In August 1951, Mayer was fired by MGM's East Coast executives and he was replaced by Schary. Gradually cutting loose expensive contract players (including $6,000-a-week Judy Garland in 1950 and "King of Hollywood" Clark Gable in 1954), saving money by recycling existing movie sets instead of building costly new scenery, and reworking expensive old costumes, Schary managed to keep the studio running much as it had through the early 1940s, though his sensibilities for hard-edged, message movies would never bear much fruit. One bright spot was MGM musical pictures, under the aegis of producer Arthur Freed, who was operating what amounted to an independent unit within the studio. MGM produced some well-regarded and profitable musicals that would later be acknowledged as classics, among them An American in Paris (1951), Singin' in the Rain (1952), and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). However, Brigadoon (1954), Deep in My Heart (1954), It's Always Fair Weather (1955), Invitation to the Dance (1956), and Les Girls (1957) were extravagant song and dance flops, and even the now-classic The Band Wagon (1953) and Silk Stockings (1957) lost money upon their initial releases. right|thumb|250px|Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds in Singin' in the Rain (1952) In 1952, as a settlement of the government's restraint-of-trade action, United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. 334 US 131 (1948), Loews, Inc. gave up control of MGM. It would take another five years before the interlocking arrangements were completely undone, by which time both Loews and MGM were losing money. In 1956, Schary was ousted from MGM in another power struggle against the New York-based executives. Cost overruns and the failure of the big-budget epic Raintree County (1957) prompted the studio to terminate Schary's contract.
in august 1951 mayer was fired by mgm's east coast executives and he was replaced by schary gradually cutting loose expensive contract players (including $6000-a-week judy garland in 1950 and "king of hollywood" clark gable in 1954) saving money by recycling existing movie sets instead of building costly new scenery and reworking expensive old costumes schary managed to keep the studio running much as it had through the early 1940s though his sensibilities for hard-edged message movies would never bear much fruit one bright spot was mgm musical pictures under the aegis of producer arthur freed who was operating what amounted to an independent unit within the studio mgm produced some well-regarded and profitable musicals that would later be acknowledged as classics among them an american in paris (1951) singin' in the rain (1952) and seven brides for seven brothers (1954) however brigadoon (1954) deep in my heart (1954) it's always fair weather (1955) invitation to the dance (1956) and les girls (1957) were extravagant song and dance flops and even the now-classic the band wagon (1953) and silk stockings (1957) lost money upon their initial releases right|thumb|250px|gene kelly donald o'connor and debbie reynolds in singin' in the rain (1952) in 1952 as a settlement of the government's restraint-of-trade action united states v paramount pictures inc 334 us 131 (1948) loews inc gave up control of mgm it would take another five years before the interlocking arrangements were completely undone by which time both loews and mgm were losing money in 1956 schary was ousted from mgm in another power struggle against the new york-based executives cost overruns and the failure of the big-budget epic raintree county (1957) prompted the studio to terminate schary's contract