I found this documentary most informative, impossible to summarise in 250 words but here I go...
Part 1 outlined the studio system in the golden age of Hollywood as well as the how each of the 3 genres (Westerns, Gangsters and Musicals) within Hollywood changed and developed from being a form of escapism post war to a significant reflection of society at the time. For example
Part 2 went on to explain how the art of film developed and how Hollywood adapted to advances such as sound, 3 strip technicolour and change in screen dimension. As well as this, it also briefly explained Film Noir: a style that incorporated both realism and expressionism with ongoing twists of fate. One particular director that stood out to me was Ida Lupino (a female director in the 50s).
Lastly Part 3 explored how directors "smuggled" metaphors into film which questioned society of the time such as in Samuel Fuller's "Shock Corridor". It was went on to explain censorship within the business which I found very intriguing. After the first world war many wanted film to be a form of escapism but after the second world war the people wanted a truer representation of the world.
It ended with the fall of the Golden Age. It was a time where the foundations of film were developed but it was also a time where not all creative development could flourish due to the restraints of style, genre and purpose. Only through stretching these boundaries can new classics be made.
Image Source: https://adreamer49.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/a-personal-journey-with-martin-scorsese-through-american-movies/
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