A Trip Into The Depths Of Cinematic History...

The Hollywood studio system was set in motion in the 1930's. It consisted of the five renowned production giants, most of whom still exist today. They include:-

1) Warner Brothers

2) RKM

3) MGM

4) Paramount

5) 20th Century Fox

John Wayne, Universally renowned Cowboy 

The industry was vertically integrated, meaning that studios had complete power of every aspect of the industry, including distribution as well as the running of theatres. In other words, it was an oligopoly, where studios controlled, quite literally, everything. As well as this, studios built up reputations for certain types of film, and actors could be tied down to lengthy contracts, thus ensuring that actors (see left) could become synonymous with a specific genre.




The Demise of the Studio System:-
However, despite the successes of these studios, it was to collapse due to the rising power of television, bring entertainment into the home itself. This meant that actors were now the main players; they could work freelance, unbound by studio contracts. In other words, it was the actors who now had the bargaining power.

Classic Narrative Structures:-
Unlike nowadays, genres were very much wholly static and rigid, following a very basic structure; lets use the example of a Western:

• Equilibrium: John Wayne takes a swig of whisky at the saloon on the Western frontier with his fellow cowboys, engrossed in a game of cards.
• Disruption: Clint Eastwood bursts through the swing doors, clasping a pistol, taking a damsel in distress hostage.
• Re- Equilibrium: John Wayne defeats Eastwood in a shootout and peace is restored.

This very melodramatic style of movie-making was of the norm at that time, people enjoyed the familiarity of each genre at that time (see post on genre for more info).

Genre Recognition:
Conventions for genres during this period-
-Iconography (the cowboy hats and the saloon bar)
-Plot (see above)
-Character (the addition of heroes, villains etc)
-Setting (Sweeping, dusty landscape)
- Music and Stars (John Wayne)

Summary: 
Social, cultural, economic, political changes all affected the studio system and thus the development of genre.