An important aspect of Classical Hollywood studio system was the star system, which was the “film studios’ use of stars’ popularity to promote their movies” (Media Now, 192). Studios would take young actors and actresses with promising potential and create a persona for them, and in many cases, even give them a new name. Studios used this system to make and control iconic actors and actresses to make as much profit off them as they could. I find that the star system is extremely important to take note of in order to understand how film studios of the Classical Hollywood operated.
The star system affected what kind of movies the studio made. Once the studios obtained actors or actresses and created a persona for them, they would then make movies in a genre to go along with the persona. If they had a beautiful young actress, the studio would make romantic films starring said actress.
A great example of the star system is the beloved Judy Garland. She was born Frances Ethel Gumm and was discovered as a young teenage girl with a voice by MGM. She signed with MGM and it was at the time that her name was changed to Judy Garland. MGM proceeded to give Judy the young, cute, “girl next door” look. MGM used this image to promote their films that they put her in, like The Wizard of Oz. The studio doctors even gave her pills to slenderize her figure and keep it that way. This only contributed to her life-long drug addiction.
Judy Garland 1941
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