4.3 New Hollywood

New Hollywood, spanning the late 1960s to early 1980s, marked a departure from traditional studio filmmaking. This era saw filmmakers embrace experimental storytelling, morally ambiguous characters, and socially conscious themes, reflecting the cultural shifts of the time.

Factors like declining theater attendance, changing audience tastes, and the influence of European cinema contributed to New Hollywood's rise. The collapse of the studio system and the emergence of independent production companies gave directors more creative freedom, shaping a new era in American filmmaking.

Origins of New Hollywood

• New Hollywood, also known as the American New Wave, was a period in American cinema that began in the late 1960s and lasted until the early 1980s
• This era marked a significant departure from the traditional Hollywood studio system and classical narrative conventions, as filmmakers embraced more experimental, unconventional, and socially conscious approaches to storytelling

Factors leading to New Hollywood

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• Decline in movie theater attendance due to the rise of television
• Changing demographics and tastes of the American audience, particularly the growing influence of the counterculture movement and youth culture
• Financial struggles of major studios, leading to a willingness to take risks on new talent and ideas
• Relaxation of the Hays Code, which had previously restricted the content of films, allowing for more adult themes and explicit content

Influence of European cinema

• French New Wave and Italian Neorealism inspired American filmmakers to break away from traditional Hollywood conventions
• European films showcased unconventional narrative structures, realistic settings, and morally complex characters, which influenced the style and themes of New Hollywood films
• Directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Federico Fellini served as role models for aspiring American filmmakers

Collapse of studio system

• The Paramount Decree of 1948 forced studios to divest their ownership of movie theaters, weakening their control over the film industry
• The rise of independent production companies and talent agencies gave more power to individual filmmakers and actors
• Studios began to focus on financing and distributing films rather than controlling the entire production process, allowing for more creative freedom among directors and writers

Characteristics of New Hollywood films

• New Hollywood films broke away from the classical Hollywood narrative structure and embraced more experimental, unconventional, and challenging storytelling techniques
• These films often featured morally ambiguous characters, gritty and realistic aesthetics, and social and political commentary, reflecting the tumultuous cultural landscape of the 1960s and 1970s

Unconventional storytelling techniques

• Non-linear narratives that played with chronology and causality (Pulp Fiction)
• Open-ended or ambiguous conclusions that left room for interpretation (The Graduate)
• Use of flashbacks, dream sequences, and other subjective storytelling devices (Apocalypse Now)
• Rejection of traditional three-act structure in favor of more episodic or meandering narratives (Nashville)

Morally ambiguous characters

• Protagonists who were flawed, conflicted, or anti-heroic, challenging traditional notions of heroism (Taxi Driver)
• Villains who were complex, sympathetic, or blurred the lines between good and evil (The Godfather)
• Characters grappling with existential crises, alienation, and the loss of innocence (Five Easy Pieces)

Gritty and realistic aesthetics

• Location shooting and natural lighting to create a sense of authenticity and immediacy (The French Connection)
• Use of handheld cameras and documentary-style cinematography to capture the rawness of real life (Mean Streets)
• Incorporation of popular music and counterculture iconography to reflect the zeitgeist of the era (Easy Rider)

Social and political commentary

• Films that addressed controversial issues such as the Vietnam War, civil rights, feminism, and the sexual revolution (Coming Home)
• Critiques of American consumerism, conformity, and the emptiness of the American Dream (The Graduate)
• Exploration of marginalized communities and subcultures, such as the hippie movement or urban decay (Midnight Cowboy)

Key directors of the New Hollywood era

• The New Hollywood era was characterized by the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers who challenged the established norms of the film industry and brought a fresh perspective to American cinema
• These directors, often referred to as the "movie brats," were heavily influenced by European art cinema and the counterculture movement of the 1960s, and their films reflected the social, political, and cultural upheavals of the time

Martin Scorsese

• Known for his gritty, realistic portrayals of urban life and the American underworld (Taxi Driver, Mean Streets)
• Frequently collaborated with actor Robert De Niro and used popular music to create iconic soundtracks (Goodfellas)
• Explored themes of masculinity, violence, and redemption in his films (Raging Bull)

Francis Ford Coppola

• Directed the landmark film The Godfather, which revolutionized the gangster genre and became a cultural phenomenon
• Experimented with unconventional narrative structures and visual techniques in films like The Conversation and Apocalypse Now
• Founded American Zoetrope, a production company that supported the work of other New Hollywood directors

Steven Spielberg

• Helped to define the modern blockbuster with films like Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• Known for his mastery of visual storytelling and ability to blend spectacle with emotional depth (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial)
• Later work, such as Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, tackled more serious historical and political themes

George Lucas

• Created the Star Wars franchise, which became a global phenomenon and redefined the science fiction genre
• Pioneered the use of special effects and merchandising in filmmaking, paving the way for the modern blockbuster model
• Produced other successful films of the era, such as American Graffiti and Raiders of the Lost Ark

Robert Altman

• Known for his ensemble casts, overlapping dialogue, and satirical take on American culture (MASH, Nashville)
• Experimented with genre conventions and unconventional narrative structures (McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye)
• Influenced later generations of filmmakers with his improvisational style and rejection of traditional Hollywood storytelling

Landmark films of New Hollywood

• The New Hollywood era produced a number of groundbreaking films that challenged traditional Hollywood conventions and left a lasting impact on American cinema
• These films showcased the innovative storytelling techniques, gritty realism, and social commentary that defined the era, and many of them are now considered classics of American film

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

• Directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the infamous outlaw couple
• Controversial for its graphic violence and sympathetic portrayal of criminal characters
• Helped to usher in the New Hollywood era with its unconventional storytelling and rejection of traditional moral codes

The Graduate (1967)

• Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman as a disillusioned college graduate
• Captured the alienation and uncertainty of the 1960s youth culture
• Known for its innovative cinematography, memorable soundtrack, and subversive take on the traditional coming-of-age story

Easy Rider (1969)

• Directed by Dennis Hopper and starring Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson as counterculture bikers
• Epitomized the rebellious spirit and anti-establishment themes of the New Hollywood era
• Helped to launch the careers of Hopper, Fonda, and Nicholson, and inspired a wave of independent filmmaking

The Godfather (1972)

• Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on the novel by Mario Puzo
• Revolutionized the gangster genre with its complex characters, epic storytelling, and themes of power, family, and the American Dream
• Won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and became a cultural touchstone

Taxi Driver (1976)

• Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro as a mentally unstable Vietnam veteran turned taxi driver
• Explored themes of alienation, masculinity, and urban decay in 1970s New York City
• Known for its iconic performances, gritty cinematography, and controversial climax

Impact of New Hollywood on the film industry

• The New Hollywood era had a profound impact on the American film industry, both in terms of the creative possibilities it opened up and the business models it challenged
• The success of New Hollywood films demonstrated the commercial viability of unconventional, director-driven cinema and paved the way for a new generation of filmmakers

Shift in power from studios to directors

• The success of New Hollywood directors like Coppola, Scorsese, and Altman gave more creative control to filmmakers
• Studios began to see the value in giving directors more freedom to pursue their artistic visions
• This shift in power dynamics led to a wave of auteur-driven cinema in the 1970s and beyond

Influence on future generations of filmmakers

• The unconventional storytelling techniques, gritty realism, and social commentary of New Hollywood films inspired later generations of filmmakers
• Directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Christopher Nolan have cited New Hollywood films as major influences on their work
• The independent film movement of the 1990s and beyond owes a debt to the spirit of experimentation and risk-taking that defined the New Hollywood era

Revival of auteur theory

• The New Hollywood era saw a renewed interest in the idea of the director as the primary creative force behind a film
• Critics and scholars began to reevaluate the work of past directors through the lens of auteur theory, looking for recurring themes and stylistic signatures
• The success of New Hollywood directors helped to cement the idea of the director as an artist and visionary in the public imagination

Rise of blockbuster films

• While New Hollywood films were often unconventional and challenging, they also demonstrated the commercial potential of big-budget, high-concept filmmaking
• The success of films like Jaws and Star Wars helped to create the modern blockbuster model, with its emphasis on spectacle, merchandising, and franchise potential
• This trend would continue in the 1980s and beyond, as studios increasingly focused on producing big-budget, mass-appeal films

Decline of the New Hollywood era

• Despite its many successes, the New Hollywood era eventually came to an end in the late 1970s and early 1980s
• A number of factors contributed to the decline of New Hollywood, including changing audience tastes, financial pressures, and a shift back towards more traditional Hollywood storytelling

Financial failures of ambitious projects

• Some of the most ambitious and experimental films of the New Hollywood era, such as Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate, were commercial and critical failures
• These high-profile flops made studios more risk-averse and less willing to invest in unconventional or director-driven projects
• The financial failure of these films, combined with the success of more traditional blockbusters like Star Wars, helped to shift the balance of power back towards the studios

Emergence of high-concept filmmaking

• In the wake of the New Hollywood era, studios began to focus on producing more commercially viable, high-concept films
• These films, such as Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop, relied on simple, easily marketable premises and emphasized spectacle over substance
• The success of these films helped to cement the blockbuster model as the dominant mode of Hollywood filmmaking

Return to traditional storytelling conventions

• As the New Hollywood era waned, many filmmakers began to return to more traditional storytelling conventions and genres
• Films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Back to the Future combined classic Hollywood storytelling with modern special effects and production values
• This shift away from the unconventional and challenging storytelling of the New Hollywood era reflected changing audience tastes and a desire for more accessible, entertaining films