Re: [MOPO] Slighty Off topic - The Old Movie Studio "Under Contract" System...

[Dave Rosen]

Hey, Joe:   Hoooo, big topic. Several books have been written on the decline of the studio system. Merchant of Dreams, a bio of Louis B. Mayer is a good one, since it uses Mayer's life and career to examine the rise and fall of MGM, the biggest of the Hollywood dream factories. Dore Scharer's Heyday is another one. Scharer took over from Mayer at MGM just at the time the major studios started their decline.   As to why studios moved away from using contract players, the answer is quite simple: cost. It simply became too costly to have big stars on contract who in most cases were not obligated to make more than one picture a year (at least by the 40s). Also, by the early 50s, the studios were generally divesting themselves of large facilities and staffs than ran up costs while they were losing audiences to TV and movie attendance was dropping.   Like I said, a big topic. Maybe others can add a little as well.   Cheers, Dave Posteropolis www.posteropolis.com   ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Mitch To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 7:37 PM Subject: [MOPO] Slighty Off topic - The Old Movie Studio "Under Contract" System... Mopo, I'm curious to know about the old Hollywood studio system worked when an actor was under contact and had to make whatever movie the studio heads wanted them to make. This opposed to today where Tom Cruise can pick the movies he wants to do. How did the "under contract" system develop and change into what we have now? What caused the "under contract" system to end? Can anyone provide some insight? Are there any good documentaries regarding this subject? Joe __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.