MGM

Definition

MGM, or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was a major American film studio and entertainment company that dominated the movie industry during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was formed in 1924 through the merger of three production companies: Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and Louis B. Mayer Pictures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. MGM was known for its lavish productions, iconic stars, and distinctive lion logo that appeared at the beginning of its films.
2. Under the leadership of Louis B. Mayer, MGM became the most powerful and prestigious of the major Hollywood studios during the 1930s and 1940s.
3. MGM's stable of stars included legendary actors such as Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and Katharine Hepburn, who appeared in many of the studio's most successful films.
4. The studio was renowned for its musicals, including classic films like The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain, and Meet Me in St. Louis.
5. MGM's decline began in the 1950s as the studio system started to crumble and television became a more dominant form of entertainment.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of MGM's role in the Hollywood studio system during the 1920s-1940s.
  • During the Republican Ascendancy period in the 1920s, MGM was a dominant force in the Hollywood studio system. As a vertically integrated studio, MGM controlled every aspect of the filmmaking process, from production to distribution and exhibition. This allowed the studio to produce lavish, high-quality films that became iconic during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Under the leadership of Louis B. Mayer, MGM cultivated a stable of popular stars and became the most powerful and prestigious of the major Hollywood studios, shaping the industry and popular culture throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
• Describe how MGM's film productions and star system contributed to the cultural landscape of the 1920s.
  • MGM's film productions during the 1920s played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of the time. The studio's vertically integrated structure allowed it to produce and distribute a wide range of films, from musicals to dramas, that captivated audiences across the country. MGM's stable of iconic stars, such as Clark Gable and Judy Garland, became household names and cultural icons, influencing fashion, behavior, and societal norms. The studio's lavish productions and attention to detail set new standards for the industry, contributing to the glamour and escapism that characterized the Golden Age of Hollywood during the Republican Ascendancy period.
• Analyze how the decline of the Hollywood studio system, including the rise of television, impacted MGM's dominance in the industry during the 1950s.
  • The decline of the Hollywood studio system in the 1950s, marked by the erosion of the vertically integrated model and the rise of television as a dominant form of entertainment, significantly impacted MGM's dominance in the industry. As the studio system crumbled and audiences increasingly turned to television for their entertainment, MGM's control over the entire filmmaking process and its reliance on a stable of contracted stars became less advantageous. The studio struggled to adapt to the changing landscape, and its once-formidable position in the industry began to wane. The shift away from the studio system and the growing popularity of television ultimately contributed to MGM's decline during the 1950s, as the company faced increasing competition and challenges in maintaining its cultural and commercial dominance in the evolving entertainment landscape.

Related terms

Hollywood Studio System: The Hollywood studio system was a method of film production and distribution that dominated the American film industry from the 1920s to the 1960s. It involved the major studios, like MGM, controlling every aspect of the filmmaking process.

Vertically Integrated Studio: A vertically integrated studio is a film production company that owns or controls various stages of the filmmaking process, from production to distribution and exhibition, allowing for greater control and profitability.

Golden Age of Hollywood: The Golden Age of Hollywood refers to the period from the end of the silent film era in the late 1920s to the early 1960s, when the major film studios, including MGM, dominated the American film industry and produced some of the most iconic and commercially successful movies.