Final answer:
The movie industry from the 1920s to 1948 was controlled by the studio system, also known as the Hollywood Studio System. This practice was ended by the 1948 antitrust case United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the 1920s to 1948, the movie industry left control to the studio system. Also called the "Hollywood Studio System."
This system was a means of vertical integration where the motion picture companies controlled every aspect of the film industry, including production, distribution, and exhibition of films. The landmark case United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. in 1948 ended this practice by finding it in violation of antitrust laws, which led to the decline of the studio system. During the era of the studio system, film studios exerted control over actors, directors, and other key personnel by having them under contract and deciding which movies would be made, often focusing on creating films that appealed to a wide audience and were cost-effective to produce.