double feature

Japanese: double feature（英語表記）doublefeature

The term "program picture" was also coined to mean movies mass-produced every week to fill a "double feature" program. As the novelty of early talkies faded and the long recession following the Great Depression continued, the number of moviegoers in America dropped sharply in the 1930s. To counter this, movie theaters began to hold events to attract more moviegoers, such as "dish night," where they handed out plates as prizes to moviegoers, and "bank night," where they held lottery draws. In 1932, the program of films to be shown was expanded from one feature film to two, and the "double feature" show, known as the "double bill" or "double feature," began. The "B" picture is shown alongside the "A" picture, which is the main feature of a "double feature." It is also called a "second feature" or "supporting feature" (corresponding to the Japanese word "soumono" film). While a normal "feature" is over an hour and a half, the "B" picture is about 55 to 75 minutes long. Each of the major Hollywood studios produced films in their own distinctive style, and the "B" picture became a proving ground for directors who would later become frontline directors, such as William Wyler, George Stevens, Edward Dmytryk, Fred Zinnemann, Mark Robson, Robert Wise, and Anthony Mann.

From [Program Picture]

…The term refers to a film (picture) that is mass-produced to fill a movie theater's weekly program. It was coined in the United States in the early 1930s when the "double feature" (a show that combines two feature films in one program) began. In English, it is also called "programmer."

*Some of the terminology used to refer to "double feature" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…なお，〈2本立て〉のプログラムを埋めるために毎週量産される映画を意味する〈プログラム･ピクチャー〉という呼び名も生まれている。　初期のトーキーのものめずらしさも薄れ，また大恐慌後の長びく不況の影響で，1930年代に入るとアメリカの映画観客が激減し，その対策として映画館では入場者に景品として皿を配る〈ディッシュ･ナイトdish night〉とか宝くじの抽籤会をやる〈バンク･ナイトbank night〉とかいった〈客寄せ〉の催しが盛んに行われたが，さらに32年には上映作品のプログラムを長編映画1本から2本に増やして充実させ，〈ダブル･ビルdouble bill〉あるいは〈ダブル･フィーチャーdouble feature〉と呼ばれる〈2本立て〉の興行が始まった。〈2本立て〉のメーンとなる“A”作品(“A”picture)に添えて併映されるのが“B”作品(“B”picture)で，〈セカンド･フィーチャーsecond feature〉あるいは〈サポーティング･フィーチャーsupporting feature〉などとも呼ばれ(日本語の〈添物〉映画にあたる)，通常の〈フィーチャー(長編映画)〉が1時間半以上のものとすれば，これは55分から75分程度のものであり，ハリウッドのメジャー(大手)各社はそれぞれ特色あるスタイルの作品を製作し，のちに第一線で活躍することになる監督たち，例えばウィリアム･ワイラー，ジョージ･スティーブンズ，エドワード･ドミトリク，フレッド･ジンネマン，マーク･ロブソン，ロバート･ワイズ，アンソニー･マンなどの習作の場，〈テスト･グラウンド〉になった。…