Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Genius of the System summary
Thomas Schatz
Brief summary
The Genius of the System by Thomas Schatz delves into the golden age of Hollywood, exploring the studio system and the influential figures who shaped the industry. It offers insightful analysis of the era's innovative production methods and enduring cinematic masterpieces.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Genius of the System
Summary of key ideas
The Rise of the Hollywood Studio System
In The Genius of the System, Thomas Schatz details the rise and fall of the Hollywood studio system during its golden age. He describes how the movie business, initially looked on as a mere novelty, went on to become a booming industry. The old paradigm of independent producers absorbed by a handful of major studios, set the stage for this era of corporate filmmaking, granting deep pockets and a new level of artistic control.
These major studios - Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., MGM, RKO, and Twentieth Century-Fox - shaped Hollywood’s Golden Age. Each purposefully cultivated a distinctive style and image, creating an efficient factory system to produce films. They owned the means of production, distribution, and exhibition, controlling every step of the process, which was a system known as the 'studio system.'
The Studio System's Golden Age
Schatz next explores the Golden Age of Hollywood, focusing on the height of studio power in the 1930s and 1940s. During this period, studios churned out an incredibly varied range of films, from prestige pictures to low-budget B-movies, and embraced an array of genres including musicals, comedies, melodramas, and film noirs. The studio system was at its peak—boasting talent-pools of directors, writers, actors, and more.
Creativity flourished in this rigorous system. Directors like Frank Capra and John Ford along with stars such as Clark Gable and Bette Davis helped solidify the studio’s public personae by their repeated appearance in such producers. Celebrities were glorified as part of the studio's collective identity, and their offscreen lives were carefully managed and controlled by the studios, as part of their star-making factory.
Challenges to the System
But the Hollywood studio system was not without its detractors and challengers. By the end of the 1940s, the landscape was changing. The novelist James Agee published a scathing attack, art-house theaters began to exhibit European films, and America was caught in the midst of the Cold War. Television also started to contest for the public’s attention. Higher wages, antitrust charges, and the selling of properties damaged studios economically.
These external pressures led to two major changes in the studio system. The first was the adaptation of the Hollywood production code in 1951—a taming constraint upon film content that in part would rather accelerate the birth of independent filmmakers, who now had carte blanche to produce films largely free of restrictions.
Studios in Transition
At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an antitrust decision to dissolve the vertical integration system the studios wielded, reducing control over the entire film production and distribution process. The major studios were now simply producers facing competitive independence from distribution and emerging television. In response, they turned to widescreen formats and more overtly sexual and violent content, attempting to lure audiences back into their movie theaters. Although these changes boosted box office figures temporarily, the decline of the studio era was inevitable.
With the rise of the independent and the decline of general audiences, the studio system was slowly dismantled over the 1960s. By erecting law-hurdles upon theatre-ownership and competing television, the studios staggered on through the '70s, though they lacked the sheer power and influence they once held. The definitive implosion of this system can be marked by the failure of Cleopatra in 1963, where a film’s bloated budget all but wreck Twentieth Century-Fox.
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Studio System
As Schatz concludes in The Genius of the System, the age of the studio system was both a product and symbol of its time, an era of concentrated power and grand spectacle. While the system eventually collapsed, its impact on the film industry remains deeply felt. We still see echoes of the studio system in today's blockbuster-oriented Hollywood, and the industry would always be indebted to the creativity and financial acumen behind this robust institution.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Genius of the System about?
The Genius of the System by Thomas Schatz delves into the inner workings of the Hollywood studio system during its golden age. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Schatz uncovers the creative and business strategies that shaped the industry and produced some of the most iconic films in history. A must-read for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes dynamics of classic Hollywood.
The Genius of the System Review
The Genius of the System (1988) delves into the golden age of Hollywood and explores how the studio system shaped the film industry. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Revealing behind-the-scenes stories of Hollywood moguls, it provides a fascinating look at the power struggles and creative forces that drove the studio system.
- Exploring the evolution of filmmaking techniques and the birth of genres, it offers a comprehensive understanding of how movies became the cultural force they are today.
- With its meticulous research and insightful analysis, the book presents a nuanced portrayal of the complex dynamics between art and commerce in the film industry.
Who should read The Genius of the System?
- Movie industry professionals and enthusiasts
- People interested in the history and inner workings of the Hollywood studio system
- Readers who want to gain insights into the business and artistic side of filmmaking
Categories with The Genius of the System
Book summaries like The Genius of the System
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Genius of the System FAQs
What is the main message of The Genius of the System?
The main message of The Genius of the System is the fascinating history of the Hollywood studio system and its impact on the film industry.
How long does it take to read The Genius of the System?
The reading time for The Genius of the System varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Genius of the System a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Genius of the System is a captivating read for movie enthusiasts. It unveils the behind-the-scenes workings of the Hollywood studio system, shedding light on its complexities and impact.
Who is the author of The Genius of the System?
The author of The Genius of the System is Thomas Schatz.
What to read after The Genius of the System?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Genius of the System, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson
- The Art Of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
- A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink
- Theory U by C. Otto Scharmer
- The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman
- The Innovator ’s Dilemma# by Clayton M. Christensen
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
- Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
- The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda