Journal 4

Option #3 Answer:

• M-G-M- This studio's personality was very glamorous. They claimed to have the most stars. They had a very polished image. Although they had this image, there were a few exceptions to that rule, but for the most part that is how they were thought of. Later on they were known for American middle-class family values. They seem to be the studio that was more conservation and clean-cut. Their comedies were more restrained than some other studio's comedies. Some of this studios main stars were: Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Greer Garson, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland. Some movies created were: A Night at the Opera, Room Service. A Director associated with M-G-M is the Marx Brothers. The Golden Age of this studio seems to be between the 1920's threw the 1940's. (Belton, 77).
• Paramount- This studio was known for being less restrained than M-G-M. It was also known for its european style. The comedies that this studio made were less sober and restrained than that of M-G-M. This studio was known for its actresses and actors to be very sexy, and also witty. The main stars that were affiliated with Paramount are: Clara Bow, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Claudette Colbert, Carole Lombard, Jeanette MacDonald. Some movies created were: The love Parade, Monte Carlo, Trouble in Paradise. A director associated with Paramount is Ernst Lubitsch. The golden age of this studio was probably around 1940 (Belton 78).
• Warner Brothers- This studio was known as the working mans studio. The photographic style of this studio was very rough and real looking. Warner Brothers was also known for their gangster films. The actors usually portrayed tough guy characters. They used alot of ethnic characters. This studio represented the people from lower-class society. The women were usually depicted as girl-next-door types who were also shown as down to earth. Some of the top stars of Warner Brothers were: Errol Flynn, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Ann Sheridan, James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart. Some movies created are: Little Caesar, The Public Enemy, Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood. The Golden Age of this studio was probably mid 1930's (Belton, 79).
• 20th Century Fox-This studio was known for its period and costume pictures. They were also known for targeting a rural audience. This studio represented the need for a preindustrial, grassroot value focus. All of the stars associated with this studio had no traits of urban ethnicity. They represented all-american people. This studio was known as the "Goy" studio because it was the only studio at the time that was not owned or operated by Jews. It was run by an Irish Catholic former cop. This appealed even more to the south. It was one of the first studios that condemned anti-semitism. This studio was also known for its films about social conciousness. Some of the top stars associated with Fox were: Will Rogers, Shirley Temple, Henry Fonda, Betty Grable, etc. Some movies created were: The Grapes of Wrath, Tabacco Road, Boomerang, The Snake Pit. A director associated with this studio is Darryl Zanuck. The Golden Age of this studio was in between the 1940s-50s (Belton 80).
• RKO- This studio was known for its unlikely combination of films. It made action films, musicals, etc. This studio ended up failing because it did not have the thematic consistancy of all of the other studios. Some of the top stars associated with this studio were:Fred Astaire, Merian C. Cooper, George Schafer, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charles Koerner. This studio had many different random directors work for it for a short time, some including: John Ford, George Stevens. Some movies created were: Citizen Kane, The Cat People, King Kong. The golden Age of this studio was between the 1930-40's (Belton 81).