Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System

Carman's (film studies, Dodge Coll. of Film & Media Arts, Chapman Univ., CA) well-written and well-researched academic work succinctly details how Hollywood female stars in the 1930s opted out of the studio system and worked independently. During this time, women were viewed as the chief movie audience, so some actresses were able to freelance with a number of different movie studios on motion pictures rather than be subjected to a binding contract with one exclusively. Carole Lombard, in particular, chose her own projects and also had some creative control. She was further an expert at garnering good publicity, maintaining her A-list Hollywood status. Other actresses such as Constance Bennett, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn, Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino, and Dolores del Rio also earned better salaries and gained greater control over their careers by freelancing during this period. This title contradicts the belief that 1930s Hollywood only had one path—a studio contract—for actresses.