The Hollywood Studio System

Gomery, who teaches communications at the University of Maryland, has produced a detailed textbook on the economics of the Hollywood studio system which will no doubt become required reading at every film school. The eight major corporations which dominated the ""golden age''1930 through 1949are examined in terms of management style, financial stability, labor and production, distribution and exhibition. Balance sheets for each are provided to substantiate Gomery's conclusion that the profit motive dictated all artistic decisions. Competitors had difficulty breaking into the charmed corporate circle of MGM, Warner Bros., Paramount et al.; any illusions about Hollywood autonomy are swiftly dispelled by a description of the financial clout centered in New York City's brokerage houses. For those interested in a comprehensive view of the megabucks industry, this is a solid grounding in the business side of a glamorous, ephemeral workplace. Photos. January 6