ABSTRACT
My sixth chapter explores the possibility of considering the 1950s biblical epics as a form of blockbuster cycle. The diffusion of newly developed technological processes was one of the driving forces behind the cycle, which challenges the conventional understanding of the typical operations of cycles as a stable, low-risk profit strategy. Rather than targeting one particular market group, these films sought a wide-ranging appeal, developing the operation of ‘event pictures’ as audiences became increasingly selective. The relationship between cycles and methods of circulation is examined through a study of the pictures’ release in Chicago. This highlights the role of the biblical epic cycle in reestablishing the majors’ control of the market in the wake of the Paramount decision. The final section analyses the distribution policies developed for The Ten Commandments (Paramount, 1956) as a means to explore the significant shifts in the industrial landscape occurring at this moment.
