Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy And Reputation?

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Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy An... - 22/10/2012 10:05:36 AM

Timon

Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol

This year, both Paramount and Universal Studios celebrate their centenary and, as such, whenever you buy a new Universal DVD, you're treated to a 2 min '100 Years of Universal' trailer - which is nice.

This got me thinking, over the past 100 or so years of studio film-making, which major studio has established the best legacy, the best reputation and the best record for producing classic movies of our time?

Is it Universal for their classic horror films, their working relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, their lucrative collaborations with Steven Spielberg and their theme parks?

Is it Paramount for giving us the Indiana Jones/Star Trek films, sheparding the Marvel movies and financing Dreamworks? Warner Brothers for giving creative freedom to many directors such as Nolan, Eastwood and the Potter team and overseeing some massive franchises? Is it MGM for its groundbreaking musicals and James Bond films? 20th Century Fox for not being afraid to back horses like Titanic, Star Wars and Avatar? Or does the House of Mouse get your vote every time?

Paramount's 100 Year Photo. Click image to embiggen.

< Message edited by Timon -- 22/10/2012 10:53:41 AM >

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 10:08:09 AM

Rgirvan44

Posts: 18905
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Punishment Park

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Is it Paramount for giving us the Indiana Jones/Star Trek films, sheparding the Marvel movies and financing Dreamworks?

Missing a certain Greatest American Movie Ever Made (tm) there, Ti/.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 10:16:37 AM

Timon

Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol

Deep Rising was New Line.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 10:17:56 AM

elab49

Posts: 51639
Joined: 1/10/2005

So you mean RKO should be included?

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 10:42:18 AM

elab49

Posts: 51639
Joined: 1/10/2005

It was the greatest American film thing - Kane was RKO. As was King Kong. And some of the greatest film noir. A fair chunk of my favourite films have that broadcast logo up front. And the multi-part RKO story is one of the most fascinating of studio documentaries.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 10:57:27 AM

Whistler

Posts: 2280
Joined: 22/11/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Paramount's 100 Year Photo. Click image to embiggen.

Completely irrelevant to point of the thread, but Bieber really annoys me in this photo. Not because I dislike his music or because it's "cool" to hate on him, but just look at him: everyone else is standing/sitting normally, just looking at the camera, but there he is swinging off the platform with his hands in the air like a massive douche.

Also, Tony Scott

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 11:08:08 AM

UTB

Posts: 8983
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: Whistler

Also, Tony Scott

Indeed.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 11:19:30 AM

OPEN YOUR EYES

Posts: 3476
Joined: 5/2/2012
From: Living on Lynch's quiff

quote:

ORIGINAL: Whistler

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Paramount's 100 Year Photo. Click image to embiggen.

Completely irrelevant to point of the thread, but Bieber really annoys me in this photo. Not because I dislike his music or because it's "cool" to hate on him, but just look at him: everyone else is standing/sitting normally, just looking at the camera, but there he is swinging off the platform with his hands in the air like a massive douche.

Also, Tony Scott

Yep.
Also Tommy Chong looks like he's just been brought off the street.

There's a fair few who,quite frankly,shouldn't be in there.And Shia get a bloomin shave ,man.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 11:30:54 AM

musht

Posts: 1144
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: OPEN YOUR EYES

quote:

ORIGINAL: Whistler

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Paramount's 100 Year Photo. Click image to embiggen.

Completely irrelevant to point of the thread, but Bieber really annoys me in this photo. Not because I dislike his music or because it's "cool" to hate on him, but just look at him: everyone else is standing/sitting normally, just looking at the camera, but there he is swinging off the platform with his hands in the air like a massive douche.

Also, Tony Scott

Yep.
Also Tommy Chong looks like he's just been brought off the street.
There's a fair few who,quite frankly,shouldn't be in there.And Shia get a bloomin shave ,man.

Eddie Murphy's a giant!!!

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legacy - 22/10/2012 11:47:24 AM

OPEN YOUR EYES

Posts: 3476
Joined: 5/2/2012
From: Living on Lynch's quiff

I keep thinking what on earth is Eamonn Holmes doing in this picture,but its actually Gore Verbinski.
George Takei looks abit tipsy while Amy Heckerling looks like a recovering herion addict.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:14:23 PM

giggity

Posts: 240
Joined: 4/3/2012

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

This year, both Paramount and Universal Studios celebrate their centenary and, as such, whenever you buy a new Universal DVD, you're treated to a 2 min '100 Years of Universal' trailer - which is nice.

This got me thinking, over the past 100 or so years of studio film-making, which major studio has established the best legacy, the best reputation and the best record for producing classic movies of our time?

Is it Universal for their classic horror films, their working relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, their lucrative collaborations with Steven Spielberg and their theme parks?

Is it Paramount for giving us the Indiana Jones/Star Trek films, sheparding the Marvel movies and financing Dreamworks? Warner Brothers for giving creative freedom to many directors such as Nolan, Eastwood and the Potter team and overseeing some massive franchises? Is it MGM for its groundbreaking musicals and James Bond films? 20th Century Fox for not being afraid to back horses like Titanic, Star Wars and Avatar? Or does the House of Mouse get your vote every time?

Paramount's 100 Year Photo. Click image to embiggen.

Do you think all of them took the picture at the same time? Cos Is it me or does that pic look photoshopped?

(in reply to Timon)

Post #: 11

RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:16:12 PM

OPEN YOUR EYES

Posts: 3476
Joined: 5/2/2012
From: Living on Lynch's quiff

100% edited/Photoshopped.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:18:26 PM

Timon

Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol

On the latest Empire podcast, Kate Featherstone said it all happened and how she was bantering with Rudd and Black during the shoot... however I reckon some photoshopping went on for those who had their eyes closed/were gurning/needed touching up.

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Twitter: @timonsingh

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Post #: 13

RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:22:22 PM

Whistler

Posts: 2280
Joined: 22/11/2006

Yeah, it's obviously been brushed up, but (to me) it definitely looks like everyone's there at the same time.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:25:26 PM

OPEN YOUR EYES

Posts: 3476
Joined: 5/2/2012
From: Living on Lynch's quiff

to me it looks really edited,odd if real.
Maybe its the definition.

I was to busy looking at the shadows,some don't look like they are in conjunction with the rest of the photo..

< Message edited by OPEN YOUR EYES -- 22/10/2012 12:28:57 PM >

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 12:27:26 PM

musht

Posts: 1144
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

On the latest Empire podcast, Kate Featherstone said it all happened and how she was bantering with Rudd and Black during the shoot... however I reckon some photoshopping went on for those who had their eyes closed/were gurning/needed touching up.

No doubt some of them were done in groups, Kate, Rudd, and Black are all pretty close together. But I seriously doubt this group photo was done in one shot. Some of the proportions are all wrong. Look at Guggenheim's arm and LaBoef's leg, Lloyd's knee is clearly jabbing Guggenheim in the back, Jane Fonda's leg's are unbelievably short below the knee.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 3:48:24 PM

matty_b

Posts: 12892
Joined: 19/10/2005
From: Outpost 31 calling McMurtle.

There is no way Cameron Diaz's arm is actually behind Nick Nolte's head there.

Freeman and Streisand look odd, too.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 3:59:28 PM

vad3r

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Studios are just there to fund the film and worry about the numbers. It's the director and writer who have the biggest impact on how well the film turns out.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 4:16:26 PM

jcthefirst

Posts: 4079
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Bangor

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

On the latest Empire podcast, Kate Featherstone said it all happened and how she was bantering with Rudd and Black during the shoot... however I reckon some photoshopping went on for those who had their eyes closed/were gurning/needed touching up.

She's rather lovely too.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 5:02:56 PM

directorscut

Posts: 9864
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Is it Universal for their classic horror films, their working relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, their lucrative collaborations with Steven Spielberg and their theme parks?

Hitchcock's most famous films (Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest) were done at Paramount. Universal only acquire the rights to these films (except NBYNW) later.

I would say Warner have the biggest legacy. They brought in the talkies with The Jazz Singer, popularized the musical with Gold Diggers of Broadway and the gangster film with Little Caesar and The Public Enemy. They had a great line-up of contract players during the golden age. They also own a significant chunk of their great rival's (MGM) catalogue including their most beloved films - Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, as well as RKO - Citizen Kane. And let's not forget their animation studio.

They are also responsible for the modern comic book movie with Superman and Batman.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 5:07:53 PM

Timon

Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol

quote:

ORIGINAL: directorscut

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timon

Is it Universal for their classic horror films, their working relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, their lucrative collaborations with Steven Spielberg and their theme parks?

Hitchcock's most famous films (Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest) were done at Paramount. Universal only acquire the rights to these films (except NBYNW) later.

I would say Warner have the biggest legacy. They brought in the talkies with The Jazz Singer, popularized the musical with Gold Diggers of Broadway and the gangster film with Little Caesar and The Public Enemy. They had a great line-up of contract players during the golden age. They also own a significant chunk of their great rival's (MGM) catalogue including their most beloved films - Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, as well as RKO - Citizen Kane. And let's not forget their animation studio.

They are also responsible for the modern comic book movie with Superman and Batman.

Ah right, I was wondering when and how Universal got most of Hitch's backcatalogue.

I suppose WB now owns New Line's back catalogue as well after the 2008 merger, that could give them the edge. Plus they haven't dropped the ball as often as Fox and Paramount have...

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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Twitter: @timonsingh

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Post #: 21

RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 5:22:33 PM

adambatman82

Posts: 11156
Joined: 15/12/2005
From: Sheffield

I'd go with Warner too.

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Post #: 22

RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 22/10/2012 11:25:52 PM

Darth Marenghi

Posts: 2948
Joined: 10/10/2010
From: Manchester

I thought WB as soon as I read the thread title but DC has already made a convincing argument.

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RE: Which Major Hollywood Studio Has The Greatest Legac... - 1/11/2012 8:44:48 AM

Timon

Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol

I recently bought this book on Merian C. Cooper's unmade epic War Eagles and I read that back in the 1930s, Warner Brothers was the only Hollywood studio that embarked on a virtual crusade to alert Americans to the growing menace of Nazism. Apparently while all other studios didn't want to anger the European/German market, Polish-Jewish immigrants Harry and Jack Warner felt it was their duty to inform the American public of the insidious threat Hitler's regime posed throughout the world.

In 1933, after its Berlin manager was pummeled in a back alley by Nazi brownshirts, Warner Bros. became the first studio to sever economic ties with the lucrative German market. The brothers also pledged their allegiance by supporting the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League and hosted fundraisers for the cause. Groucho Marx once declared them �the only studio with any guts� when it came to Nazism.

_____________________________

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Twitter: @timonsingh

(in reply to Darth Marenghi)

Post #: 24