"Studio System"Chapter

I was drawn to the first chapter “The Studio System” discussing how in the 1950s to the1960s the trend was to create an epic biblical type of film. Ben-Hur won 11 Oscars and that was not matched until 1997 with Titanic. The Robe and one of my ultimate favorites, Spartacus, was born from this fad. I read in a film book that a must-see was Cleopatra. I saw it and I thought wow, people actually could possibly die of boredom. It was four hours long. In all seriousness, there was tremendous work to bring about the set, the costumes; the three hundred extras, and more to make the film look so brilliant. A huge expense and amount of work. I knew before reading this section that the movie was a flop at that time. Possibly, the only reason it is still remembered because at the time and during its production was a Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie thing. Elizabeth Taylor was married to her fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, and began her ultimate romance with actor and player Richard Burton (who was also married). Their romance was very public and they were not ashamed of it. Later in her life, Elizabeth Taylor apologized for the people it may have hurt but she knew they had to be together. The famous scene when she is dressed in gold coming into Rome with her young son for the first time is an important scene. Elizabeth Taylor received many threats because of her affair not just people calling her a whore but threatening to kill her. She was terrified to do that scene. There would be no bodyguards and she would be an easy target for an assassin. You can’t hear it but the extras were saying “Kisses, Kisses” in Italian (film was shot in Italy.) So after the scene was done she thanked them all for their kindness and acceptance.
Late 1960s to 1970s, we see this new movement attracting a mainstream young audience with Jaws, the Exorcist, Star Wars. Not the traditional epic but still well known today. They changed the course of film from fewer epic movies to many cult classics in a sense. Jaws grossed over two million according to the text. Jaws was a major breakthrough and if you say it today, people know exactly what you’re talking about. Same with Shining crowned as one of the scariest movies of all time. You know you are a success if decades later people model films or reference to yours. Ted, these clips are especially for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92yHyxeju1U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf7h6o3I8yw