International films and international markets: the globalisation of Hollywood entertainment, c.1921-1951

The international appeal of Hollywood films through the twentieth century has been a subject of interest to economic and film historians alike. This paper employs some of the methods of the economic historian to evaluate key arguments within the film history literature explaining the global success of American films. Through careful analysis of both existing and newly constructed data sets, the paper examines the extent to which Hollywood's foreign earnings were affected by: film production costs; the extent of global distribution networks; and also the international orientation of the films themselves. The paper finds that these factors influenced foreign earnings in quite distinct ways, and that their relative importance changed over time. The evidence presented here suggests a degree of interaction between the production and distribution arms of the major US film companies in their pursuit of foreign markets that would benefit from further archival-based investigation

Derrière les ombres de l’écran : Le cinéma américain en tant qu’industrie

L'auteur décrit et analyse l'implantation de l'industrie cinématographique américaine à travers le monde. Il montre comment les Américains, directement ou à travers les filiales de leurs compagnies, ont réussi à imposer leurs films partout et à contrôler par les moyens les plus divers; une bonne part des grandes industries cinématographiques nationales. T. H. Guback ne limite pas son étude à la seule dimension économique, il fait voir les grands avantages que la politique étrangère et le commerce américain retirent du cinéma. L'auteur analyse d'une façon plus particulière comment la Motion Picture Export Company (sœur jumelle de la Motion Picture Association of America qui a été qualifiée de " petit Département d'État " ) s'est implantée sur le continent africain.The author describes and analyses the way the American Movie Industry has put down roots all over the world. He shows how the Americans, directly or through their branch companies, have succeeded in imposing their films everywhere and in controling by the most various means a good part of the national film industries in other countries. T. H. Guback does not limit his study to the economic dimension alone ; he also shows the great advantages which accrue to american foreign policy and commerce through the film. The author analyses more specifically how the Motion Picture Export Company (twin sister of the Motion Picture Association of America which has been called " the little State Department ") puts down roots on the african continent.El autor describe y analiza la implantación de la industria cinematográfica americana a través del mundo. Muestra cómo los americanos, directamente o a través de las filiales de sus compañías, han logrado imponer sus películas por todos los lados y a controlar con los medios más diversos una buena parte de las grandes industias cinematográficas nacionales. T. H. Guback no limita su estudio a la sola dimensión económica, hace ver las grandes ventajas que la política extranjera y el comercio americano retiran del cine. El autor analiza de una manera más particular como la Motion Picture Export Company (hermana gemela de la Motion Picture Association of America que ha sido calificada de " pegueño departamento del E.stado ") se ha implantado en el continente africano

The International Film Industry

This original and fully documented study finds that the trend in film making in the Western world is to international coproduction. The massive increase of American investment in European film companies, and the continuing search for wider and more lucrative markets are creating a dehumanized, slick style of film that eliminates domestic cultural characteristics and blurs the expression of individual national perceptions. Mr. Guback discusses postwar quota and tariff restrictions erected by European countries to protect their national film industries; the use of the boycott to force a foreign market for American films; the increasing acceptance of European films in the United States; and the United States' backing of the American industry and use of film for propaganda purposes. He shows the intricacies of coproduction and the creation of an industry that is truly international in financing, production, and distribution. Mr. Guback has tapped a reservoir of new sources by personally interviewing film executives on both sides of the Atlantic, and by gaining access to documents heretofore unavailable to researchers. His study provides economists and film buffs with significant new material and interpretation