Once upon a time the unconglomerated movie studios owned themselves and could afford the luxury of individual personalities. In the early 1930s, Paramount was the essential Hollywood studio, the one that best represented the juncture of glamour, romance, and illusion. Its productions had a luminous quality and a sophisticated style—many of the top stars, directors, cameramen, and designers were of European origin. Before the Production Code cracked down in 1934, the company turned out entertaining pictures in every genre, but above all, a slew of sly and suggestive... More >>>