Film History

Front 1

Paramount Case, 1938

Back 1

End of the old studio system. Changed the way studios were able to produce, distribute, and exhibit films. Justice Department sues Big 8 Studios claiming studios were a de-facto monopoly. In 1940, it was ruled that studios couldn't "block-book" or "blind buy" films. Studio fought back in 48 but lost. Forfeited shares in theater chains. Studios now had to be more selective and thus made fewer films. Independent films begin to make footing.

Front 2

Social Consciousness Films or Problem Pictures

Back 2

40s and 50s. Dealt with social issues like racial inequality, alcoholism, mental illness, etc. Close relation to this was the Melodrama (semi-documentary). Based on true story and had original participants.

Front 3

Arrival of Television

Back 3

1930, Farnsworth secures patent on TV. 1939 television is introduced at New York World's Fair. Studios refused to lease films to TV till '56 and would not let their signed actors appear on it.

Front 4

House Un-American Activities Committee (Huac) and the Hollywood Blacklist, 1947

Back 4

Created with the goal of finding commies in the film industry

Front 5

Hollywood 10

Back 5

Those who refused to testify. 43 sought out, 11 called, 10 denied.

Front 6

Waldorf Statement, 1947

Back 6

MPAA President Eric Johnston arranges a meeting at Waldorf Hotel where him and 48 studio execs agreed to never hire the Hollywood 10

Front 7

Hollywood Left and Film Noir

Back 7

The blacklisted group. mainly used film noir because of its focus on secrecy and betrayal

Front 8

The Mutual Case, 1915

Back 8

Film isn't under 1st amendment. Film not art, free to censor.

Front 9

Miracle Case, 1952

Back 9

Named after short film, "The Miracle". Overturned the Mutual Case.

Front 10

Production Code, 1930

Back 10

William Hays creates the production code. List of things films couldn't show. First time studios tried to self-censor.

Front 11

Joseph Breen, 1934

Back 11

Breen takes over for Hays in production code.

Front 12

Otto Preminger, 1952

Back 12

Preminger challenges code with "The Moon is Blue"

Front 13

Changing the Code

Back 13

1956, Shurlock and Johnston change the code. Can now say hell and damn.

Front 14

Excelsior Decision

Back 14

1957. Ban on on-screen nudity lifted. Brief wave of "nudie cuties".

Front 15

Jack Valenti and the MPAA

Back 15

1966. Valenti takes over MPAA. Creates "For Mature Audiences" with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Front 16

MGM Purchases Blow Up

Back 16

Film caused the change in MPAA in 1968 (G, PG, R, X)

Front 17

Teen Movies

Back 17

Teens transcended race and class. They also had money to spend

Front 18

New Hollywood

Back 18

Studios falling behind globally due to lack of recognizing that audiences are changing. Bonnie and Clyde - Jaws.

Front 19

New Hollywood Films

Back 19

Made with little money, new talent, mentioned drugs, sex, violence.

Front 20

New Hollywood Directors

Back 20

Film educated

Front 21

New Hollywood =

Back 21

Death of the Western

Front 22

4 key components of the Western

Back 22

Progress v Nostalgia,
Civilization v The Wild,
Violence v Idealism,
Male Bond v Rugged Individualism.

Front 23

Adult Western, 50s and 60s

Back 23

Man's fight against society

Front 24

Changing of Ratings

Back 24

69: M becomes GP
72: GP becomes PG
84: PG-13
90: X becomes NC-17

Front 25

70's filmmakers

Back 25

Academically bred. Worked their way up the ladder.

Front 26

New American Horror, 70's

Back 26

Most important being "Rosemary's Baby"

Front 27

Mainstream Pornography

Back 27

June 72-June 73. Deep Throat, Behind the Green Door, The Devil in Miss Jones

Front 28

Miller V California

Back 28

Almost brought censorship back. 1973. Mass mailing for advertising of erotic bookseller Marvin Miller. Chief Justice Warren Berger ceded control of content regulation to local communities.

Front 29

Jenkins v Georgia

Back 29

1974. Case concerned prohibiting screening of Mike Nichols film Carnal Knowledge (1971). Georgia instituted state wide ban on film. Supreme court over turns it and says films under "R" rating cant be censored by local or state boards.

Front 30

Women's Films

Back 30

1970's. Pakula's Klutes (1971),

Front 31

Blaxploitation

Back 31

1968-1974. Shaft (Parks, 1971) and Super Fly (Parks Jr. 1972).Handsome and capable men who transcended immorality and criminality of urban landscapes. Melvin van Peebles another good filmmaker. Black films made by Black people. Protagonists are in control of their surroundings.

Front 32

Return to studio era

Back 32

80's. Cost of films skyrockets. Handful of companies control many aspects of popular media.

Front 33

Kevorkian Case

Back 33

April 79. Kervorkian sells 300,000 shares of MGM stock. Uses that money to purchase stock from Columbia Pictures (25% of it). Kervorkian now largest shareholder in two of sex companies. Justice Department files suit claiming the moved diminished market competition. In august of 79, court finds in favor of Kervorkian. He then purchases more stock now owning 35%. Fire at MGM grand stops Kervorkians uprising, but kickstarts era of deregulation in studios.

Front 34

Importance of Kervorkian

Back 34

Not a film mogul, thus beginning the trend of people financing film with no stake in artistic integrity.

Front 35

Screen Actors Guild Strike

Back 35

1980. Actors wanted revenue from future home box-office (TV and video sales and rentals). Universal responds by locking out other guilds. SAG backs down.

Front 36

Importance of SAG Strike

Back 36

Studios were now in markets so they were not dependent on actors for revenue. Public saw actors and directors as spoiled and lazy.

Front 37

Capitol Service Case

Back 37

Studios found a way to get around Paramount Decision through US v Capital Service. Case about 4 theater chains that owned 90% of Milwaukee's exhibition business. Chains entered into agreement to not bid against each other (collusion agreement). This diminished competition and minimized licensing costs. Court allows it.

Front 38

Importance of Capital Service

Back 38

Studios start buying theaters again. In 1986, Federal Trades Commission and Federal Communications Commission states they have no intention of fighting this. By 1987, ten companies controlled 50% of first run showcase screens.

Front 39

The Blockbuster

Back 39

1980. Return to genre film because people like Kervorkian are financing them. Star Wars and Raiders.

Front 40

Action-Adventure Film.

Back 40

Roots found in 192 Dr. No. Revolve around action sequences. This are our everyman heroes.

Front 41

Underground Film and Art House Cinema

Back 41

experimental film community creates "underground film". Subculture of subculture, transsexualism etc. Andy Warhol and Kuchar brothers.

Front 42

Midnight Movies

Back 42

Late 60s, Ben Barenholtz opens tiny theater called Elgin Theater. Successful space to show underground films. 1970, Bareholtz views private screening of El Topo, he loved it, convinced producers to let him screen the movie at midnight and 1am.

Front 43

Similarities of Barenholtz' midnight movies

Back 43

Extreme movies- extreme in everything they do. Most part, first time directors on low budget.

Front 44

End of Midnight Movies.

Back 44

70's when people buy home video players.

Front 45

Adrian Lyne/ Tim Burton

Back 45

sexual exploration in mainstream film. Fatal Attraction (1987), 9.5 weeks (85), and Indecent Proposal (93). Use of natural lighting and smoke machine. Be able to explain Burton.

Front 46

Catchword of Industry

Back 46

Synergy. 6 companies dominate mass media- AOL Time Warner, Disney, News Corp., Sony, Viacom, General Electric. Now nearly impossible for a film to lose money because of other marketing.

Front 47

New Marketing Strategies

Back 47

Numeric values applied to various aspects of film projects. If the number exceeds a preselected number, it is green lit. First is casting, then release date. It's all bout what's popular and when.

Front 48

Trailers

Back 48

Teaser and theatrical. Teasers focus on stars, theatrical reveal story to get you hyped.

Front 49

Commercial Independents

Back 49

Bigger companies creating smaller indie houses. Miramax, Focus Features. Originally started by picking up documentaries and foreign features. Weinstein Brothers.

Front 50

Oscars

Back 50

conservative, don't like things being too radical but still handle controversial topics.

Front 51

Niche Films

Back 51

Films made specifically for a certain crowd.