The Classical Hollywood Style

David Bordwell, Janet Staiger and Kristin Thompson coined the term classical Hollywood cinema. They came to the conclusion that during this period a distinctive cinematic style developed that they called classical Hollywood style. Moreover they claimed that this style has become typical because of the global dominance of Hollywood cinema.

        The most important elements of the classical Hollywood style are narrative, editing, cinematic space and time, and summary.

        Let us now discuss the first element. According to Michael Goldberg, classical Hollywood cinema’s narrative follows building blocks that are part of most Western narratives such as events, actors and agents, linear chains of cause and effect, main point and secondary points. It is also clearly structured with the visible beginning, middle, and end. He also stated that it generally provides a comprehensive resolution at the end and that the character’s goals are usually psychologically rather than socially motivated.

Second, is editing which is the single most important and most influential element of cinematic form that characterizes classical Hollywood cinema. The most important goal of continuity editing is to make the cut invisible by devices such as the shot / reverse-shot or the eye line match.

Third is the cinematic space and time which are constructed in cinema. They are unified, continuous and linear to match our perception of time and space in reality.

Lastly, summary which is the unifying force behind the classical Hollywood style is motivation and conventions. In the development of the narrative every event is motivated. In the same way the use of cinematic style is generally motivated by the narrative. The connection between narrative and cinematic style is highly conventional.

        Hollywood cinema has changed as of this present time and we can notice many changes from the previous Hollywood style up to now. But still, the classics from the past will still remain as the foundation of the great films made from today and it’ll also be the most important part of Hollywood’s filmmaking history even though modernization has taken place.