The Classic Hollywood Style

 (c) PBS American Cinema

In my Cinema class, we've been watching episodes of PBS' American Cinema - 100 Years of Filmmaking, so expect that I'll be blogging a lot about American Cinema's episodes. So to start, let's talk about the first episode. The Hollywood Style. So what is the classic Hollywood Style?

PBS American Cinema Episode 1: The Hollywood Style 
(c) PBS American Cinema

American Cinema is enjoyed not only by Americans but also by different races from different parts of the world. Its style is almost invisible, which serves a purpose to let you come into that world it presents to you. American cinema is loved by people because "it is like a dazzling journey in a life and a place that has little resemblance to your own." - Sydney Pollack, American Cinema

It gives a sense of escapism from their world to a world they want to go. Its Classic Hollywood Style contributed to American Cinema’s success. 

The Classic Hollywood Styles are the following:

     Classic Hollywood style is almost invisible

     American cinema is like a fairy tale

     It is a cinema that always tries to work on the identification level

The Wizard of Oz photo from PBS American Cinema

    Love stories depend on great obstacles. Great love stories depend on non-overcomable obstacles.

     Love stories were always tragic love stories

Casablanca 1942 Warner Bros / Turner photo from PBS American Cinema

    Costume dramas

    Everything is at the surface of the narrative of the story

The Heiress photo from PBS American Cinema

     Hollywood style began as a studio style

Paramount Pictures Studio. photo from PBS American Cinema

Editing is invisible to the audience, the only things left out in screen is the story and actors
Invisible style of story telling.

Camera shots: 
                     - long shot, work in way to closer shot, and go over shoulder and then close up.

long shot, closer shot, shoulder shot  from Casablanca 
photo from PBS American Cinema

                      -  The style becomes illusionistic; the style is saying “come in to this world”.
                      -  Lets the actors move just across the frame
                      -  Defocused shots: everybody is in focus

defocused shot from Carrie (1952, Paramount) (c) PBS American Cinema

                       - Close-up shots: Character becomes you at the moment

close up shot from Rear Window (1954, Alfred Hitchcock / MCA)
photo from PBS American Cinema

                         - Uses emotional point-of-view
                         - Uses basic action
                         - Uses long shots
                         - Uses MTV cuts

      Simple emotional ideas are strongly and clearly presented

      It is Character driven

      Exaggerates character and situations in order to make a point

      Influenced by European films

      Told in subjective description

      The audience is the invisible witnesses of what is happening

      Characterized by self-consciousness off the old Hollywood

Films are versions of the universe as the directors perceive it. All of life's riddles are answered in the movies. Classic Hollywood Style has not ended; it continues to be visible around the world. The only things changed are the tools which they work with. Classic Hollywood Style is still used up to today. Classic Hollywood Style is like doing something you’ve never done before; it is always experimenting.

Films narrative forms are continually changing. Some directors play with the narration, some stick to the classic. Camera shot changes, editing becomes visible, the storytelling changes. Everything changes. Films are ever changing. But despite that, the Classic Hollywood Style is still present. And even if they say, this film is the opposite of the classic style, tracing down from where it came, it still came from The Classic Hollywood Style. Things in the film come and go, but something remains, The Classic Hollywood Style.



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Source:
Pitkethly, L. (Director & Writer). (1995). The Hollywood Style [documentary episode]. In M. Ornati (Producer), American Cinema- 100 Years of Filmmaking. Arlington: PBS.