Important Eras in Cinema History The cultural role of film in the United States

What do you know about ….? The 1920’s? The 1930’s? The 1940’s? The 1950’s? In groups, brainstorm what you know about each of these decades. What was going on in politics, art, culture, etc. in each of these time periods? Focus mostly on the United States.

Breakdown by Decade 1920’s ◦The silent era 1930’s ◦The talkies ◦The studio era 1940’s ◦The “Golden Age” of Hollywood ◦The War Years ◦Film Noir 1950’s ◦Cold War ◦Epic Films ◦Television 1960’s ◦End of Studios/Birth of the Independents 1970’s ◦American “New Wave” ◦Blockbuster Era 1980’s ◦Teen Films ◦Sequels 1990’s ◦Rise of the Independents 2000’s and beyond ◦Computer-based production

The 1920’s The “Roaring 20’s”: ◦Cultural revolution: extreme changes in fashion, sexual roles, music, etc.  Large break from tradition/older generations  Jazz emerged  Flappers Women gained the right to vote in 1920 Prohibition started in 1920 (alcohol was illegal) Gangland crime became prominent (Al Capone) The Great Migration ( ) Beginning of the Harlem Renaissance Influx of immigrants from Europe, etc.

Flappers

The 1920’s in Film Silent films Most films were either dramas or comedies Birth of the movie studios (MGM, RKO, Paramount, Warner Bros, Fox Emergence of the movie star Movie Palaces: huge, ornate movie theatres built all over the country to serve the new entertainment of films

Chicago Movie Palaces

Charlie Chaplin His character ◦the Tramp (slang for a hobo/homeless person) ◦Similar to a clown (doesn’t speak, physically amusing, sad, shy) His Role as a Filmmaker ◦Kept control over most of his films ◦Produced and directed his own films ◦Co-founded a film studio with other early stars (United Artists)

What is the message of this image?

The 1930’s The Great Depression ◦The Works Progress Administration ◦Escapism  Movies  Books, especially mysteries (detective stories) World War II ◦Hitler rises to power in Germany in 1933 ◦War in Europe begins in 1939

Film in the 1930’s The Talkies ◦First Talkie, The Jazz Singer (1927) ◦All films would then have recorded soundtracks The Hays Production Code ◦1934 – late 1950’s ◦Rules on what could be shown in movies ◦ex: no cops killed, no long kisses, no drugs, bad guy can’t get away with it

Walt Disney Steamboat Willie, 1928 Snow White, 1937 (first feature length animation)

Film in the 1930’s Escaping our worries Frank Capra ◦Italian-American ◦Directed many films that touched on everyday people in heroic situations ◦Extremely optimistic films about America; inspiring patriotism and Musicals ◦Highly produced films Mysteries ◦Detective stories based on popular books and radio shows

African-Americans in 1930’s Cinema Stereotypical Roles ◦The good-natured servant (mammy, maid, butler, etc.) ◦The comic Race Films ◦All-black cast and crew ◦Small budget Hattie McDaniel and Gone with the Wind (1939) ◦Won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy

Ideas and Ideals in Film You Can’t Take It with You ◦Directed by Frank Capra ◦1938 ◦Starring Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Lionel Barrymore While you watch, think about ◦The different messages of the film. ◦How they show different classes of people (rich vs. poor/working). ◦How they depict African-Americans

The 1940’s World War II ◦Begins for the US with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor ◦Many, many Americans fought in the war ◦Largely supported by the American people on the homefront, including rationing, etc.

The 1940’s Women went to work Segregation existed (in the army too) Art and entertainment existed as propaganda ◦Propaganda: the spreading of ideas to support a cause, etc. – often in the form of images

For each poster, describe the character and the message in the image.

What do these posters have in common?

How would you describe the mood of these posters?

What are the goals of these posters?

Film in the 1940’s Film as propaganda and document ◦Supporting the war ◦Inspiring for the homefront (those not at war) ◦Celebrating those involved Film Noir ◦Mysteries (often gangster films) ◦Shot in black and white; high key lighting (high contrast) ◦Created a formula for mysteries, etc. ◦Offered an escape from the worries of war, restraint. Golden Age of Hollywood ◦Movie stars ◦Many movies were made

A Sampling of 1940’s Films Casablanca, 1942 ◦A love story set in Northern Africa during the war; major themes of good vs. evil and self- sacrifice

The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946 ◦A story about men returning home after the war, very dramatic. Many feel it captured the true spirit of those involved with the time.

The Maltese Falcon, 1941 ◦Film noir that followed many aspects of the style’s formula; provided an escape from the worries of war, etc.

The 1950’s Emergence of the middle class due to the GI Bill Development of the suburbs; Baby Boom generation is born Technological advances ◦atomic bomb ◦plastic Return to traditional gender roles

Film in the 1950’s American Ideals ◦Supported the new middle class ideals of what was a respectable life Battling against TV ◦new technologies (3-D, drive-in, etc) Science Fiction ◦The role of science in people’s lives had changed Teenage films ◦Rock and roll as a market (Elvis, etc.) was reflected in films for teenagers too, often made with rock and roll stars in them The New Leading Lady ◦Marilyn Monroe and others who became sex symbols within American culture The growing emergence of artistic and independent film ◦More controversial subjects found their way into the mainstream ◦New style of acting created new stars (James Dean, Marlon Brando, etc.) who were serious actors

Film in the 1950’s Teenagers and Rock-n-Roll in Film

Film in the 1950’s Marilyn Monroe as the Blonde Bombshell (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

Film in the 1950’s Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire Directed by Elia Kazan, 1951 Set in New Orleans, Louisiana

Rebel without a Cause 1955 Directed by Nicholas Ray Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo