Advances in the Film Industry

 

The 1940's brought about new advancements in the film industry. Film makers introduced new ideas such as sound recording, special effects, color use, and lighting, that made movies more popular and enjoyable to watch. Horror films used techniques such as fog and stop motion to capture their audience and pull them into the terror. In order for the film producers to successfully do stop motion, the actress/actor would have to sit still for hours, upon hours while the makeup was gradually applied. Can you imagine the patience and discipline that would take! They used this in films such as The Wolf Man to make it appear as if the man was really turning into a werewolf. Early 1940's horror films used the effect of what you don't see is scarier than what you do see, to place fear in their audience. In addition, as they did in noir films, dim lighting and thematic scenes were used in many 1940's films to scare the audience. Tricks which are still used in today's films. An orchestra plays in the background to set the thematic scenes of all different types of movies. Of course, films back in these days were not nearly as advanced, and did have the issue of continuity. In other advancements, film director Orson Welles, was the first to use tighter apertures which created a large depth of field in his film. This rendered every detail of the background and created a sharp focus. This practice became known as deep focus, and was popular from the 1940's onward.

Despite these advancements, the film industry did not look promising in the early 1940's due to the attack on Pear Harbor in 1941. As many other things were, the film industry was also effected by the war. Due to World War II, film producers were forced to cut back on their stage equipment and props during the hard times of the war. With the invention of sound film production, the film industry made a rather quick rebound in 1943 until 1946, earning $4.5 billion in box-office tickets, reaching its highest profitable peak. Many Americans liked to spend there free time at the theater. It was considered  the place to be seen. In 1946, the theaters reached their all-time highest attendance record, proving that the film industry was making big strides. Styles such as film noir, war films, and animations grew in popularity. However, advancements were not made in the prejudice sense of roles for women and African Americans. Although white woman received better roles than African American, both faced some amount of discrimination in the film industry. Advancements were made, but many more were to come.

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War Films

The film industry took a turn after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1942, The Office of War Information (OWI) was created. Headed by the U.S. Government, its purpose was to be used as a propaganda agency during World War II. The Office of War Information partnered with the film industry to capture the war-time activities via photography and film. Together they released newsreels, propaganda, short films, educational films, and documentaries for civilians and military troops. The early 1940's is where we see a huge use of propaganda. The government pushed the film industry to gear their films towards some form of propaganda. War films were more realistic than films of the time, or even in the years before. The war films offered reassurance, escapist entrainment, and all films had a patriotic theme. Casablanca is an example of a subtle use of propaganda, with it's romance and heroism. Casablanca was about two lovers separated by World War II. Film productions also helped collaborate with the military to create documentaries. Documentaries such as The Battle of Midway were captured by U.S. Navy men. The film captures live footage of the Japanese attack on Midway. These films were made to show Americans what the troops did, and what went on in battle. Other films, such as 49th Parallel (which was released before the Pearl Harbor attack) was made by Michael Powell, a British writer/director. His purpose was to scare the United States into joining the war because we were neutral at the time. At the request of the military, film producers made films that would train the troops for war. Films such as Parachute Battalion, trained troops on the steps and precautions to take when parachuting out of a plane. Even the Disney Studio Production took part in this.

 

Many actors enlisted during World War II to show their patriotism for their country. Stars such as Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, and Don Knotts served in the military. It set a great example for many Americans and enforced the morale that men were to go off and fight. In addition, war films were also used to exalt America's allies in films such as Edge of Darkness , a film about Norwegian resistance fighters, and Mrs. Miniver, a story about a British family on the home front. Many of America's war films were meant to promote the unity of America and demonize the enemies.  

Noir Films

Noir films were know for being dark, thematic, and having a disturbing visual style. The dim lighting and suspenseful scenes make for a dramatic movie that pulled the audience in, and became a classical in Hollywood cinema. It was first inspired visual style rooted from German expressionist cinematography. Noir films were well known for their drama, organized crime, sexual motivations, and cynical attitudes. Noir films, also known as melodramas, had complex characters and tested the relationship between women and the family. Much of the inspiration for noir films spurred from the crime and hardboiled times that arose during the great depression. 

Noir film brought about a new image for women. At the time, women were still known as the homemaker. Noir films painted a different picture of women, stereotyping them into two different stereotypes. There was the femme fatale, a woman or grows tired of being constricted in her marriage and will succumb to violence, if needed, to escape from her mundane lifestyle. Femme fatale was an exaggerated view of the idea men had of the new working women. Men felt threatened by the idea of women taking their place in the workforce. Femme fatale women were ambitious, independent, sexual, and sometimes malicious. Opposite of the femme fate character was the nurturing women, who made the femme fatale character look all the more evil. The nurturing woman is there to support the hero and challenge him into a domestic lifestyle. She deeply cares for the man, and always stands by him. Viewed as the homemaker, her character was overshadowed by the man. The characteristics of the nurturing woman were brought about by the sexist view men had of women in the 1940's. They were the ideal figure men thought women should fit. These characters were always passive, obedient, and gentle. We see these characteristics in films such as Out of the Past. Out of the Past portrays what society thought women should be and what they were becoming. These lifestyles were not the same of the values and beliefs upheld by Americans. Noir films contrasted with the nuclear family, where first came marriage, then children, and everyone lived happily ever after. In many of the noir films, only the corrupt were strong enough to survive. Other, less corrupt characters, such as the nurturing woman, were no match for the corrupted characters. As part of a character change, some women started out as the role of the nurturing woman and throughout the film they become involved in the crime. This is where we see a shift of characteristics from nurturing woman to feeme fatale. Noir films the stage for more dramatic and crime related films in America.

Walt Disney Films

Walter Elisa Disney was the co-founder of Walt Disney Productions, along with his brother Roy O. Disney. Walter was  famous for producing, animating, writing, directing, and voice acting. With hard work and perseverance, he was the first American to create an animated future-length film in technicolor. After his big box-office hit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1939), which was the highest-grossing film of the time, Walter went on to try his luck again. In 1940, Walt Disney Productions released their second animated film, Pinocchio. The film did not pull in the revenue the company had hoped for. Shortly after Pinocchio, Walt Disney Productions released Fantasia. Once again, it did not accumulate the profit expected.

In 1941, the Unites States Department assigned the Disney Production company and some of its animators, to relocate to South America as part of the Good Neighbor Policy, in exchange for financial help with the film Saludos Amigos. Briefly after the release of Dumbo in 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and we were hastily preparing for war. After the war had begun, much of the film producing had stopped as many of Walter's animators were drafted. The Disney Production company was essentially converted into a propaganda machine for the Government. In addition, the Walt Disney Production Company worked with the U.S. Army and Navy Bureau of Aeronautics to produce training and instruction films for the military. The Navy requested that animations be made to educate sailors on navigation tactics. They also created short films such as Der Fuehrer's Face, featuring Donald Duck, as a use of propaganda and to influence Americans to buy war bonds. Der Fuehrer's Face later went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In another effort to boost the morale of the Americans at home, Disney produced Victory Through Air Power in 1943. Throughout the war, the company effectively used Donald Duck, among other characters to communicate their ideas while introducing the world to the Disney characters at the same time. Other short films such as Donald Gets Drafted, were used to spark patriotism and romanticize Army life. Disney produced 68 hours of educational war films over the duration of the war. With the use of propaganda and educational films being such a big hit, the Treasury Department requested that Walt Disney create a short animation called The New Spirit, to compel Americans to accept the payment of income taxes.

Walt Disney Productions were successful during World War II due to their creative sense of animation, and compliance to help the government and military bring the country the courage and knowledge they needed to win the war. Disney films, such as the educational and propaganda films, had an extensive effect on society during the war. Propaganda films were used to set the moral of our nation, and impel Americans to fight for their country. In addition, the educational films informed the troops of important tasks they would be executing, how to do it, and their purpose for completing it. Walt Disney Productions not only provided entertainment, but they increased support for the war.

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Bette Davis

Bette Davis was known as "The First Lady of the American Screen," and had a profound impact on the American film industry as a woman. She was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on April 5th, 1908 as Ruth Elizabeth Davis. Bette loved attention since the day she was born. She was first involved in dance until she experienced the stage. Following her passion for acting, Bette attended John Murray Anderson's Dramatic School after graduating from Crushing Academy. Before her days of stardom, she had her first Broadway debut in "Broken Dishes" in 1929, and later landed a role in "Solid South."

In 1930, Bette packed up her belongings and moved to Hollywood to screen test for a six month contract with Universal Studios. Her first film, Way Back Home (1931) was unsuccessful. That same year she tried again with The Bad Sister, which was also unsuccessful. With her movies not producing the profits Universal Studios wanted, they let her go. By 1932, Bette did not receive another contract with Universal Studio, so she signed a seven year contract with Warner Brothers. Her first critically acclaimed hit movie was Of Human Bondage, released in 1934. Thanks to her spectacular role in Dangerous (1935), she was nominated for a best Actress Oscar. Bette's talent was awarded when she became the first actress from Warner Brothers to win the Coveted Award. Unsatisfied with the roles she kept receiving, Bette left Warner Brother Production. After a dispute in 1936, in which Bette left the United States, she was offered another contract and better roles from the Warner Brother Production. The next five consecutive years, Bette received Oscar nominations.

Bette Davis was known for being difficult to work with, yet she was still a powerful woman in the film industry. She earned the title of highest paid woman in America, by 1942. She was known for playing difficult and unsympathetic roles. Confident on-screen and off, Bette had no problem performing in an industry that was dominated by men. Her personal life was just as hectic as the movies she played in. After being married four times, Bette had three kids. Two of which she adopted. Aside from acting, Bette helped organize the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. This was a once-abandoned night club that she turned into a place to entertain the soldiers passing through Los Angeles. Bette later went on to say, "There are few accomplishments in my life that I am sincerely proud of. The Hollywood Canteen is one of them." Bette was  in hundreds of films by the 1970's, and was the first woman to receive the American Films Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. Bette Davis was an incredible actress that forever changed how women were viewed in the film industry.