The Genius of the System
by Schatz, ThomasFormat: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2010-03-16
Publisher(s): Univ of Minnesota Pr
Other versions by this Author
-
This Item Qualifies for Free Shipping!*
*Excludes marketplace orders.
List Price: $26.20
Buy New
Arriving Soon. Will ship when available.
$24.95
Rent Book
Select for Price
Used Book
We're Sorry
Sold Out
eBook
We're Sorry
Not Available
How Marketplace Works:
- This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
- Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
- Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
- Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
- Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.
Summary
InThe Genius of the System, Thomas Schatz recalls Hollywood's Golden Age from the 1920s until the dawn of television in the late 1940s, when quality films were produced swiftly and cost efficiently thanks to the intricate design of the system. Schatz takes us through the rise and fall of individual careers and the makingand unmakingof movies such asFrankenstein,Casablanca, and Hitchcock'sNotorious. Through detailed analysis of major Hollywood moviemakers including Universal, Warner Bros., and MGM, he reminds us of a time when studios had distinct personalities and the relationship between contracts and creativity was not mutually exclusive.
Author Biography
Thomas Schatz is professor of communication at the University of Texas, Austin. He is the author of several books, including Hollywood Genres and Boom and Bust: American Cinema in the 1940s.
Table of Contents
| Acknowledgments | p. vii |
| Preface: The Center of Gravity | p. ix |
| Introduction: "The Whole Equation of Pictures" | |
| The 1920s: Beginnings | |
| Universal: the System Takes shape | p. 15 |
| MGM: Dawn of the Thalberg Era | p. 29 |
| Selznick at MGM: Climbing the Executive Ranks | p. 48 |
| Warner Bros: Talking Their Way to the Top | p. 58 |
| 1928 - 1932: The Powers That Be | |
| Selznick at Paramount: From Boom to Bust | p. 69 |
| Universal: Renaissance and Retrenchment | p. 82 |
| MGM and Thalberg: Alone at the Top | p. 98 |
| Selznick at Rko: At the Helm of a Foundering Studio | p. 125 |
| Warner Bros: The Zanuck Era | p. 135 |
| The 1930s: Golden Age | |
| MGM in the Mid-Thirties: Charmed Interval | p. 159 |
| Selznick International Pictures: Going Independent | p. 176 |
| Warner Bros.: Power Plays and Prestige | p. 199 |
| Universal: Playing Both ends Against the Middle | p. 228 |
| MGM: Life after Thalberg | p. 252 |
| Selznick and Hitchcock: Balance of Power | p. 271 |
| 1941-1946: War Boom | |
| Warner Bros.: Warfare at Home and Abroad | p. 297 |
| David O. Selznick Productions: Packaging Prestige | p. 322 |
| Universal: The Best of Both Worlds | p. 340 |
| MGM: The High Cost of Quality | p. 359 |
| Selznick and Hitchcock: Separate Ways | p. 381 |
| 1947-1960: Decline | |
| Warner Bros.: Top of the world, end of the Line | p. 411 |
| MGM: Last Gasp of the studio Era | p. 440 |
| UNIVERSAL: Blueprint for the Television age | p. 463 |
| Epilogue: Into the new Hollywood | p. 482 |
| Notes on Sources | p. 493 |
| Photograph Credits | p. 508 |
| Index | p. 509 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.
This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.
By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.
Digital License
You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.
More details can be found here.
A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.
Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.
Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.