B movie

What Exactly Is a B Movie?

A B movie is more than just a cheap, poorly made film from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s a term that has evolved over time to encompass a wide range of films, from sensationalistic exploitation to independent arthouse productions. The concept of the B movie was born in the early days of cinema as a way for studios to fill out their double features with shorter, lower-budget films.

The Birth and Evolution of B Movies

Originally, B movies were often shorter than top-billed feature films, running times of 70 minutes or less. These low-budget productions provided opportunities for actors and filmmakers to gain experience, including notable figures like John Wayne and Jonathan Demme.

The Golden Age of B Movies

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, major studios adapted to the double feature model by establishing B units to provide films for the expanding second-feature market. Block booking became standard practice, with theaters renting entire studio output for a season to guarantee profitability.

The Decline and Resurgence of B Movies

As television production took over in the 1950s, the term ‘B movie’ declined in popularity. However, it has since taken on a broader meaning, sometimes signaling an opinion that a film is a ‘genre film’ or a lively, energetic film without artistic ambitions.

The Role of Poverty Row Studios

Poverty Row studios made exclusively B movies, serials, and shorts. These companies distributed independent productions and imported films, with notable firms like Universal Studios and Columbia Pictures producing low-budget genre films for smaller theaters.

From Block Booking to Exploitation Films

The introduction of sound increased costs, leading the major studios to make a range of motion pictures occupying the B category. By the mid-1930s, the double feature was dominant in US exhibition, with major studios responding by increasing B movie production.

Notable Examples and Directors

Ida Lupino established herself as Hollywood’s sole female director of the era, exploring taboo subjects. Roger Corman is referred to as the ‘King of the Bs,’ preferring to describe his work as ‘low-budget exploitation films.’ William Castle became known for innovative B movie publicity gimmicks like Percepto.

The Postwar Boom and Beyond

Postwar drive-in theater boom and midnight movie phenomenon popularized B genre films. American International Pictures (AIP) emerged as a leading U.S. production company, founded by James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff in 1956. AIP relied on fantastic genre subjects and new, teen-oriented angles.

The Rise of Exploitation Films

Exploitation films expanded in the 1960s with intensive publicity and gimmick-laden marketing campaigns promoting vulgar subject matter and outrageous imagery. The term ‘exploitation’ originally defined fringe productions but by the 1960s, it became a recognized genre.

The Modern Era of B Movies

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, new generation low-budget film companies emerged that drew from exploitation as well as sci-fi and teen themes. Operations such as Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, Cannon Films, and New Line Cinema brought exploitation films to mainstream theaters.

The Decline of Traditional B Studios

Surviving B movie operations adapted by releasing straight-to-video films or moving into higher-budget genre productions. The video rental market became central to B film economics as profits were generated later through home video releases rather than theatrical rentals.

Conclusion: The Ever-Adapting Nature of B Movies

The term ‘B movie’ has evolved from a cheap, poorly made commercial film in the Golden Age of Hollywood to encompass a wide range of films today. As technology advances and distribution methods change, the nature of what constitutes a B movie continues to adapt, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the film industry.