The Star System: Hollywood's Production of Popular IdentitiesColumbia University Press, 2001 M06 13 - 144 pages Looks at the development and changing organization of the star system in the American film industry. Tracing the popularity of star performers from the early "cinema of attractions" to the Internet universe, Paul McDonald explores the ways in which Hollywood has made and sold its stars. Through focusing on particular historical periods, case studies of Mary Pickford, Bette Davis, James Cagney, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, and Will Smith illustrate the key conditions influencing the star system in silent cinema, the studio era and the New Hollywood. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 5 | |
2 Making the System
| 15 |
3 Controlling the System
| 39 |
4 Rethinking the System
| 67 |
Stars and Hollywood History
| 103 |
Filmography
| 113 |
| 119 | |
| 125 | |
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Common terms and phrases
acting agencies American box office American cinema American film industry American theatre appeared audience became box office Bruce Willis Cagney camera career cent clients comedy conglomeration contemporary Hollywood Cordova Davis Davis’s deal demand detailed division developed distributors division of labour early cinema early film economic example film actor film business film performers film production film’s filmmaking Forrest genres high concept Hollywood images of stars independent producers individual Internet Jurassic Park Klaprat Last Action Hero Mary Pickford million movie moviegoers MPPC narrative film negotiate North American box on‑screen organised package package‑unit system period Pickford popular profits promotion publicity release represented role salary Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger’s screen Shirley Temple Sony Staiger star contracts star discourse star identities star images star system star’s studio system style talent television Temple Temple’s term contract tion Twentieth Century Fox vaudeville Warner Bros William K. L. Dickson Winchester 73