The Star Machine

The Star Machine examines Hollywood's studio system from the 1920s-1950s, focusing on how movie studios manufactured and maintained their stable of stars. Author Jeanine Basinger draws on extensive research to document the methods used by studios to transform ordinary people into screen icons. The book profiles both major stars and forgotten players from the era, analyzing the formulas and techniques studios employed to create specific "types" of stars. Through case studies of actors like Tyrone Power, Lana Turner, and Errol Flynn, Basinger demonstrates how the studios crafted public personas and managed every aspect of their stars' careers and personal lives. Studio practices like publicity campaigns, physical makeovers, name changes, and careful role selection are detailed through archival materials and industry documents. Basinger examines both the successes and failures of the star-making system, including promising actors who never achieved lasting fame despite extensive studio grooming. This comprehensive study reveals the calculated nature of Hollywood stardom and challenges common assumptions about talent and fame in the entertainment industry. The rigidly controlled star system described here provides insight into modern celebrity culture and its roots in early Hollywood practices.

Readers appreciate Basinger's deep research and insider knowledge of Hollywood's studio system, with many noting her ability to weave together studio documents, interviews, and film analysis. Several reviewers highlight the detailed case studies of stars like Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, and Lana Turner. Readers found value in learning about lesser-known actors and failed star projects alongside famous successes. Many praised the inclusion of rare photos and marketing materials. Common criticisms include the book's length (549 pages) and occasionally meandering structure. Some readers felt Basinger repeated certain points too often. A few noted that the writing style can be academic and dense at times. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (54 ratings) Representative review: "Fascinating look at how studios manufactured stars, though it could have been edited down. The behind-the-scenes details about screen tests and publicity campaigns were eye-opening." - Goodreads reviewer

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The Parade's Gone By by Kevin Brownlow Through interviews with surviving silent film pioneers, this history captures the methods and mechanics of early Hollywood star creation and studio operations.

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★ The "star machine" system discussed in the book operated from roughly 1930-1960 at major Hollywood studios, methodically transforming unknown actors into carefully crafted movie stars through calculated image creation, publicity campaigns, and strategic film roles. ★ Author Jeanine Basinger is the founder of the Film Studies Department at Wesleyan University and has served as a trustee of the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. ★ The book reveals how studios would often completely reinvent actors' backgrounds, changing their names, creating fictional life stories, and even altering their physical appearances—Norma Jeane Mortenson becoming Marilyn Monroe is just one famous example. ★ While many stars were "manufactured" by the system, some notable rebels like Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis fought against it, often facing suspension from their studios but ultimately creating more authentic public personas. ★ The collapse of the studio system in the 1960s marked the end of this systematic star-making process, leading to the modern era where actors have more control over their image but less studio support in building and maintaining their careers.