Origins of the Star System and Genre Specialist Studios



IB Film 1: W15.2Rise of the Studio System, Take 2Charlie Chaplin -?A BiographyCharlie Chaplin was?one of the most significant filmmakers of the early 20th Century.WATCH THIS: of the Star System and Genre Specialist StudiosPreviously, you learned about the powerful Motion Picture Patent Company (MPPC) and the monopolisation of the film business.Although the American government disbanded this monopoly, the stage had been set in the 1930's for a number of particularly strong Studios to dominate the film business.These included the so-called 'Big Five':ParamountFoxMGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)Warner BrothersRKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum)And to a lesser extent Columbia, Universal, and United Artists.These Studios thrived during what is now known as the Golden Age of Hollywood.During this time they refined the Star System?for developing and promoting actors.Here is how it worked...A Star Is BornWell, not really.In actual practice, the studios made many stars?from scratch, so to speak.Scouts would comb the clubs and theatres for young actors.If they found one who looked promising, the studio would put them under contract and then start polishing them. Actors might get voice, acting, and dance lessons as well as lessons in etiquette, proper dress, and makeup.The young actors would then serve a kind of apprenticeship by taking on a series of small roles in small films and then, hopefully, moving up to fully-fledged starring roles in big studio productions.There had always been various forms of star promotion in the film business, but the studios in the Golden Age refined it to an art form.Rising stars would have carefully constructed biographies (often fictitious) published in fan magazines. The actors themselves would be?seen?in particular nightclubs and special events.While attending these events, they would be expected to behave themselves. No getting drunk in public and no scandals of any kind would be tolerated.Sub-plotIt is interesting to compare this expectation of good behaviour to the way the public views today's stars. Look at some of today's most popular actors.Incidents of very public drug and alcohol abuse, violent outbursts, and even time served in gaol seem to be forgivable offenses these days.Back in the golden era, any of that funny-business would have destroyed most stars' careers. Not that those things did not happen.It is just that when they did, they were often successfully covered up by the studio publicity departments and by a cooperative entertainment media.Each studio aggressively promoted its stars through fan magazines, posters, and personal appearances.The studios also developed films specifically for certain stars.Known as Star Vehicles, the films would be designed to play to that star's particular talents and strengths.Genre SpecialistsMany of the golden age studios became known for producing genre films.These studios would specialise in, and become associated with, a certain genre.Some well-known examples include gangster films from Warner Brothers.Films like?Little Caesar?(1931),?The Public Enemy?(1931)?and?The Petrified Forest?(1936) were huge hits and made Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart into major stars.RKO became known for producing spectacular dance / musicals and made stars of the dance team of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.Sub-plotFred and Ginger famously danced a 17-minute long number in the film?The Gay Divorcee.Faith Whittlesey, a former U.S. Ambassador, famosly pointed out that:"Ginger Rodgers did everything Fred Astaire did, but did it backwards and in high heels."This is a classic film, and well worth watching!Watch -?The Gay DivorceeUniversal Pictures created some of the most iconic horror films of the 1930s including James Whale's?Frankenstein, Tod Browning's?Dracula, and Karl Freund's?The Mummy.Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi became world famous (and famously typecast) as the leading actors in the horror genre.It is ironic to think in the earliest days of film that actors' names were often not even listed on the credits.Nowadays the majority of Hollywood features are marketed around the star(s) of the film.How often have you heard about a new movie and asked, 'Who's in it?'.The golden era of Hollywood made the actor/star a commodity and the Star System established during that time endures today.The General and The Gold RushThe two films for this unit, Buster Keaton’s?The General?and Charlie Chaplin’s?The Gold Rush, represent two outstanding works from two of the most influential comedians in the history of film.As you watch?The Gold Rush, consider the way Buster Keaton created the comedy in?The General. What are the similarities and differences between the work of these two artists?As well, consider how many elements from these silent films you have seen in modern movies—and not just comedies.Buster Keaton was a major influence for the Kung Fu action movies of Jackie Chan, while Charlie Chaplin moves us not just to laughter, but to sympathy and understanding of characters that is on a level with many serious dramas.The Gold Rush?was written, produced, and directed by Charlie Chaplin, who also starred, of course. In other words, Chaplin, at this point in his career, was the creative guiding force of his films, what later generations would come to call an auteur.In your viewing log for?The Gold Rush, you may want to compare the different styles of physical comedy that Chaplin and Keaton create.You might also want to link these films to modern films you have seen that are influenced by the style of comedy in these classics.But the main thing you will want to do is study how these two performers make you laugh.Assignment: Viewing LogView Charlie Chaplin's?The Gold Rush?(1925),?and then answer the following question in your Viewing Log.Watch -?The Gold RushIn your Viewing Log for?The Gold Rush, you may want to compare the different styles of physical comedy that Chaplin and Keaton create.You might also want to link these films to modern films you have seen that are influenced by the style of comedy in these classics.But the main thing you will want to do is study how these two performers make you laugh.?Viewing Log Rubric?MarkbandLevel Descriptor1 - 2The viewing log shows little or no understanding of how meaning is created through the use of cinematic techniques in the viewed film.3 - 4The viewing log shows a limited understanding of how meaning is created through the use of cinematic techniques the viewed film.5 - 6The viewing log shows a satisfactory understanding of how meaning is created through the use of cinematic techniques in the viewed film. It may be lacking in detail.7 - 8The viewing log shows a good, detailed understanding of how meaning is created through the use of cinematic techniques in the viewed film.9 - 10The viewing log shows an excellent, detailed understanding of how meaning is created through the use of cinematic techniques in the viewed film. ................
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