The Genius of the System

Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era

By: Thomas Schatz, Steven Bach - preface

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

At a time when the studio is making a stunning comeback, film historian Thomas Schatz provides an indispensable account of Hollywood's traditional blend of business and art. This book lays to rest the persistent myth that businesspeople and producers stifle artistic talent and reveals instead the genius of a system of collaboration and conflict. Working from industry documents, Schatz traces the development of house styles, the rise and fall of careers, and the making - and unmaking - of movies, from Frankenstein to Spellbound to Grand Hotel. The Genius of the System gives the definitive view of the workings of the Old Hollywood and the foundations of the New.

©1988 Thomas Schatz; Preface copyright 1996 by Steven Bach (P)2021 Tantor

A fascinating and extensive look at Old Hollywood

I really enjoyed this book. There was so much interesting information about different movies over the years from about 1920-1960.

I especially like how they explained how some movies were developed, marketed and how they performed at the box office.

Since reading this, I watched a few classics and have been enjoying them very much.

Couldn’t Stop Listening

I wish this book went on for hours more! It was so interesting and informative.

Tightly Packed

At 24 1/2 hr, I was a little hesitant starting this book, thinking it would stretch out endlessly. But I wish it never ended. So many details of classic films, directors, stars, producers and screenwriters, all brilliantly woven into the studios, economies, successes and failures of the golden era. The intimidating length of the book flew by without a lull. It is probably my favorite of all my books on Hollywood. It has so much information that I already look forward to revisiting. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves this sort of information

A Textbook on Old Hollywood

I knew some of the people who lived and worked in old Hollywood and they were far more entertaining than this book. It is solid, but it is covering so many people, films, and studios it can't do justice to any of them. But if you don't know anything about Hollywood before 1960 this is a good introduction. If you are knowledgeable you will pickup a lot of tidbits and probably fill in some gaps, but still this was about the blandest coverage ever written of John Ford, Jack Warner, Louis B. Mayer, and Veronica Lake.