Movie Brats - A history of desperate times

Just done A MASSIVE PRESENTATION on Movie Brats and their contribution to Hollywood.

In a lot of ways they have contributed to the Hollywood we know today.


The studio system was in turmoil losing millions of Dollars, you have to imaging you were in the late 1940's (I know- difficult!) and the 1950's. The TV was starting to dominate with many people now moving away from major cities and settling in the suburbs.

A key thing socially to understand it was the end of World War II so  soldiers were coming home from war at the time and getting married and having kids and living the perfect 1950's life.
Instead of going to the movies instead Americans had found new ways of entertaining themselves, with popular sports being the focus such as baseball.

One of the studios that suffered the most was MGM.

The top dog of the Major 5 

MGM Suffered losses of over $72million, with the overall loss to the film industry being a massive $200 Million!

Something was going wrong with the films being put into cinemas, Americans were changing and in the 1960's this was the most important issue Hollywood had to face.

The 1960's was a time of social change and freedom. The Black Population of America had finally won their battle over segregation, The Vietnam War was just about to begin and Hippies were spreading the teachings peace and love.

With all this change Hollywood were still churning out their pretty, glossy movies that stared the most beautiful Starlets.

Doris Day- A Beautiful Starlet of a golden age of Hollywood

The mass audience of the American population that went to the movies were 16-25 year olds! They didn't want the glossy motion pictures of glorified narratives and beautiful stars.

They wanted films that reflected the time, the actual changes that were occurring in America and to have them displayed from their point of view.

Although American Movies were suffering the European films were thriving.

James Bond for example on release in US cinemas was a massive success with young people rushing to the cinemas to see this english super spy.



The appeal of the fast cars, beautiful women but with a narrative that dealt with real social threats appealed to young American audiences.

The Names Bond, James Bond
Sean Connery the original Bond. 

James Bond had the appeal of the old Hollywood with the gloss and the fancy cars, gadgets and beautiful stars.
In 1962, Hollywood was trying to cling onto the golden era when all around them everything was changing. Music, Fashion and social attitudes were majorly changing and this was making the film industry suffer.

Imported films were making more at the Box Office than Home Grown films.











The biggest shock came when little low Budget independents became massive box office hits.

And so Enter the MOVIE BRAT!

Easy Rider (1969) was a important film of the time as it connected to the mass audience.
Directed by Dennis Hopper, the film looks into the hippie movement and the real life interpretation of taking drugs from a personal point of view.

Easy Rider film image 

The Late Dennis Hopper 

This was the start of an age were Hollywood began to take risks.