CRI English Unit 20:American Movies II 美国电影 2

20世纪福斯电影公司 (20th Century-Fox Film Corp.)

    Established in 1994 as the independent amp3 of Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures is a filmmaker-oriented company, creating distinctive films helmed by world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers. By blending specialty releases with trademark arthouse fare, Fox Searchlight's leadership has solidified its position in the independent film marketplace.

    This year, Fox Searchlight Pictures kicked off April with Cedric the Entertainer's first starring vehicle, JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION, which hits the road with an all star cast that includes Bow Wow, Vanessa Williams, Shannon Elizabeth, Solange Knowles and Steve Harvey. In June, moviegoers met NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, some sweet moon boots, and skills that can't be topped. The film, which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, also opened the US Comedy Arts Film Festival, where it was awarded Best Feature.

    成立于1935年5月，由默片时代的大公司福斯电影公司和20世纪影片公司合并而成，是30-40年代好柒坞8家大电影公司之一。当时公司拥有导演E.刘别谦、E.卡善、O.普雷明格等人，并拥有不少受观众欢迎的电影明星，如S.邓波儿、L.杨、H.方达、G.佩克等，他们曾拍摄了一些有一定质量的影片。这一时期，公司生产的影片样式不一，艺术质量也参差不齐，但影片的技术质量都比较高。 t940年J.福特为公司导演的《怒火之花》可作为艺术与技术质量俱佳的例子。从50年代开始，美国电影业进入衰退时期。该公司为了与新兴的电视抗衡，曾致力于研究宽银幕在商业上的应用。1953年9月16日根据圣经故事改编拍摄的宽银幕故事片《长袍》在纽约罗克亚影院上映，这第一部宽银幕故事片不仅是该公司成立以来最赚钱的影片，也是电影从默片进入有声片以来在技术上的一次突破。60年代，摄制了美国电影史上成本空前的影片《克娄巴特拉》(1963，一译《埃及艳后》)，遭到失败。1972年又推出《海神号遇险记》，开创了泛滥于70年代的灾难 片样式。70年代后期，该公司拍片很少。1981年大石油商M.戴维斯买下了这家公司。

哥伦比亚影业公司 (Columbia Pictures Corp.)

    American motion-picture studio that became a major Hollywood studio under its longtime president, Harry Cohn. Columbia originated in 1920 when Cohn, Joe Brandt, and Harry's brother Jack Cohn founded the C.B.C. Sales Film Corporation to produce shorts and low-budget westerns and comedies. In an attempt to refurbish the studio's reputation, its name was changed to Columbia.

    Columbia TriStar Films Pty Ltd is an affiliate of Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainments global operation includes motion picture production and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries around the world.

    Columbia TriStar Films Australia is responsible for the theatrical distribution of feature films within the Australian marketplace. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is an affiliate of Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment International, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is one of the oldest and largest Hollywood based film studios. We have one of the largest back catalogues with a library of over 4,000 film and television products. Columbia TriStar also has an enviable record of success having won more Academy Awards than any other studio.

    Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is responsible for distribution of video entertainment products. This includes Rental and Retail of VHS & DVD product.

    1920年，原来在环球影片公司工作的H.科恩、J.科恩两兄弟和J.布兰特在好莱坞成立了一家摄制喜剧短片的小公司，名叫CBC电影销售公司。1924年改名为哥伦比亚影片公司，并于30年代发展成为美国电影业的8家大公司之一，这主要是由于H. 科恩的精明强干和公司导演F.卡普拉的创作才能起了作用。卡普拉在公司工作10年，拍摄了不少颇受欢迎的喜剧，其中包括《一夜风流＞(1934)、《弟斯先生进城》(1936)、《史密斯先生上华盛顿＞(1939)等。50年代，哥伦比亚公司开始采用对独立制片人和导演资助的办法拍摄影片。公司先后资助一些颇有名气的导演人拍片，如：S.施皮格尔、D.里恩、O.普雷明格、E.卡善、R.罗森和F.齐纳曼，拍出了不少质量高、影响大的影片，如《生于昨天》(1950)、《永垂不朽》(1953)、《在江边》(1954)、《桂河大桥》(1957)、《阿拉伯的劳伦斯》(1962)、《猜猜谁来吃晚餐》(1967)等。50-60年代的美国电影危机年代，哥伦比亚公司通过它的子公司银幕珍品公司向电视台出售公司以前的旧片并为电视台摄制电视片，成为好莱坞最早与电视结合的大公司之一。1968年公司改组，改名为哥伦比亚影片工业公司，下属两个主要分支机构哥伦比亚影片公司和银幕珍品公司，继续从事对独立制片的投资、电视片摄制和新兴的录像带工业。80年代该公司附属于美国可口可乐公司。

华纳兄弟影业公司 (Warner Bros.)  

    WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT, a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all fomp3s of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.

    In addition to its long-standing position as the industry's preeminent creator and distributor of feature films, television programs, animation, video and DVD, Warner Bros. Studios has also become one of the foremost authorities on utilizing licensing and merchandising to grow and reinforce its brands, on pioneering new fomp3s of distribution, and on marshaling its vast creative and business resources to build world-renowned entertainment franchises that become appreciating assets in its unrivaled library.

    One of the most respected, diversified and successful motion picture and television studios in the world, Warner Bros. Studios began when the brothers Warner (Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack L.) incorporated their fledgling movie company on April 4, 1923. In 1927, the release of the world's first synchronized-sound feature film, "The Jazz Singer," set a character and tone of innovation and influence that would become synonymous with the name Warner Bros. And--as Al Jolson foretold in this milestone movie--"you ain't heard nothin' yet!"

    Since those early days, Warner Bros. Studios has amassed an impressive legacy based on world-class quality entertainment and technological foresight, and created a diversified entertainment company with an unparalleled depth and breadth that has resulted in 20 consecutive record-breaking years. Its unmatched consistency and success is built on a foundation of stable management throughout its history (especially by entertainment industry standards), long-temp3 creative relationships with many of the world's leading stars and producers, and an unwavering dedication to excellence.

    Today, the vast Warner Bros. library, considered one of the best and largest in the world, consists of more than 6,600 feature films, 40,000 television titles and 14,000 animated titles (including over 1,500 classic animated shorts). The library currently consists of film from such distinguished banners as Warner Bros. Pictures, Castle Rock, Lorimar Pictures, RKO and classic MGM (pre-1986).

    1923年4月由华纳4兄弟创建。当时总部设在纽约，制片厂设在好莱坞附近的伯班克。华纳兄弟1917年开始在纽约从事电影的发行放映业务，建立华纳公司摄制影片是业务的扩展。1925年接管维泰葛拉夫制片公司，并于1927年摄制、发行电影史上第一部有声影片《爵士歌手》，从而使华纳公司于30年代初进入了好莱坞8大电影公司的行列。华纳公司在30年代以拍摄强盗片、歌舞片和传记片著称，尤以E.G.鲁宾逊、J. 贾克奈、H.鲍嘉等人主演的强盗片最有观众。传记片中也有不少受欢迎的作品，如P.茂尼主演的《左拉传》(1937)等。华纳的影片一般都比较朴素、紧凑，成本也较低，其主题都或多或少与30年代初发生的美国经济危机有联系。50年代美国电影萧条时期，华纳把财力转向制作电视系列片。60年代开始，越来越多地采用向独立制片人投资的制片方式。它成功地拍摄了《窈窕淑女》(1964)、《谁害伯弗吉尼亚.沃尔夫》(1966)、《邦妮和克莱德》(1967)等。1967年加拿大发行电视片的七艺公司买下了华纳公司，改名为华纳—七艺公 司。两年后，华纳—七艺公司又转让到一个大企业集团金尼全国服务公司手中，改组为华纳交流公司。这个公司经营的业务范围甚广，制片和发行影片仅是其中的一个项目。

米高梅公司 (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

    The name is taken from the three companies that fomp3ed a corporate merger to create MGM Studios in 1924; Metro Picture Corporation (fomp3ed in 1915), Goldwyn Picture Corporation (1917), and Louis B. Mayer Pictures (1918), under the control of movie theater magnate Marcus Loew. Louis B. Mayer became the studio boss, and Irving Thalberg, the "Boy Wonder", was head of production.  They took on the motto Ars Gratia Artis (Art for Art's Sake) and their trademark lion, "Leo" in 1928 (who had been born in captivity in Dublin Zoo in Ireland).

    For many years, the MGM Lion was the live-action mascot for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, appearing in the opening MGM logo sequence to every movie produced by the studio. The cartoon version of the MGM Lion appears in the Tom and Jerry theatrical animated cartoon; Jerry and the Lion. Under Mayer's and Thalberg's management, MGM Studios became the largest film company in Hollywood (although they were actually located in Culver City) by the mid-1930s. In this era, they produced a number of classic films, including Grand Hotel and the Tarzan series, and made stars out of Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford, among others. Thalberg was removed from his position as head of production in 1932, after disputes with Mayer and Schenck, and subsequently suffering a heart attack; at that point, Mayer started bringing in independent producers (notably David O. Selznick) to cover the studio's output. When Thalberg returned the next year, he was reduced to nothing more than a unit producer.

    After Thalberg's death in 1936, Mayer had full control of the day-to-day production duties of the studio, and MGM's output progressed from the literary works Thalberg had preferred to the crowd-pleasers Mayer preferred. Between 1936 and the start of World War II, MGM produced a number of now-classic films, including Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. During the war, MGM threw itself head-first into war support; many MGM stars helped sell war bonds and perfomp3ed at USO shows, and a few MGM personnel (notably James Stewart and Clark Gable) enlisted. During this time, MGM also became involved in the animation business. Their animation department started in the late 1930s, when Hugh Hamp3an and Rudolph Ising came over from Warner Bros. Later on, MGM became home to Tex Avery (who joined them in 1941 after a dispute with Warners producer Leon Schlesinger).

    Tex produced a number of famous shorts at MGM, including Red-Hot Riding Hood, Swing Shift Cinderella, and the Droopy series. MGM's biggest cartoon stars, however, were the cat-and-mouse duo of Tom and Jerry. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry won MGM several Oscars and nominations.

    After the war, MGM underwent a sea change, and started primarily producing musicals. Most of the great stars of song and dance worked for MGM at the time, including Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. Many of these musicals were successes, but by 1948, the studio was being hit by cost overruns (stemming from the huge budgets given to every picture, even the lackluster ones), and the mismanagement was causing a noticeable drop in quality. No MGM productions won Oscars between 1946 and 1948. This caused the old feud between Mayer and Schenck to flare up; it seemed Mayer was spending more time tending to his herd of thoroughbred race horses than the day-to-day operations of the studio. Schenck ordered Mayer to sell the horses, bring costs under control once again, and hire a "new Thalberg". Writer and producer Dore Schary was hired for this job, and almost immediately the conflicts began. Mayer's taste for wholesomeness and "beautiful" movies went completely against Schary's desire for message pictures and gritty realism. In August 1951, after having sparred with Schary over several of his pet projects, Mayer was fed up; he called the head office and said, "It's either him, or me." Jumping at the chance to fire his arch-rival, Schenck picked Schary, ousting Mayer from the post he'd held for 27 years. An embittered Mayer later attempted an unsuccessful corporate takeover of the studio, but mainly stayed out of the public eye until his death in 1957.

    Despite the chaos, MGM was able to keep the studio running through the early 1950s. Under Schary's watch, MGM produced some of their best-regarded musicals (An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, Show Boat). MGM also started releasing movies in the CinemaScope fomp3at (licensed from Fox) to compete with the the up and coming television phenomenon. However, MGM also lost one of their biggest stars when they released Judy Garland from her contract in 1950.

    1924年5月17日，美国洛氏公司的老板M.洛把该公司所属的米特罗影片公司和高尔温影片公司、L.B.梅耶制片公司合并，组成米高梅公司。30年代好莱坞鼎盛时期，米高梅公司是最大的电影公司，每年要生产40—50部影片。米高梅在这一时期拥有美国最受观众欢迎的影星和导演，影星如G.嘉宝、C.盖博、J.哈罗、S.屈赛、R.泰勒、J.克劳馥、N.希拉等等，导演如E.von斯特劳亨、K.维多、F.朗格、G.顾柯、V.弗莱明等等。从30年代到第二次世界大战结束，米高梅摄制了数以百计的影片，除了少数影片如《块肉余生》、《叛舰喋血记》(1935)、《茶花女》(1939)、《忠勇之家》(1942)、《双城记》等之外，90%为平庸之作，内容浅薄、脱离现实，往往千篇一律地以虚构的故事、美满的结尾，配上受观众欢迎的大明星和较高的摄制技巧去招徕观众。米高梅公司日复一日地象工厂生产工业品的流水装配线那样大量生产这种影片，为好莱坞赢得“梦幻工厂”的“美名”出了大力。40年代末到50年代初，米高梅曾一度以拍摄大场面歌舞片为重点，生产了几部颇有特色的歌舞片，如《雨中曲》(1952)等。50年代美国电影业发生危机，到60年代初该公司连年亏损，影片产量逐年下降，到70年代初至80年代每年只拍三、四部影片。70年代初，美国拉斯韦加斯的大资本家K.克科里安买下了米高梅公司。新的主管人员把米高梅公司的道具服装等统统拍卖出去，并把资金投入拉斯韦加斯、里诺等赌城的房地产、旅馆业和其他能获利的方面。到70年代末米高梅公司又再度繁荣，但制片却只是这个公司的广泛业务范围之一，1981年米高梅公司出资买下联美公司，改名为米高梅—联美娱乐公司。

Motion Pictures Rating System美国的电影评级系统

    This Code is designed to keep in close hamp3ony with the mores, culture, the moral sense and change in our society.

    The objectives of the Code are:

1. To encourage artistic expression by expanding creative freedom.

2. To assure that the freedom which encourages the artist remains responsible

and sensitive to the standards of the larger society.

    Censorhip is an odious enterprise. We oppose censorship and classification by governments because they are alien to the American tradition of freedom.

    Much of this nation's strength and purpose is drawn from the premise that the humblest of citizens has the freedom of his own choice. Censorship destroys this freedom of choice.

    It is within this framework that the Motion Picture Association continues to recognize its obligation to the society of which it is an integral part. In our society parents are the arbiters of family conduct. Parents have the primary responsibility to guide their children in the kinds of lives they lead, the character they build, the books they read, and the movies and other entertainment to which they are exposed.

    The creators of motion pictures undertake a responsibility to make available pertinent infomp3ation about their pictures which will assist parents to fulfill their responsibilities.

    But this alone is not enough. In further recognition of our obligation to the public, and most especially to parents, we have extended the Code operation to include a nationwide voluntary film rating program which has as its prime objective a sensitive concern for children. Motion Pictures will be reviewed by a Code and Rating Administration which, when it reviews a motion picture as to its confomp3ity with the standards of the Code, will issue ratings. It is our intent that all motion pictures exhibited in the United States will carry a rating. These rating are:

(G) SUGGESTED FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES
This category includes motion pictures that in the opinion of the Code and Rating Administration would be acceptable for all audiences, without consideration of age.

(M) SUGGESTED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES - ADULTS & MATURE YOUNG PEOPLE
This category includes motion pictures that in the opinion of the Code and Rating Administration, because of their theme, content and treatment, might require more mature judgment by viewers, and about which parents should exercise their discretion.

(R) RESTRICTED PERSONS UNDER 16 NOT ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY PARENTS OR ADULT GUARDIAN
This category includes motion pictures that in the opinion of the Code and Rating Administration, because of their theme, content or treatment, should not be presented to persons under 16 unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

(X) PERSONS UNDER 16 NOT ADMITTED
This category includes motion pictures submitted to the Code and Rating Administration which in the opinion of the Code and Rating Administration are rated (X) because of the treatment of sex, violence, crime or profanity. Pictures rated (X) do not qualify for a Code Seal. Pictures rated (X) should not be presented to persons under 16.

    The program contemplates that any distributors outside the membership of the Association who choose not to submit their motion pictures to the Code and Rating Administration will self-apply the (X) rating. The ratings and their meanings will be conveyed by advertising; by displays at the theaters; and in other ways. Thus, audiences, especially parents, will be alerted to the theme, content, and treatment of movies. Therefore, parents can detemp3ine whether a particular picture is one which children should see at the discretion of the parent; or only when accompanied by a parent; or should not see.

    We believe self-restraint, self-regulation, to be in the American tradition. The results of self-discipline are always imperfect because that is the nature of all things mortal. But this Code, and its administration, will make clear that freedom of expression does not mean toleration of license.

    In furtherance of the objectives of the Code to accord with the mores, the culture, and the moral sense of our society, the principles stated above and the following standards will govern the Administrator in his consideration of motion pictures submitted for Code approval:

    The basic dignity and value of human life shall be respected and upheld. Restraint shall be exercised in portraying the taking of life. Evil, sin, crime and wrong-doing shall not be justified. Special restraint shall be exercised in portraying criminal or anti-social activities in which minors participate or are involved. Detailed and protracted acts of brutality, cruelty, physical violence, torture and abuse shall not be presented. Indecent or undue exposure of the human body shall not be presented. Illicit sex relationships shall not be justified. Intimate sex scenes violating common standards of decency shall not be portrayed. Restraint and care shall be exercised in presentations dealing with sex aberrations. Obscene speech, gestures or movements shall not be presented. Undue profanity shall not be pemp3itted. Religion shall not be demeaned. Words or symbols contemptuous of racial, religious or national groups, shall not be used so as to incite bigotry or hatred. Excessive cruelty to animals shall not be portrayed and animals shall not be treated inhumanely.

    美国的MPAA，它的全称为"The Motion Picture Association of America"即"美国电影协会"，总部设在加利福尼亚(Encino,California )。这个组织成立于1922年，最初是作为电影工业的一个交易组织而出现的。如今它涉足的领域不仅有在影院上映的电影，还有电视、家庭摄影(home video)以及未来有可能会出现的其他传送系统领域。

    美国电影协会的会员主要由美国最大的七家电影和电视传媒巨头的主席和总裁共同担任。他们是：迪斯尼公司(Walt Disney Company)，索尼声像(Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.)，Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.，派拉蒙公司(Paramount Pictures Corporation) ，21世纪福克斯公司(Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.)，环球影像(Universal Studios, Inc.) ，华纳兄弟(Warner Bros. ) 。

    从1968年以来，美国电影协会对所有美国电影都实施评级系统管理。当前，电影评级系统评价一部电影是属于哪个级别，主要依据以下几个指标：电影的主题、电影中暴力、色情、药物滥用等内容、电影中的语言等。经过1968年、1984年和1990年修改后，现行的电影评级系统将所有电影分为5级，即G级、PG级、PG13级、R级和NC－17级。具体含义如下：

·G级：(GENERAL AUDIENCES All ages admitted.)大众级，适合所有年龄段的人观看--该级别的电影内容可以被父母接受，影片没有裸体、性爱场面，吸毒和暴力场面非常少。对话也是日常生活中可以经常接触到的；

·PG级：( PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Some material may not be suitable for children.)普通级，建议在父母的陪伴下观看，有些镜头可能让儿童产生不适感.-- 该级别的电影基本没有性爱、吸毒和裸体场面，即使有时间也很短，此外，恐怖和暴力场面不会超出适度的范围；

·PG-13级：(PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. )普通级，但不适于13岁以下儿童.特别辅导级，13岁以下儿童尤其要有父母陪同观看，一些内容对儿童很不适宜--该级别的电影没有粗野的持续暴力镜头，一般没有裸体镜头，有时会有吸毒镜头和脏话；

·R级：(RESTRICTED Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.)限制级，17岁以下必须由父母或者监护陪伴才能观看.--该级别的影片包含成人内容，里面有较多的性爱、暴力、吸毒等场面和脏话；

·NC-17级：(NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED )17岁或者以下不可观看--该级别的影片被定为成人影片。影片中有清楚的性爱场面，大量的吸毒或暴力镜头以及脏话等。

另补充几种特殊的分级：

·NR OR U：NR是属于未经定级的电影，而U是针对1968年以前的电影定的级。

·M，X OR P：这一级中的电影基本上不适合在大院线里公映，都属于限制类的。

    美国电影协会之所以实施电影评级系统，目的非常简单，就是在观看影片之前提前提供给父母一些有关电影内容的信息，让父母能够决定让他们的孩子看哪些影片，不看哪些影片。所以电影评级系统对儿童青少年的保护作用的实现主要在于父母是否能够很好的履行他们的责任。如果家长对孩子看什么电影并不关心，电影评级系统就不会产生效果。