I sure lost my musical direction in Hollywood. My songs were the same conveyer belt mass production, just like most of my movies were.-Elvis Presley

When deciding whether to see a film an all too common factor is the question, "who is in it?" The value of a work of art becomes based on previous perceptions of components possibly unrelated to the piece at hand. The plot, camera angles, graphics, music and directing qualities are easily ignored by the inclusion or exclusion of a single actor. This "star system," where people become the art versus the work as a whole largely affects the genre and quality of film coming out of studios in present day and in the past.


People like the familiar and are drawn to what has already succeeded. No one wants to see someone fail nor waste money on an experience with the possibility of disappointment. The star system emerged from this prevalence of what "worked," what drew in an audience and what is most efficient. Predictability surprisingly became an element of success,  and by enlisting specific artists as teams or duos, extensive production was possible. Big name's associated with certain studios resulted in the elimination of independent artists and producers unfamiliar to audiences. Films narrowed towards particular concentrations such as musicals, B movies, or comedies and genres most suitable for the stars connected to the studio. 

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An example of such a team of stars who influenced the style of films and studio organization is Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Known for their comedic roles, the duo started as independent actors but were soon tied to Paramount after a few big hits. The studio saw the successful dynamics both stars brought to the table and turned them into an investment. Rather than creating films of diverse genres and fresh stars, the pair became a powerhouse for cheap slapstick humor and high ratings. The studio system hooked them in for consistent revenue and turned Dino Paul Crocetti and Jerome Levitch into "Martin & Lewis." After producing seventeen films under a common studio both men became household names. Irony can be seen when people are quick to recognize the names Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin but do not know names of films they were in. Who became more than what in the studio industry as stars overshadowed the films. This focus on names and using them for selling films has persisted to this day. 


Take a look at advertising for the film you are dying to see, where is the name of the actors in relation to the title of the film, how has the name of stars increased in size on posters? It is increasingly common for film to feature the people more than the meaning. Studios' reliance on the star system creates business out of art and impacts our definition of entertainment. 

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