Cinema of the United States
The first commercial motion-picture exhibition in the United States took place in New York City during 1894. Thomas Edison used his kinetoscope and kinetograph to show moving images to paying audiences. This event marked the beginning of a new industry that would soon reshape global culture. The American film industry began at the end of the 19th century with the construction of Edison's Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. Fort Lee, New Jersey became the motion-picture capital of America before Hollywood existed. Cities along the Hudson River offered land at costs considerably less than New York City across the river. In 1907, the Kalem Company began using Fort Lee as a location for filming. Other filmmakers quickly followed suit and built new studios or leased facilities there. By 1909, the Champion Film Company constructed the first dedicated studio building in Fort Lee. During the 1910s and 1920s, numerous companies made pictures in this small town including Biograph Studios and Fox Film Corporation. Mary Pickford got her start working at Biograph Studios while other notable actors found early employment there too. Many film companies such as Solax Studios and Eclair operated out of Fort Lee during these years. The Edison Studios were located in the Bronx while Chelsea, Manhattan was also frequently used for production. Picture City, Florida served as a planned movie center until the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane destroyed the project. Jacksonville saw more than 30 silent film companies establish studios in town before the industry shifted westward.
The 1908 Selig Polyscope Company production of The Count of Monte Cristo claimed to be the first film filmed in Los Angeles. A plaque unveiled by the city in 1957 marked Dearden's flagship store on Main Street and 7th Street where filming occurred. In early 1910, director D. W. Griffith traveled to the West Coast with his acting troupe. They started filming on a vacant lot near Georgia Street in downtown Los Angeles. Griffith then moved several miles north to Hollywood which was a friendly village that enjoyed having movie companies film there. He made In Old California, a Biograph melodrama about California when it was under Mexican rule. Nestor Studios of Bayonne, New Jersey built the first studio in the Hollywood neighborhood in 1911. By 1912, most major film companies had set up production facilities in Southern California. California offered mild winters and year-round sunlight for outdoor filming. Thomas Edison owned almost all patents relevant to motion picture production during this period. Movie producers on the East Coast often faced lawsuits from Edison while those working on the West Coast could operate independently. War damage contributed to the decline of European film industry favoring American productions. Public health officials temporarily closed movie theaters during the 1918 flu epidemic causing financial losses for small studios. Many Jewish immigrants found employment in storefront theaters called nickelodeons after their admission price of five cents. Men like Samuel Goldwyn and William Fox switched to production side within a few years. By mid-1940s, studios were cranking out about 400 movies annually seen by an audience of 90 million Americans per week.
Classical Hollywood cinema defined technical and narrative style from 1913 to 1962 during which thousands of movies issued from Hollywood studios. Most pictures adhered closely to formulas including Westerns, slapstick comedies, musicals, animated cartoons, and biographical films. Cedric Gibbons and Herbert Stothart always worked on MGM films while Alfred Newman spent twenty years at 20th Century Fox. Each studio had its own style making it possible to identify which company made any given film. Warner Bros gained huge success after The Jazz Singer released in 1927 allowing them to acquire movie theaters. Loews Theaters owned MGM since forming in 1924 while RKO developed Photophone method to put sound in films. In 1930, MPPDA President Will Hays created the Production Code following censorship guidelines that went into effect after government threats expanded. The code never enforced until 1934 when Catholic watchdog organization The Legion of Decency threatened boycott if not implemented. Films without seal approval paid $25,000 fine and could not profit in theaters controlled through Big Five studios. During 1930s, MGM dominated film screen with top stars like Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. Walt Disney created Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 becoming most successful film of its time. Selznick International produced Gone with the Wind in 1939 still adjusted for inflation as most successful film ever. Citizen Kane directed by Orson Welles fits description of medium-budget feature with good script and unknown actors. The apogee of studio system reached year 1939 releasing classics including Wizard of Oz and Mr Smith Goes Washington. Federal antitrust action separated production from exhibition while advent of television changed industry dynamics. Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold initiated proceedings against eight largest Hollywood studios in July 1938 for Sherman Antitrust Act violations. Five Big Five studios reached compromise October 1940 agreeing to eliminate block-booking arrangements within three years.
Post-classical cinema represents changing methods of storytelling emerging during New Hollywood period. Roots seen in film noir Rebel Without a Cause released 1955 and Hitchcock's storyline-shattering Psycho. The 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde marked beginning of American cinema rebounding as new generation films gained box office success. Filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg absorbed techniques developed in Europe during French New Wave. Inaugurated by 1969 release of Andy Warhol Blue Movie, phenomenon of adult erotic films publicly discussed began modern American culture. Charles Bronson commanded $1 million per film at height of fame early 1970s becoming world number one box office attraction. Films of New Hollywood filmmakers often critically acclaimed and commercially successful simultaneously. Early films like Easy Rider had relatively low budgets with amoral heroes increased sexuality and violence. Enormous success enjoyed by Friedkin with The Exorcist helped give rise to modern blockbuster concept. George Lucas created Star Wars trilogy generating over $1 billion prequel revenue. Computer-generated imagery advanced when possible transfer film images into computer manipulate digitally. James Cameron used techniques in Terminator 2 Judgment Day 1991 creating shape-changing character T-1000. Jurassic Park 1993 able use techniques create realistic-looking animals. Digital Domain and Pacific Data Images continued developments in digital technology for Titanic production. Even Blair Witch Project filmed budget just $35,000 grossed $248 million using modern marketing techniques online promotion. By 1999 average cost blockbuster film reached $60 million before marketing promotion costing another $80 million.
Hollywood producers sometimes comply with Chinese government censorship requirements accessing country's restricted lucrative cinema market second largest box office worldwide as 2016. This includes prioritizing sympathetic portrayals Chinese characters changing villains Red Dawn from Chinese to North Koreans. South Park entirely banned China after episode Band in China broadcast involving Dalai Lama Winnie-the-Pooh. 2018 Christopher Robin new Winnie-the-Pooh movie denied Chinese release. Hollywood self-censored negative depictions Nazis most 1930s maintain access German audiences. Economic censorship resulted self-censoring content please group wielding economic influence. Hays Code industry-led effort 1930 to 1967 strict self-censorship appease religious objections stave off government censorship. Political endorsements signed letters radio appearances printed advertising made drawing large audience political view party. Melvyn Douglas Helen toured Washington DC 1939 meeting key New Dealers. Ronald Reagan became governor California subsequently 40th president United States Arnold Schwarzenegger served California governor 2003. Donations from Hollywood help fund federal politics the 20th of February 2007 Democratic then-presidential candidate Barack Obama had $2,300-a-plate gala hosted DreamWorks founders David Geffen Jeffrey Katzenberg Steven Spielberg Beverly Hilton. Native advertising information designed persuade subtle ways classic propaganda example common United States Copaganda TV shows display unrealistically flattering portrayals law enforcement borrowing equipment blocking streets filming location. Centers Disease Control Prevention cites 18% teen smokers start smoking films smoking automatically given R rating saving million lives. Films made China strictly avoiding themes ghosts violence murder horror demons risking being cut. Even Chinese audiences found boring wait release great American movies dubbed native language.
Women statistically underrepresented creative positions center US film industry called celluloid ceiling variant employment discrimination term glass ceiling. In 2013 top-paid actors made times money as top-paid actresses older male actors earned more female counterparts same age. Female movie stars make most money average per film age 34 while male stars earn most at 51. Celluloid Ceiling Report conducted Center Study Women Television Film San Diego State University collected statistics gathered 2,813 individuals employed 250 top domestic grossing films 2012. Women accounted 18% all directors executive producers producers writers cinematographers editors reflecting no change from 1998 only 1% increase. Only 15% top films 2013 had women lead acting role percentage female speaking roles increased much since 1940s hovering around 25 percent to 28 percent. Since 1998 women representation behind-scenes roles other directing gone up just 1 percent. On the 10th of May 2021 NBC announced would not televise 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022 support boycott Hollywood Foreign Press Association inadequate efforts address lack diversity membership people color. American cinema often reflected propagated negative stereotypes towards foreign nationals ethnic minorities Russians portrayed brutal mobsters ruthless agents villains Italians associated organized crime Mafia. Hispanic Latino Americans largely depicted sexualized figures Latino macho Latina vixen gang members illegal immigrants entertainers. Representation improved recent years gaining traction 1990s no longer emphasizes oppression exploitation resistance primary themes. African-American representation improved drastically toward end 20th century after fall studio system trend endures 21st century minority representation continues increase. Before September 11 attacks Arabs Arab Americans often portrayed terrorists hiring Naomi Scott daughter English father Gujarati Ugandan-Indian mother play lead Jasmine Aladdin drew criticism accusations racism. White extras applied brown make-up filming blend in caused outcry condemnation fans critics branding practice insult whole industry. Majority workers represented several unions guilds including International Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees representing grips electricians camera people editors sound engineers hair makeup artists. Screen Actors Guild represents some 130,000 actors directors Directors Guild America represents production managers Writers Guild America representing writers International Brotherhood Teamsters represents drivers. In 1945 six-month set-decorator strike relationship turned bloody between strikers scabs strikebreakers studio security.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the first commercial motion-picture exhibition take place in the United States?
The first commercial motion-picture exhibition in the United States took place in New York City during 1894. Thomas Edison used his kinetoscope and kinetograph to show moving images to paying audiences.
Where was Fort Lee located before Hollywood became the film capital?
Fort Lee is located in New Jersey along the Hudson River. It served as the motion-picture capital of America before Hollywood existed because cities along the river offered land at costs considerably less than New York City across the river.
What year did the Production Code go into effect for American films?
The Production Code went into effect after government threats expanded in 1930 but it never enforced until 1934 when Catholic watchdog organization The Legion of Decency threatened boycott if not implemented. Films without seal approval paid $25,000 fine and could not profit in theaters controlled through Big Five studios.
Which film marked the beginning of the modern blockbuster concept in American cinema?
Enormous success enjoyed by Friedkin with The Exorcist helped give rise to modern blockbuster concept. George Lucas created Star Wars trilogy generating over $1 billion prequel revenue while James Cameron used techniques in Terminator 2 Judgment Day 1991 creating shape-changing character T-1000.
When did NBC announce they would not televise the 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022?
On the 10th of May 2021 NBC announced would not televise 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022 support boycott Hollywood Foreign Press Association inadequate efforts address lack diversity membership people color.
How many individuals were employed in the top domestic grossing films analyzed for the Celluloid Ceiling Report?
Celluloid Ceiling Report conducted Center Study Women Television Film San Diego State University collected statistics gathered 2,813 individuals employed 250 top domestic grossing films 2012. Women accounted 18% all directors executive producers producers writers cinematographers editors reflecting no change from 1998 only 1% increase.