of a time when studios had distinct personalities and the relationship between contracts and creativity was not mutually exclusive.

Author Biography

Thomas Schatz is professor of communication at the University of Texas, Austin. He is the author of several books, including Hollywood Genres and Boom and Bust: American Cinema in the 1940s.