The Golden Age

A NEW AGE OF CINEMA

There is contention regarding when the Golden Age of Hollywood began and ended, but most critics believe that it existed between the late 1910s and early 1960s. Before shifting the method of visual storytelling to projected images on the big screen, theatrical entertainment was confined to stage performances which were shot at a single, unmoving angle and were silent due to audio technology not yet being developed. The transition into a new era of cinema began with the commencement of sound films in 1927 and ended with the onset of WWII in 1939.

Once audiences could enjoy hearing voices, musical scores, and sound effects in films, movies became the main medium of mass communication, art, entertainment, and commerce. The United States was undergoing a major economic boom during this period, and Hollywood became a thriving workplace for actors, directors, and other professionals within the industry. While many industries struggled in the wake of the Great Depression, the film industry continued to flourish and strive while also serving as a means of escape for audiences in the form of fiction and entertainment.

The Big Five

Five major studio corporations, famously known as "The Big Five", dominated the film industry in Hollywood with the production of classic motion pictures.

FOX Studios

1935 - 2019

Founded by Joseph Schenck, Darryl Zanuck, William Fox, and Spyros Skouras

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

1924 - 1986

Founded by Marcus Loew and Louis B. Mayer

Paramount Pictures

1912 - present

Founded by William Wadsworth Hodkinson, Adolph Zukor, and Jesse Lasky

RKO Pictures

1928 - 1959

Founded by David Sarnoff

Warner Brothers

1923 - present

Founded by Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner

The Rise and Fall

The Rise

Hollywood cinematography initially began in the silent film era. Filmmaker David W. Griffith released "The Birth of a Nation", a silent dramatic film that was filled with monumental filmmaking breakthroughs and became popular nationwide, eventually becoming a staple of the industry and setting the tone for future films. In the 1920s, the invention of sound in movies and the introductions of the studio system revolutionized the filmmaking industry. This brought an end to the silent film era and commenced a new era of cinematography filled with creativity and innovation. The release of "The Jazz Singer", the first movie with sound, signified a radical shift in the film industry.

By the late 1930s, movies were praised for their creative aesthetics and artistic quality in comparison to those created within the silent film era, and filmmaking established itself as a foundation for storytelling. Many famous and classical films were produced and contributed to America's growing influence over global cinema. At the height of the Golden Age, the industry dominated in both critical acclaim and commercial success. Actors, actresses, and filmmakers working on independent projects throughout the earliest years joined up with the major studios to begin their careers as on-screen performers. Cinematography also inspired audiences to pursue careers within the industry, and Hollywood received a massive influx of hiring talent.

The Fall

The unceremonious conclusion of the Golden Age occurred due to multiple reasons: the development of television and other media, the blacklisting of prominent screenwriters, the rising costs of film production, political fire and communism allegations amongst the Cold War, and the anti-trust legislation imposed against all corporations. Additionally, movie palaces and studios shut down while several of the greatest actors, directors, and screenwriters in Hollywood stopped making films.

The popularity of television shows allowed audiences to view broadcasts directly in the comfort of their own homes for relatively low prices rather than attending theaters to enjoy entertainment, and they became a rival for motion picture productions. Additionally, studios were not permitted to have potential control and ownership over television stations, and in combination with dwindling profits, studios began to falter. By the 1960s, majority of American homes contained television sets. Studios had to take fewer creative risks and invest less money in producing quality films.

In fear that studios could operate uncontested in a monopolistic fashion, the government ruled against the major corporations stating that they were in violation against the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Studios were forced to sell their theater holdings and lost control over distribution. As a result, corporations were forced to rewire the infrastructure and revise the contracts of employees. Additionally, independent theaters had to premiere movies beyond the major corporations in Hollywood and instead from foreign markets.

Impact and Influence

Cinematography & The Industry

The Golden Age was a period of great growth, creativity, experimentation, and change in the industry that brought international prestige to Hollywood and its movie stars. Hollywood grew from a small film-production center into one of the world’s largest business centers, cementing its name in history and increasing its reputation as a land of fame and affluence. Companies began hiring exceptional acting talent, using new camera technology, and allowing more freedom for script writers. Additionally, a handful of different movie genres and plotlines were created – western, musical, comedies, romantic dramas, documentaries, etc.

Films made advancements within the use of film devices, plot developments, and the increase in technology. Filmmakers experimented with different techniques such as continuity editing, crosscutting, axial cutting, Cinerama, and cinemascope. Additional production techniques included artificial lighting, low-key lighting, and fire effects that helped with shaping the mood and tone of scenes. As films became longer and more cinematically advanced, plotlines would also become more complex. Movies began to adopt clear plots with narratives being driven by relatable characters and established by a clearly marked beginning, middle, and end.

Films were originally created in black and white. The earliest techniques for producing colorful films involved hand-tinting frames and toning prints. The development of technicolored photography began around 1916 and became the most popular and best method of producing vibrant and colorful films. Industries continued to experiment and expand on technicolor with a dye-transfer process using the colors red, blue, and green.

Society & Culture

During the tough economic period of The Great Depression, movies boosted the morale of audiences and served as an escape for individuals seeking to distract themselves from their struggles. The popularity of motion pictures increased, and an estimate of more than 80 million Americans regularly attended theaters on a weekly basis. The increase in ticket sales profited more innovations in filmmaking technology.
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During World War I, film studios used their platforms and stars to produce and promote political-propaganda and reels related to war preparedness and military recruitment. Movies also helped society in the emergence of World War II, but production in the film industry was affected internally and externally during this time, and corporations had to find alternative ways to create and release films.

The styles and costumes of major Hollywood motion pictures contributed to popular clothing trends between the 1930s and 1950s and promoted an idealized sense of elegance and glamour, particularly for female stars and audiences. However, strict rules and regulations were enforced upon residents and workers in Hollywood to follow in order to help studios maintain the public image of their stars. During this time, the industry also enforced the Hays Code in films, which censored and prohibited nudity and profanity.

Academy Award - Best Actor (Clark Gable)
Academy Award - Best Actress (Claudette Colbert)

Bringing Up Baby

(1938)

While trying to secure a $1 million donation for his museum, a befuddled paleontologist is pursued by a flighty and often irritating heiress and her pet leopard, Baby.

Starring

Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charles Ruggles

Wuthering Heights

(1939)

A servant in the house of Wuthering Heights tells a traveler the unfortunate tale of lovers Cathy and Heathcliff.

Starring

Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, David Niven

Accolades

Academy Award - Best Cinematography

Singin' In The Rain

(1952)

A silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusional jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.

Starring

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds

Accolades

Golden Globe Award - Best Actor (Donald O'Connor)

The History of thE

Hollywood Golden age

The Golden Age

A NEW AGE OF CINEMA

The Big Five

FOX Studios

1935 - 2019

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

1924 - 1986

Paramount Pictures

1912 - present

RKO Pictures

1928 - 1959

Warner Brothers

1923 - present

The Rise and Fall

The Rise

The Fall

Impact and Influence

Cinematography & The Industry

Society & Culture

Notable Films & Figures

Citizen Kane

(1941)

Starring

Accolades

Casablanca

(1942)

Starring

Accolades

Gone With The Wind

(1939)

Starring

Accolades

The Wizard of Oz

(1939)

Starring

Accolades

A Streetcar Named Desire

(1951)

Starring

Accolades

It's A Wonderful Life

(1946)

Starring

Accolades

It Happened One Night

(1934)

Starring

Accolades

Bringing Up Baby

(1938)

Starring

Wuthering Heights

(1939)

Starring

Accolades

Singin' In The Rain

(1952)

Starring

Accolades

Anna May Wong

Bette Davis

Cary Grant

Clark Gable

Elizabeth Taylor

Errol Flynn

Gene Kelly

Grace Kelly

Gregory Peck

Humphrey Bogart

Ingrid Bergman

Jimmy Stewart

Joan Crawford

John Wayne

Judy Garland

Katharine Hepburn

Rita Hayworth

Rock Hudson

the history of the