The Golden Age of Hollywood
31 May 2022
Hollywood has gone through many eras and phases. The golden age was in the 1970s. This decade brought a rush of creativity and an increase in films aimed at the American youth. It also saw a decline in box office revenue. However, a resurgence in creativity was experienced in the 1990s. Here are some of the most memorable moments in Hollywood history. Read on to learn more about these changes in the film industry!
The golden age of hollywood
The Golden Age of Hollywood was a period in the history of American cinema when stars like Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, and Laurence Olivier became superstars. It also saw the development of new camera technology, which allowed script writers to be more creative. Sadly, this era was cut short by the Vietnam War, but many of the classics of the era are still cherished today. Here are some of the most notable actors and actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The late 1920s marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Hollywood, when the five major studios controlled the film industry. The advent of talkies, which replaced silent films, boosted the motion picture industry’s popularity and paved the way for iconic success. During this period, more than seven thousand feature films were made by the major studios, and 80 million people a week went to the movies. The Golden Age also saw the introduction of the Production Code and B-Films, as well as the first animated feature.
The 1970’s saw a rush of creativity
The early 20th century saw the birth of motion pictures, which are considered a cultural icon, which emphasized leisure, luxury, and the expanding “party scene.” As the technology and style of filmmaking improved, two coveted roles emerged: director and star. Directors gained a sense of personal style and began trademarking their personal styles, while movie stars received more fame and publicity. American trends also favored the faces on the big screen.
The counterculture influenced filmmaking, and many studios struggled to survive and make a profit. This ushered in a period of experimentation and new story-telling techniques. Film-makers and audiences alike were inspired by the counterculture and the “New Wave” movements in Europe. The hippie movement also had a significant impact on filmmaking. With a broader audience, Hollywood began taking risks and producing alternative films.
The 1970’s saw a decrease in box office revenue
During the early and middle 1970s, film production in the United States ceased to grow, as a result, box office revenue declined. However, the heyday of Hollywood’s blockbusters, which were heavily advertised and supported by television advertisement, began to revive. The number of screens also increased, reaching more than double their 1945 levels by the 1990s. The rise in the number of screens coincided with a decline in capacity per screen. In addition, tax breaks were granted to the film industry, which helped it grow until the mid-1980s.
With a decline in box office revenue, studios had to rethink their business strategies. Rather than focusing on traditional film genres, they began creating bigger, blockbuster-sized films. Studios would invest in a few bankrolled films, hoping that one or two would be profitable. In the 1970’s, MGM sold off much of its studio complex to diversify into other areas, including hotels and casinos.
The 1970’s saw a rise in films aimed at American youth
The 1970s were a magical time in American cinema. New directors and stars emerged from Europe who were able to mesh their artistic vision with Hollywood budgets. New Hollywood films focused on social issues, and many of them broke away from the conventional expectations of Hollywood films. Films from this era explored subjects that were taboo at the time, such as sexuality and politics. Many of these films reflected the burgeoning counterculture, and helped to redefine American cinema.
After the end of the silent era, Hollywood split into two directions. One followed the artistic path of the American New Wave, while the other followed the market. The first direction spawned an anti-war film, The Deer Hunter, which earned Michael Cimino near-auteur status and led United Artists to write him a blank check for his next film. This film, Heaven’s Gate, was plagued by creative disagreements and animal abuse, and United Artists was forced to close after huge losses.