Paramount Pictures

Definition

Paramount Pictures is one of the oldest and most significant film studios in Hollywood, established in 1912. It played a crucial role in shaping the film industry during the silent era by producing and distributing films that defined the early cinematic landscape. As a major studio, it contributed to the rise of several influential filmmakers and the development of key cinematic techniques during this transformative period.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Paramount Pictures was originally founded as Famous Players Film Company by Adolph Zukor in 1912, later merging with several companies to become Paramount Pictures.
2. During the silent era, Paramount Pictures produced iconic films such as 'The Cheat' (1915) and 'Wings' (1927), the latter winning the first Academy Award for Best Picture.
3. The studio was known for its star system, helping to launch and promote numerous silent film stars like Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino.
4. Paramount was also instrumental in establishing the 'block booking' system, which allowed studios to force theaters to show multiple films at once, enhancing their market control.
5. The company's involvement in innovative filmmaking techniques during the silent era laid the groundwork for its continued success with sound films in the late 1920s and beyond.

Review Questions

• How did Paramount Pictures influence the development of filmmaking techniques during the silent era?
  • Paramount Pictures had a significant impact on filmmaking techniques during the silent era by embracing innovative storytelling methods and production values. The studio was at the forefront of developing techniques such as close-ups and elaborate set designs that enhanced visual storytelling. Additionally, they were influential in editing practices that improved narrative flow, which helped set standards for future filmmaking both in silent and sound cinema.
• Evaluate the role of Paramount Pictures in shaping the star system during the silent film era.
  • Paramount Pictures played a crucial role in shaping the star system during the silent film era by promoting key actors through strategic marketing and contract agreements. The studio created personas for stars like Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino, which attracted audiences and ensured box office success. By cultivating these stars, Paramount not only increased its own visibility but also established a model for how studios could leverage celebrity appeal to enhance their films' commercial viability.
• Assess how Paramount Pictures' business practices, such as block booking, affected competition within the early film industry.
  • Paramount Pictures' implementation of block booking significantly impacted competition within the early film industry by allowing it to exert control over theaters. This practice forced theaters to screen multiple films from a studio rather than allowing them to select individual titles, creating an uneven playing field where smaller studios struggled to gain exhibition opportunities. The dominance of Paramount's business practices contributed to a consolidated studio system that shaped the landscape of American cinema during this period, influencing how films were produced, distributed, and consumed.

Related terms

Silent Film: A type of motion picture that lacks synchronized sound, especially spoken dialogue, which dominated the early years of cinema before the advent of sound films.

Hollywood Studio System: The organizational structure of film studios in Hollywood from the 1920s to the 1960s, characterized by vertical integration, where studios controlled production, distribution, and exhibition.

William Fox: A significant figure in early cinema and founder of Fox Film Corporation, known for his contributions to the silent film era and competition with other major studios like Paramount.