Blog Post 5- Studio System

During the Classical Hollywood period, which occurred during the 1920's through the 1940's, studio systems were vertically  integrated which means that the "big five" (MGM, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros.,and RKO) controlled every aspect of the film business from production to distribution, and exhibition. I think that the most important aspect of the studio system was the star system. Stars were contracted (basically meaning that the Studio owned them), they also paid to sell products or promote other stars that worked for the studio. The stars of each studio were what made the studio's so popular and well known, they were the best way the studio's were able to represent what it was they did. Audiences became so enthralled and obsessed with stars that they would go and see their every film, in return making the studio's very rich. 


Stars affected the way films were made in that each star had their own distinct and unique talent, whether it was singing dancing, or playing a instrument. Studio's would make certain movies for actors talents so actors always ended up played the same role in movies. Especially after a Star made their first screen appearance and an audience feel in love with them. The audience seemed to associated the actor playing only a certain type of role.  Such as Shirley Temple (contract with 20th Century Fox) who played the sweet little girl who always found some time of trouble and who danced an sang in most of her films. I feel that the actors great extra talent (besides acting) is what made the studio's feel that they should only be making certain types of movies for actors because the studios knew that it was going to bring in lots of people which equals lots of money and popularity.

Judy Garland is an example of this. she was discovered as a child and contracted with MGM in 1935. She was used to promote other MGM stars in her movies such as in the 1937 film  Broadway Melody of 1938 when she is sing to the picture of MGM actor Clark Gable.  The use of her sing ability was used a lot I the films she came out in because studio's casted her in mainly music films. She also played the role of the innocent girl many times in the films she appeared in. The star system which is a specific part of the studio system of production is a very important one to me because without these stars I feel them playing these specific roles the classical hollywood era would not have made such a bug impact on the film industry. 

                            

Photo of Shirley Temple :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Curly_Top_2.jpg

Photo of Judy Garland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thoroughbredstrailer.jpg

info of Judy Garland's Broadway Melody of 1938:  http://www.jgdb.com/melody.htm