The History of Lawsuits That Changed Hollywood For The Better.
By Edtrader March. 2nd, 2023
Recently there was a horrible incident on the set of the movie Rust involving Alec Baldwin. Industries often take incidents to shape their safety standards. In this article we look at other incidents that made drastic positive changes to Hollywood. Wither it be directing, legal practices, laws, safety, special effects, etc.
By Edtrader March. 2nd, 2023
Recently there was a horrible incident on the set of the movie Rust involving Alec Baldwin. Industries often take incidents to shape their safety standards. In this article we look at other incidents that made drastic positive changes to Hollywood. Wither it be directing, legal practices, laws, safety, special effects, etc.
#7. It took a horrible death to make actors safer.
This first event affected the stunts portion of moviemaking. Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed in a helicopter accident while making The Twilight Zone movie. Bigger than expected explosions caused the pilot to head the helicopter towards a nearby river. Resulting in the biggest tragedy in moviemaking up to that point.
In one scene, Vic was to hold on to the kids while the chopper took off. But none of them were strapped in or held by a safety harness. Vic dropped one kid while the chopper went out of control. This kid was crushed by the side runner of the chopper. The other kid was in his arms as they both fell out. And they were grossly malted by the chopper blades. Hollywood used to be careless about aspects of moviemaking like stunts. There were laws and studio rules, but no one really enforced them. And they had very relaxed rules at that. Director John Landis and others ended up being charged with manslaughter. Admitting that they had broken various laws, but they were still set free.
Warner Bros. vice president John Silva took this incident and made up a committee to address safety issues. Representatives from all the workers unions and movie guilds, such as the S.A.G., were there. These new rules and standards that came forth became the industry norm. Although slightly altered with the changing times, they basically still exist today. Also, things such as mandatory insurance coverage came into play following this accident.
This first event affected the stunts portion of moviemaking. Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed in a helicopter accident while making The Twilight Zone movie. Bigger than expected explosions caused the pilot to head the helicopter towards a nearby river. Resulting in the biggest tragedy in moviemaking up to that point.
In one scene, Vic was to hold on to the kids while the chopper took off. But none of them were strapped in or held by a safety harness. Vic dropped one kid while the chopper went out of control. This kid was crushed by the side runner of the chopper. The other kid was in his arms as they both fell out. And they were grossly malted by the chopper blades. Hollywood used to be careless about aspects of moviemaking like stunts. There were laws and studio rules, but no one really enforced them. And they had very relaxed rules at that. Director John Landis and others ended up being charged with manslaughter. Admitting that they had broken various laws, but they were still set free.
Warner Bros. vice president John Silva took this incident and made up a committee to address safety issues. Representatives from all the workers unions and movie guilds, such as the S.A.G., were there. These new rules and standards that came forth became the industry norm. Although slightly altered with the changing times, they basically still exist today. Also, things such as mandatory insurance coverage came into play following this accident.
#6. Current film ratings that date back to a 1922 rape and murder.
In 1922, movie stars and productions were loose cannons. There was very little supervision by the movie studios. So long as things were on budget. Drinking, parties, and sexual deviance are the norm. Which also goes hand in hand with the awful way some people were treated on set.
There just wasn't any kind of on-set accountability. The rape of Virginia Rappre and the murder of Williams Taylor found their way to the ears of the religious and political realms. Who were already thinking that moves were becoming too immoral.
So, disdain and pressure led movie studios to hire Will H. Hays to help establish a better image of the industry. It was his suggestion that there be some sort of censorship committee. Not only would it regulate actors and production actions, but it also came with a list of specific dos and don'ts for every film. Giving more actors and crew something to fall back on as far as on-set treatment.
Having something like this would lead to regulations for child actors. Also, it came into play with actor and crew unions. As you had something in place as far as agreements for how actors and crews are to be treated. Next would be what we now call the Motion Picture Association of America. That acts as a governing body between the studios and consumers.
In 1922, movie stars and productions were loose cannons. There was very little supervision by the movie studios. So long as things were on budget. Drinking, parties, and sexual deviance are the norm. Which also goes hand in hand with the awful way some people were treated on set.
There just wasn't any kind of on-set accountability. The rape of Virginia Rappre and the murder of Williams Taylor found their way to the ears of the religious and political realms. Who were already thinking that moves were becoming too immoral.
So, disdain and pressure led movie studios to hire Will H. Hays to help establish a better image of the industry. It was his suggestion that there be some sort of censorship committee. Not only would it regulate actors and production actions, but it also came with a list of specific dos and don'ts for every film. Giving more actors and crew something to fall back on as far as on-set treatment.
Having something like this would lead to regulations for child actors. Also, it came into play with actor and crew unions. As you had something in place as far as agreements for how actors and crews are to be treated. Next would be what we now call the Motion Picture Association of America. That acts as a governing body between the studios and consumers.
#5. Animals used to get killed in order to make movies.
For the animal lovers out there, it's common knowledge that there are groups to protect our animal friends. However, films went thirty years without any responsibility towards them. Incidents involving horses would bring that in. One happened during filming of 1936's The Charge Of The Brigade where a trip wire known as a Running Wire kept hurting the horses. The lead actor, Errol Flynn, himself reported this awful act to the The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. Keep in mind that Errol treated women like property. So, for something like this to alarm him, it must have been something. Their group was able to actually get this device banned.
In the 1939 film Jessie James, two horses were ran off a high cliff. The list goes on and on.
Appealing to the Hays film content governing body, it was decided that the American Humane Association had to be on movie sets. Giving us the no animals were harmed tag at the end of the movie credits.
For the animal lovers out there, it's common knowledge that there are groups to protect our animal friends. However, films went thirty years without any responsibility towards them. Incidents involving horses would bring that in. One happened during filming of 1936's The Charge Of The Brigade where a trip wire known as a Running Wire kept hurting the horses. The lead actor, Errol Flynn, himself reported this awful act to the The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. Keep in mind that Errol treated women like property. So, for something like this to alarm him, it must have been something. Their group was able to actually get this device banned.
In the 1939 film Jessie James, two horses were ran off a high cliff. The list goes on and on.
Appealing to the Hays film content governing body, it was decided that the American Humane Association had to be on movie sets. Giving us the no animals were harmed tag at the end of the movie credits.
#4. The movie industry used to be run like the Godfather movies.
Back in 1948, the major film studios were doing whatever they wanted business-wise. However, a couple cases would change that. The biggest would be the U.S. Supreme Court case that decided the future of movie theaters.
The film studios had a monopoly because they either owned or had majority stock in most theater chains. They handily controlled what films you saw. And scaled the ticket prices to their liking. The majors also owned theater-grade film stocks and print labs. With all of these under their thumb, they could easily push any small production off of the screens. Plus, there are some reports that 'button pushers' would appear on independent productions and 'ask' them to stop making the movie.
The U.S. government stepped in as eight of the major studios were charged with violating the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act. This was passed to prevent the artificial inflation of prices by cornering the supply chain of a particular product or service. Independent promoters such as Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney led the charge in a lawsuit filed in 1945.
Although the case was ruled in the major studio's favor, the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On May 3rd, 1948, the court declared that the studios were in the wrong. This led to the studios agreeing that films had to be sold on an individual basis.
Movie studies stopped having their own film elements. Now they had to buy from retailers. These retailers would charge the same fee for a roll of film to a major studio as they would an independent.
Back in 1948, the major film studios were doing whatever they wanted business-wise. However, a couple cases would change that. The biggest would be the U.S. Supreme Court case that decided the future of movie theaters.
The film studios had a monopoly because they either owned or had majority stock in most theater chains. They handily controlled what films you saw. And scaled the ticket prices to their liking. The majors also owned theater-grade film stocks and print labs. With all of these under their thumb, they could easily push any small production off of the screens. Plus, there are some reports that 'button pushers' would appear on independent productions and 'ask' them to stop making the movie.
The U.S. government stepped in as eight of the major studios were charged with violating the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act. This was passed to prevent the artificial inflation of prices by cornering the supply chain of a particular product or service. Independent promoters such as Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney led the charge in a lawsuit filed in 1945.
Although the case was ruled in the major studio's favor, the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On May 3rd, 1948, the court declared that the studios were in the wrong. This led to the studios agreeing that films had to be sold on an individual basis.
Movie studies stopped having their own film elements. Now they had to buy from retailers. These retailers would charge the same fee for a roll of film to a major studio as they would an independent.
#3. Fighting communism helped free speech.
Hollywood is a land of opportunity within 'the land of opportunity'. Things took a turn as Communism spread across the world. The movies were accused by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) of being a sector for communists. The Hollywood Blacklist came about in 1947. That committee, led by George McCarthy, summoned big-name people from Hollywood to testify. To admit their communist behavior and to point out others. The funny part is that there was either no evidence or only bullspit evidence.
It became the Salem Witch Trials of early America. Major stars, writers, producers, and directors were excused from the industry. So, you had a lot of second-rate talent. Those major players who were left had to second-guess everything they did. The whole idea of freedom was out the window. Every word or scene had to be carefully considered: is this too Communist-like?
Eventually, this was all seen as a farce. And after tons of other political and legal movements, Hollywood has never been under the gun as far as the right to free speech is concerned. You can make a pro-communist movie if you wish.
Hollywood is a land of opportunity within 'the land of opportunity'. Things took a turn as Communism spread across the world. The movies were accused by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) of being a sector for communists. The Hollywood Blacklist came about in 1947. That committee, led by George McCarthy, summoned big-name people from Hollywood to testify. To admit their communist behavior and to point out others. The funny part is that there was either no evidence or only bullspit evidence.
It became the Salem Witch Trials of early America. Major stars, writers, producers, and directors were excused from the industry. So, you had a lot of second-rate talent. Those major players who were left had to second-guess everything they did. The whole idea of freedom was out the window. Every word or scene had to be carefully considered: is this too Communist-like?
Eventually, this was all seen as a farce. And after tons of other political and legal movements, Hollywood has never been under the gun as far as the right to free speech is concerned. You can make a pro-communist movie if you wish.
#2. Women fought for Hollywood rights.
Animals and men had gained legal and moral protection as the 1940s rolled in. However, women were still second-rate citizens in Hollywood.
There's a scene in The Godfather where the big-shot Hollywood agent says he found a young girl. Had her take singing, acting, and dancing lessons. Then 'had her' and it was the sweetest piece ever. The truth is, this was actually a common thing back in the day. And it was quite frankly accepted.
Natalie Wood's mother allowed her to have sex with those in positions of power while she was underage. In order to better her career. Then it was made public that she was with the 44-year-old director of Rebel Without A Cause, Nicholas Ray.
Robin Hood's Errol Flynn had sex with underage girls often. He fought for horse's rights earlier, but not so much for women. In 1942 he used a $1,000 bond to escape charges of sex with 16-year-old Betty Hanson.
Animals and men had gained legal and moral protection as the 1940s rolled in. However, women were still second-rate citizens in Hollywood.
There's a scene in The Godfather where the big-shot Hollywood agent says he found a young girl. Had her take singing, acting, and dancing lessons. Then 'had her' and it was the sweetest piece ever. The truth is, this was actually a common thing back in the day. And it was quite frankly accepted.
Natalie Wood's mother allowed her to have sex with those in positions of power while she was underage. In order to better her career. Then it was made public that she was with the 44-year-old director of Rebel Without A Cause, Nicholas Ray.
Robin Hood's Errol Flynn had sex with underage girls often. He fought for horse's rights earlier, but not so much for women. In 1942 he used a $1,000 bond to escape charges of sex with 16-year-old Betty Hanson.
Lucille Ricksen was the first actress known to be carved up sexually for Hollywood. In 1923, aged 12, she was cast as the love interest in The Rendezvous. The lonely wife of a Russian officer. Over the course of seven months, she was put in 10 different movies. All of which had strong sexual overtones. She was dressed, made up, and made to act like a sexy adult woman. Her mother finally saw the overload and depression. And pulled her away, but it was too late. In 1924, she died in tears, quite literally.
But more importantly, contracts with actresses were played with faster and looser than those with males. in 1943, Olivia de Haviliand was the turning point. She stood up for her mistreatment and pay. She signed a contract for seven years with Warner Bros. She fulfilled her duties and wanted to go on to other things.
The studio said NO, you owe us several more months. Their rationale was that she didn't work seven year's worth of days on productions. She doesn't work every day. As there are times between roles. And they don't film on holidays and so forth. So, let's take the number of actual business days. And that will take up the full contract. The problem was that there was no law in California that said a contract had to be via the number of working days. So, she filed suit, and the California State Court of Appeals sided with her. The resulting law, titled De Havilland Law, meant a contract commencement means the number of calendar days.
The studio said NO, you owe us several more months. Their rationale was that she didn't work seven year's worth of days on productions. She doesn't work every day. As there are times between roles. And they don't film on holidays and so forth. So, let's take the number of actual business days. And that will take up the full contract. The problem was that there was no law in California that said a contract had to be via the number of working days. So, she filed suit, and the California State Court of Appeals sided with her. The resulting law, titled De Havilland Law, meant a contract commencement means the number of calendar days.
#1. It took a half White/Native American to make movies an opening weekend success.
One of the ways that modern Hollywood promotes movies is through TV spots during major shows and news. Also, they open theaters across the county. Giving us these huge box-office opening weekends.
Before Tom Laughlin came along and sued Warner Bros., that wasn't the case. The twist is that when other independent directors get a major studio behind their movie, it increases their fortunes almost overnight. However, for Tom, it was the opposite.
Born Losers was a film he made and marketed using his own funds. The movie was distributed through independent theaters. It didn't make a lot of money, but it was enough to make the sequel, Billy Jack. The movie grabbed the attention of Warner Bros. So, they financed the theatrical release. He was extremely unhappy with the lackluster way W.B. rolled it out to the public.
Tom was the first to sue a studio and get a movie back. He re-released it himself, and it did much better business. Making enough to produce two more films. He saw that the slow-paced Hollywood release was insufficient. Movies would first run in major cities. Then drip down to smaller and rural markets. There wasn't a big nationwide opening day like there is now. But then studios saw that it wasn't cost-effective to have major national advertisements. As the entire country wouldn't see a film at once.
Tom plugged Billy Jack into every theater he could. And ran national ads on national news broadcasts. Billy Jack grew into the highest-profit independent film for the next 25+ years. All the film studios recognize this and have followed his example ever since.
Before Tom Laughlin came along and sued Warner Bros., that wasn't the case. The twist is that when other independent directors get a major studio behind their movie, it increases their fortunes almost overnight. However, for Tom, it was the opposite.
Born Losers was a film he made and marketed using his own funds. The movie was distributed through independent theaters. It didn't make a lot of money, but it was enough to make the sequel, Billy Jack. The movie grabbed the attention of Warner Bros. So, they financed the theatrical release. He was extremely unhappy with the lackluster way W.B. rolled it out to the public.
Tom was the first to sue a studio and get a movie back. He re-released it himself, and it did much better business. Making enough to produce two more films. He saw that the slow-paced Hollywood release was insufficient. Movies would first run in major cities. Then drip down to smaller and rural markets. There wasn't a big nationwide opening day like there is now. But then studios saw that it wasn't cost-effective to have major national advertisements. As the entire country wouldn't see a film at once.
Tom plugged Billy Jack into every theater he could. And ran national ads on national news broadcasts. Billy Jack grew into the highest-profit independent film for the next 25+ years. All the film studios recognize this and have followed his example ever since.