Just to clarify one thing...
Hollywood has had its eye on international markets since ***the end
of World War I*** when the European industries were decimated by war
and silent films were easy to export -- just change the
intertitles. (The stats showing the US dominance of European screens
after WWI are staggering.)
Stars like Garbo were always much bigger box-office draws overseas
than domestically. In fact, you might even blame the end of her film
career on the fact that Hitler/Mussolini/WW2 closed most European
markets to her MGM films. Without those markets, she was no longer
worth what MGM had been paying her.
Having access to those overseas markets is what has always allowed
Hollywood to produce bigger budget movies (more stars and special
effects) than the rest of the world. Hollywood films need only break
even domestically; they earn their profits overseas. Few other
domestic markets are large enough to offer that kind of break-even
security to big-budget film industries. (India is becoming one.)
Point is, don't think this made-for-the-world-market trend is a new
thing. Truth is, it's been around for about a century now.
Elizabeth
ReelClassics.com
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