The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era

Thomas Schatz

Oct 2021 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Paul Boehmer

About this audiobook

At a time when the studio is making a stunning comeback, film historian Thomas Schatz provides an indispensable account of Hollywood's traditional blend of business and art. This book lays to rest the persistent myth that businesspeople and producers stifle artistic talent and reveals instead the genius of a system of collaboration and conflict. Working from industry documents, Schatz traces the development of house styles, the rise and fall of careers, and the making-and unmaking-of movies, from Frankenstein to Spellbound to Grand Hotel. The Genius of the System gives the definitive view of the workings of the Old Hollywood and the foundations of the New.

About the author

Thomas Schatz is a professor of radio-TV-film at the University of Texas in Austin. He is the author of Hollywood Genres and The Genius of the System.

Paul Boehmer is a seasoned actor who has appeared on Broadway, film, and television, including The Thomas Crown Affair and All My Children. Coinciding with another of his passions, sci-fi, Paul has been cast in various roles in many episodes of Star Trek.