Zoo li cas “B” Films?
“B” films resulted from Hollywood distribution companies implementing a double bill or two movies screening strategy at theaters they owned. Thaum twg lub siab loj coj yeeb yam goers rov forgoing films ntawm 1930 thiab 1932, Hollywood studios, uas tseem tshuaj no ntau lawm thiab tis, came up with the idea of showing two films back-to-back to give customers more bang for their buck.
Ib qho chaw twg raug rau cov tsos koom tes mus ntsib ib tug tas luav, ib ntus, a continuing weekly serial like Flash Gordon, ib cheaper lossis formula zaj duab xis hu ua ib “B” zaj duab xis, thiab cov feature. Tom qab tus economy txawm zoo tu qab tso, viewers xav pom ib peb teev los yog tshaj kev txhua lub sij hawm lawv mus tom cov tsos.
Los tseem Mr. Wong hauv Chinatown (1939)
raws li Ib tus me nyuam twb qhia cov zaj duab xis thaum da-viv A. Ua noj, qhov uas “B” films raug faib tom qab me ntsis nyiaj raug mob xws li tus tsim kom muaj los yog distributor. Nws kuj tsim muaj ntau me me nyiaj paj tau paj.
Profits ntawm ib zaj duab xis feature raug muab faib rau tus tsim kom muaj thiab distributor uas nyob txhua qhov chaw ntawm ib 60/40 rau ib tug 80/20 phua. “B” films twb khiab tsev nyob rau ib lub limtiam pav ca. Raws li ua noj, qhov nruab nrab nyiaj rau ib tug “B” zaj duab xis nyob $20,000, uas muab ib $3,000 mus $4,000 nyiaj.
Los yeej ntxhov ntxhov Destinies (1932)
Tus “B” films did produce several very popular series such as Charlie Chan, The Three Mesquiteers and Hopalong Cassidy, uas nrov tseem niaj hnub no. Txawm tias lawv tau nyob rau ntawm pob nyiaj siv me me, the films were entertaining and still enjoy a following today.
Thaum cov suab duab tuam txhab uas muag yuam kom lawv cov tsev ua yeeb yam chains divest thiab viewers tastes hloov tom qab 1949, nqe ob chav faded rau hauv keeb kwm.
With little demand, tus “B” studios were forced out of business but they have left a legacy of cheap but entertaining films. Most of the films are available free in the public domain through sites like the Internet Archive.
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