Production Glossary
Twentieth Century Fox
20th Century Fox is a major American movie studio. The studio is the product of a merger in 1935 by Twentieth Century Pictures and Fox Film Corporation. 20th Century Fox is located in Century City, west of Beverly Hills.One half of 20th Century Fox, Fox Film Corporation, was established in 1915 by William Fox. Fox is considered to be one of the first to capitalize on the movie theater chain, and these theaters were brought into the merger with Twentieth Century Pictures. Twentieth Century Pictures was founded in 1933 by Darryl F. Zanuck, Raymond Griffith, Joseph Schenck, and William Goetz.
When the joining of the two companies took place, it was named The Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (the hyphen was removed in 1985). Joseph Schenck was named chairman with Darryl Zanuck the Vice President in Charge of Production. With the studio under their control, Schenck and Zanuck began to make changes quickly. Several new generation actors and actress were added to the list of stars that would make the studio money for many years to come. Zanuck to the initiative to nurture the careers of two existing assets on the payroll: Shirley Temple and Alice Faye. To continue the success of the studio, while Zanuck was away at war, William Goetz geared the studios films toward the feel-good side, utilizing the beauty and popularity of their biggest star, Betty Grable.
The establishment of Spyros Skouras as studio President in 1942 began a roller coaster effect in the financial success of the company. Skouras chose to make films with more somber and alluring themes, as well as produce movie musicals. It was also during his time as President that 20th Century Fox switched to CinemaScope to film all of their movies. This risky move required that the studio pay to have the proper equipment installed in movie theaters so that their films could be shown. Despite his numerous achievements, Skouras was replaced as President by Zanuck’s son, Richard. Immediately, Richard Zanuck formed a team to downsize and change the financial outlook for the studio, which ultimately resulted a huge hit, The Sound of Music.
The 1970s saw the expansion of 20th Century Fox into new arenas in order to diversify. New President Dennis Carothers Stanfill began to buy resort properties, foreign theaters, and soft-drink bottling companies to help soften the financial blow during the periods when movie making did not produce enough revenue. It was during Stanfill’s time as President that the studio produced its most profitable movie (up to that point), Star Wars.
Rupert Murdoch came into ownership of 29th Century Fox when Marvin Davis and Marc Rich sold it. Rich’s half was sold first, after he feld the U.S. on tax invasion charges, while Davis’ half was sold a bit later. Murdoch appointed Barry Diller, who started the process of establishing a television network. The two television divisions, 20th Television and 20th Century Fox Television, syndicate and produce content.
Later in 2000, a music division, Fox Music, was established. This division works to publish and license music used in 20th Century Fox’s films and TV shows.
