Fox Movie was a film production and distribution company founded in 1915 by William Fox. It rapidly grew into one of the biggest movie studios of its time and was responsible for some of the most iconic films of the early 20th century. Fox Movie was eventually merged with 20th Century Pictures to form 20th Century Fox, one of the most well-known studios in Hollywood history.
Early Years
William Fox began his career in the film industry by purchasing a nickelodeon theatre in Brooklyn, New York in 1904. He went on to acquire several other nickelodeons throughout the Northeastern United States and started integrating vertical integration concepts into his businesses. Fox soon saw the potential of making his own films and began investing in the production of motion pictures. In 1915, Fox established the Fox Film Corporation with financial support from several wealthy investors.
The studio’s early films were mostly low-budget productions, consisting mainly of comedies and dramas. However, they were able to attract some popular actors, such as Theda Bara, who became known as the “Vamp” and William Farnum, a popular Western star. Eventually, Fox expanded their productions to include musicals, war films, and romances.
Expansion and Growth
Despite the World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic, Fox Movie grew rapidly during the 1920s. The studio entered into a distribution deal with Warner Bros., allowing Fox films to be distributed through the Warner Bros. network of theatres. Fox also acquired a controlling interest in Loew’s Theatres, one of the largest theatre chains in the United States, which allowed for massive distribution of their films. Fox Movie built its own theatre chain, the Fox Theatres, which became one of the most successful chains of its time.
In 1926, Fox purchased the rights to a new sound-on-film technology called Movietone. Fox became a pioneer in the “talkie” era, producing some of the first successful sound films, such as “Mother Knows Best” and “The Singing Fool”. In 1929, Fox released “Hearts in Dixie”, which was the first movie with an all-black cast.
The Merger with 20th Century Pictures
Despite its success, Fox faced financial difficulties as a result of overexpansion and the Great Depression. In 1935, film producer Darryl F. Zanuck was brought in to reorganize the studio. He ended up taking control of the studio and restructured its operations, focusing on quality rather than quantity.
In 1933, 20th Century Pictures was founded by Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck. 20th Century Pictures became known for producing films with high production values, such as “The House of Rothschild” and “The Prisoner of Zenda”. In 1935, the two studios merged to form 20th Century Fox. The studio continued to produce successful films, such as “Gone with the Wind” and “The Sound of Music”.
Legacy
Fox Movie was a major force in Hollywood during its time, producing over 1,000 films during its existence. The studio was responsible for some of the most iconic films of the early 20th century, such as “The Mark of Zorro”, “Tess of the Storm Country”, and “The Grapes of Wrath”. Fox Movie was also responsible for some significant innovations in the film industry, such as the introduction of sound-on-film technology and its massive distribution network.
Today, 20th Century Fox is known as a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Fox’s legacy lives on through the films it produced, the actors it helped launch, and the contributions it made to the film industry. Fox Movie will always be remembered as a pioneer in the film industry, paving the way for the countless studios that followed in its footsteps.
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