HNC Photography, Introduction to Film Culture Blog, Project 3 - A star is born, Research & Reflection IFC
Mary Pickford and the evolution of stardom
Mary Pickford at the height of her career was known as America Sweetheart and was one of the first great movie stars.
She was also known as the “girl with the curls” and it was this signature look that made her know to audiences before they knew here name. In this early days of cinema, there was no route to stardom because they were now stars, but moviegoers started to like people like Mary and fan magazines were created.
It was by looking at this pictures of movies actor and actress that people began to have dreams of “staring in movies” and the movie star was born. Mary was one of the first actors to be billed in a film in her name – before actors were uncredited.
This fame allows her to move between the established studio increasing her paycheck every time because everyone wanted Mary in their pictures because they drew in the audiences until eventually together with Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks to create their own Studio United Artists.
The formation of United Artists put her and her co-founders in the driving seat for their careers they were free by some the studio constraints they had had before and this lead to what was probably the first celebrity union her marriage to Douglas Fairbanks.
As her movie career came to an end, she worked behind the scenes of the studio and undertook an enormous amount of charity work throughout her life.
This lifestyle is also the template for stardom is they haven’t followed it exactly everyone has followed it in parts. Let’s think of the high profile divorces and marriages of Elizabeth Taylor and relentless charity work of Angelina Jolie, to pick on just two from different generations.
Mary Pickford as well was a brand people wanted to see her, the girl with curls, in those days the choices were limited, but this was the seeds that lead to they stars we have had from the 50’s onwards were audiences would just go to a movie because a certain was in it.
The course notes refer to stardom as a brand similar to a smartphone I think that is very much true for the action stars of today. You are in the 80’s in my school you were a Swartzeneggar to Stallone similar today you have Apple or Android – never the twain shall meet.
To me, a star is anyone that is a leading or supporting role in movies someone who we would recognise the biggest grossing leads actors through to the perpetual supporting players. However, a film legend is someone who has given an immense contribution to the cinema over there career people who have changed who we view cinema forever: John Wayne, Robert De Niro. A movie idol is similar in some way to legend an individual who has helped make cinema, cinema, but not to great life changing moments as a legend, Marilyn Monroe for example or in today’s world Dwayne Johnson.
However, this all personal choice and the cult of celebrity has grown out of all proportion in recent years. Gossip has always been part of celebrity life, and we have wanted to know about everything a star was doing. However, it was controlled by printed media and the studios, but social media has opened this to the world 24/7 365 days a week and because of this exposure there is a risk that the only dreams kids have, is to become famous not famous for something good; just famous.
What makes a star.
Well I believe that anyone whom the public recognises is a star, whether they can act or not; how bright that star shines makes them either a legend or an idol and is influenced by two factors (and not necessarily in this order):
• How good they are at their craft.
• How they perceived by the public.
Marilyn Monroe is the ultimate in screen idol. Her acting ability was average to generous, but she oozed sex appeal in a more innocent age, men wanted to be with her, women wanted to be her. Her life off screen was glamorous and fascinating and combine with a tragic, untimely death; she is close to being a legend, but one icon film still and one truly wonderful movie can not make a legend.
For me, a great movie star is some make me want to go to the cinema, who turns in a performance that I can cherish and remember for a long time. I rare watch anything just because it has a favourite actor because there are so many good actors out there why should a specialise. Don’t get me wrong I still have guilty pleasures – I’ll watch Drew Barrymore because it Drew Barrymore!
I think what can define a star can be illustrated by the performance of Karl Urban is Star Trek Beyond. A surprising choice I hear you say but work with me. Karl isn’t a major star he not on every
Karl isn’t a major star he not on every teenager’s wall and in Star Trek is not playing one of the two characters every in the universe knows. However, he turns in a performance that is funny, emotional and full of character, adding his twist on an already well-defined role – it is truly memorable. And that is what a real star should be able to do shine where ever they are.