The Motion Picture Industry

New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. Very Good. 1933. First Edition. Hardcover. (no dust jacket) [good sound copy, some soiling and light foxing to edges of text block but otherwise very presentable, with gilt spine lettering still bright, one-time owner's signature at top of front endpaper]. (charts, tables, etc.) One of the earliest book-length "outside" analyses of movie-making as an industry, by an author affiliated with the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. This study was "made possible through the generous cooperation of Mr. Joseph P. Kennedy," and provides "ample evidence of his broad vision that at no time and under no (truncated) circumstances has he suggested how the study should be conducted, nor has he in the slightest manner attempted to influence the way in which the material should be presented or the conclusions reached." (Now, why would anyone think otherwise of Papa Joe?) Chapters are devoted to: Background of the Industry; Organization; Production (2 chapters); Block Booking; Pricing; Protection; Advertising; Arbitration; The Independent Exhibitor; Chain Theater Control; Censorship; Foreign Problems. Includes two fold-out organizational charts, "Production Department, Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, 1929" and "Electronics' Chart of the Sound Picture Industry of the World." It's worth remembering that most of American industry, including the movie biz, was in deep crisis during the Depression year of 1933; this book appeared early in the year, and before long much of the industry's upper-management attention would be directed toward the drafting of an industrial Code of Practice, as required under the National Recovery Art (NRA). ****NOTE that additional postage charges will be assessed for international shipping of this moderately heavy book; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order. As always at ReadInk, domestic Media Mail shipping is free.**** . (Inventory #: 26989)