The Star System: Hollywood's Production of Popular Identities

by Paul McDonald

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2001

About the author

Paul McDonald is Professor of Media Industries in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King's College London.

Reviews

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all of the Shortcuts books that I've read, this provides a really detailed background and history of the development of the Hollywood star system. I gave it three rather than four stars only because it focuses on star labour and production whereas my interests like in image and semiotics.