During the Golden Age of Hollywood, five major studios (also known as the Big Five) were the top-earning studios in the film industry. MGM held the top spot for eleven years (1931-1941), with 20th Century Fox firmly in second place. Paramount profited substantially during the early years of the sound era (1928-1930) and after a sluggish period during the 1930s returned to profitability during the prosperous 1940s. Warner Brothers and RKO Radio Pictures held steady until late 1940s, when RKO began to decline.
The Hollywood Studio system created by these five major movie studios is credited with developing most of the legendary stars of the Golden Age. During the early years of film production, studios spent a great deal of money recruiting, grooming, and then signing those stars with the greatest talent potential. This method of self-development came to be known as the “star system.”
In 1935 the emergence of the “talent search system” arose. This meant that undiscovered talent outside the studio had the opportunity to be discovered by a talent scout who would then represent his client at the studios in hopes of landing a contract.
In an effort to find this undiscovered talent, these scouts would constantly monitor Broadway, vaudeville, and radio. Sometimes they would randomly discover a potential star among the general public based on their style, first impression, or just good looks. A perfect example of this is Hollywood legend Lana Turner, who was caught drinking root beer on a bench outside a restaurant by a talent scout who thought she had the perfect look for a role in an upcoming movie.
Acting contracts within the studio system were very strict and invaded an actor’s or actress’s social life. The studio scheduled many permitted social activities as a promotional technique to attract more press and attention to its stars. This, in effect, meant that the star was now owned by the studio and many aspects of her personal life were under the full control of the industry.
Most star contracts during this period were for seven years, with a six-month option for contracted players. If the star proves not to be as popular as the studio wanted and doesn’t generate enough box office profit within six months, the studio could revoke the contract. However, if they did well, they could receive a higher salary until the option period of their next contract.
These contracts gave the studios full control over the actors, including the right to make the actor accept any role chosen by the studio, regardless of whether the actor was interested in the role or not. These contracts also gave the studio the right to lend, and receive, for a fee or other mutually agreed arrangement, its stars to other studios with or without the consent of the stars.
Due to the restrictive nature and enforcement of these contracts, many stars often found themselves playing roles they didn’t want or were simply opposed to. It could be a difficult tradeoff; and ultimately, to be a contract star during this era, you had to come to terms with the fact that you, the actor, had no control over your career and were at the mercy of the studio.
The old star control system of Hollywood studios ended shortly after the Golden Age. Movie studios were eventually forced to shut down their monopoly system, allowing artists and other film professionals, both independent and foreign, more creative and rewarding control over their careers.
