If you start studying film history, you're going to get lists of companies and processes that created the industry we know and love today. One of those processes is Technicolor. Well, it's technically upwards of five different processes, but we'll get to that. So, what does that even mean? And what was its impact on early Hollywood? There's a whole lot to unpack. Today, we're going to define the Technicolor process, talk about its history, and look at a few examples across cinema. Let's dive in. What Does Technicolor Mean? The term "Technicolor" actually refers to a bunch of motion picture processes developed by the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation throughout the early 20th century. Why Did Hollywood Adopt Technicolor?Technicolor was more advanced than other attempts at color at the time. It also kept advancing from its onset, so it was always viewed as cutting edge. Art the start, this tech was expensive, but there was a natural draw for color from audiences. People saw it as the future and saw it as a way to have upfront costs that could pay off at the box office later. There's an article from Forbes in 1934 where they glowingly talk about the company, so many people were extremely excited about what it offered. When Technicolor had success with movies like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind, Hollywood embraced it even further. These movies were extremely profitable and set a standard for how the public wanted to see color. After that,...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 14 January, 2025