Genres and Production
Trends, 1955-1959

The changes that occurred in American film industry structure during the later 1950s-with the five major studios in continuing decline and independents on the rise-had a significant effect on the kinds of films that were made. Hollywood filmmaking began to evolve toward a broader spectrum of film types and spectator choices. Under the studio system of the 1930s and 1940s, dominated by the "Big Five" studios, the entire yearly output of Twentieth Century-Fox or Warner Bros. had to meet the expectations and preferences of the studio production head (Darryl Zanuck at Fox, Jack Warner at Warner Bros.). Under the independent production system of the late 1950s, a far larger group of decision-makers had more leeway (though certainly not total freedom) to attract and entertain movie audiences in new ways. The independents also had less loyalty than the studio moguls...