The Contexts of Film

The Contexts of Classical Hollywood Film (1930-1960)

The period is marked by significant social changes and events that influenced the subject matter and themes of Hollywood films, these include the Great Depression, Second World War, and the onset of the Cold War.
Study the influence of The Motion Picture Production Code (also known as Hays Code) which established moral guidelines that filmmakers had to adhere to, impacting the narrative and themes of films.
Understand how the shift from silent to sound films in the late 1920s shaped the methodology and aesthetics of storytelling, notably in dialogue writing and sound design.

The era is defined by a studio-based system of production, where a handful of dominant studios owned the entire process, from development to distribution. This led to large-scale, assembly-line style film production.
Familiarise with the star system, an integral part of the industry, where identified potential stars were groomed and promoted by studios, who frequently cast them in films not for suitability to a role but for their ability to draw in audiences.
Acknowledge the competition and cooperation between Hollywood and international film industries. Hollywood targeted both domestic and international markets, often importing talent and adapting successful foreign films.

Explore the development of Classical Hollywood Cinema style, characterised by continuity editing, the use of standardized narrative structures, and genre conventions.
Learn about the filmmakers’ creative use of technicolor, introducing colour in film in new and innovative ways, changing the aesthetics of movies.
Understand the role of music and sound in film during this era, and how they were used to enhance audience’s emotional engagement and understanding of the narrative.

Acknowledge the role of film criticism during this era, and how it has evolved, shifting from a merely journalistic practice to an academic discipline.
Investigate the ways in which films of this era were interpreted and understood by their contemporary audiences, as well as how our contemporary perspectives are influenced by our own cultural and historical contexts.
Recognise the influence of literature and theatre on film during this era, with many films being adaptations of popular novels and plays, influencing narrative structure and acting styles.