Originally posted by: theredbaron
I wouldn't say that they were more 'meddling' back in the day, but I would say that they took a more active interest in the creative process of film-making...but I'm not an expert, by any means.

Depends when "the day" is that we're talking about. In the early days of the Hollywood studio system, mid-30's up to, let's say the early 70's, most Producers would work closely with the Director to achieve mutual goals. Think Spielberg and Marshall or Kennedy - that kind of a relationship.

Somewhere around the early 70's, Producing became less about the art and more about the business and the Studio making money. Producers became increasingly budget concious to increase the profit margin. The old style Producer was dying, to be replaced by people like Robert Evans who craved the celebrity and notoriety over serious craft or art and later folks like Bruckheimer. That's not to say they weren't effective in their own right, but most Producers at this stage were hired by studios for their business acumen, as opposed to artistic integrity.

Everyone recognizes the name David O. Selznick as the quintessential old school Hollywood Producer - so much so that many credit him with the creation of Gone With The Wind or King Kong. Quick, without checking IMDB, who directed GWTW (name all three).

Now, quick - who produced Brokeback Mountain?

See my point?