The Studio System and Its Effect on Hollywood

The studio system, through its use of vertical integration, has managed to flood Hollywood with films from many of the top production studios. These films often featured stars that that perticular studio has under contract, usually long-term. It was often these stars that led to the decision to make certain kinds of films, based on their personal strengths in acting.

For example, actors who could sing would often star in musicals, dancers often got a dance number in the middle of a film, comedians would often have a chance to crack a joke, and so on. Some actors had certain personality traits, which would be reoccuring in the characters they play (although nowadays we would call that "typecasting"). Films were made around the actors, rather than just having an actor be part of the film.

Lon Chaney, Sr. had the ability to change his character using make-up techniques that he invented, giving him the nickname "the man of a thousand faces". This led to him starring in silent horror films such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera". These films were notable in that Chaney was able to pose as seriously deformed characters who still managed to be sympathetic considering their circumstances. Though Chaney's talents went beyond horror and stage makeup, he made his greatest impact in horror films made by Universal Studios.

Lon Chaney, Sr. "The man of a thousand faces"