Here are some of the things stars had to sign up for:
Long-term contracts: Actors and actresses signed contracts lasting from four to seven years with studios.
Upholding an image: Women were primarily limited to playing the all-American girl next door or sexy bombshell, and studios went to great lengths to market those images to their audience.
Exclusivity: Stars couldn't work with other studios while under contract.
Loaning talent: However, studios sometimes loaned actors to other studios for specific projects.
No refusing parts: It was unheard of for an actor to refuse a part, even if the movie was a bomb.
Name changes: Many stars had to use stage names picked by the studios, and women often had to change their appearances.
Appearance: Maintaining a specific weight was often included in contracts.
Acting like a gentleman: Male actors were expected to exude the ideals of a gentleman at all times, and anything illegal could seriously impact their careers.
While the studio system created stars like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, it also controlled their lives and careers in many ways.