Top 10 Old Hollywood Stars Who Rebelled Against the Studio System

Nowadays, Frank Capra is one of the most well-remembered and beloved filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age. He was a big deal in his day as well, so much so that he thought he might have the juice to go up against Columbia Pictures — and did so more than once. In the ‘30s, he was said to have taken legal action against the studio after edits he didn’t OK were made to “Lost Horizon.” Then, in 1946, he reportedly sued, arguing he should be paid for “A Song to Remember,” a film about Frédéric Chopin. This picture was directed by Charles Vidor, but Capra said some of his work from years earlier for what eventually became this project was used.

Sometimes, a gentle nudge against authority can change everything. During the days of the studio system, actors were beholden to making movies solely with the studio they were contracted to. Unless, that is, the studio agreed to ‘lend’ them out or gave them permission to also work elsewhere. Actress Elizabeth Taylor — who once described the system as a “factory” — was under contract with MGM until 1960. But because of what we presume were her persistence and great powers of persuasion, she made many films not on the MGM lot. Some of her biggest, including “A Place in the Sun” and “Giant,” were crafted elsewhere. These projects often pushed the boundaries of the production code, dealing with issues considered taboo at the time, like abortion.

Many entries on this list have to deal with one man and his status within Columbia Pictures. Harry Cohn was one of the co-founders of Columbia. Cohn had quite the reputation for demanding sexual favors from the studio’s female actors, and is sometimes credited with normalizing the practice in Hollywood. Many had no real say in the matter, as he had great control over their careers, and were victims of his horrid coercion. But there were a few stars who thankfully felt like they had enough control to say no. When Cohn approached actress Joan Crawford, she reportedly halted his advances with a casual yet direct reminder that she was seeing his wife and kids for a meal the next day.

Kim Novak was one of Columbia Pictures’ most popular actresses in the 1950s. When she started spending time with singer Sammy Davis Jr., who was Black, studio head Harry Cohn responded with hatred. The details of exactly what transpired are unclear, but it certainly seems Cohn had mobsters attempt to intimidate Davis Jr. into ending things. The relationship between Novak and Davis Jr. didn’t last long, and there is conflicting information about whether things were actually romantic. But the fact that they had this rapport in the first place was a huge rebellion for the time. This wasn’t the only way Novak pushed back against Cohn, either. Much earlier in her career, she fought to keep her last name. She also reportedly rejected his advances.

Out of all the actresses at Columbia Pictures, Rita Hayworth had one of the most contentious relationships with studio head Harry Cohn. Before her career took off, her then-husband Edward C. Judson reportedly ordered her to be intimate with Cohn. She held her own and didn’t engage in relations with him, however. The studio head tried multiple times to get her into bed over the years, and did not take her rejections well. Because of Hayworth’s box office appeal, Cohn reportedly wouldn’t end her contract, though. Instead, he settled for making her life miserable. He reportedly spied on her through bugs in her dressing rooms, and accused her of being insubordinate to collect monetary penalties. But all through it, Hayworth never cowered to him.

It’s well known at this point that the studio system affected Judy Garland in a worse way than most. Her substance use disorder was fueled by terrible working circumstances at a young age, and her self-esteem suffered at the hands of MGM. But when the studio tried to meddle in her relationship, she stood up for herself as long as she could. Garland fell in love with musician David Rose as a young woman, and married him in 1941. MGM, like her mom, was reportedly disapproving of the union, believing it would tarnish Garland's public persona. Despite their objections, Garland married anyway. The studio apparently didn’t make it easy for the couple though, and they ultimately divorced.

Bette Davis was one of the most important and lauded actresses of her generation. But to get Warner Brothers Studios to notice that, she had to fight. After Warner Bros. let her make a movie with RKO, she made waves in the studio’s 1934 flick “Of Human Bondage.” It showcased her knack for playing bold, antagonistic women, but Warner Brothers still refused to give her the roles — or money — she wanted. Although Jack Warner reportedly tried to placate her with the vague promise of the main part in “Gone with the Wind,” Davis was done. She went off to Europe to make movies she liked with a different studio. Things ended in a lawsuit that Davis lost, but she still had the guts to try.

When it came to the studio system, Katharine Hepburn definitely wore the pants — literally. There was a time when donning pants publicly could get a woman arrested. But Hepburn didn’t let that stop her. The story goes that she would show up to RKO Studios rocking blue jeans. But she came back from filming to find her pants had mysteriously disappeared. If this was some not-so-subtle push from the studio, it didn’t work. Instead of donning a skirt like they wished she would, it’s been said that she simply walked around in her underwear until someone gave her the pants back. That’s an icon if we’ve ever seen one.

Back in the days of Old Hollywood, studios basically had all the control. Some stars, however, could push hard enough to get their way. Set out to prove he was more than just a pretty face, actor Tyrone Power wanted to star in 1947’s “Nightmare Alley.” Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox, had concerns, but eventually it. That was a win for Power, who had persisted to get this win from the studio. However, when it came to promoting the picture, Zanuck didn’t lift a finger. This reportedly hurt Power, who felt “Nightmare Alley” was among his best works. Later, he actually rejected the part of Albion Hamlin in 1952’s “Lydia Bailey,” a defiant move against Fox that got him suspended.

Many stars rebelled against the studio system in small ways and large. While a lot of those stars lost, many paved the way for Olivia de Havilland to win. During her time at Warner Brothers, de Havilland wasn’t given roles within the studio that fueled her. She decided to wait her contract out, and opted for suspensions rather than take on parts she hated. Her contract was supposed to end in 1943, but the studio added extra time because of those very same suspensions. So the actress decided to take legal action against Warner Brothers over the “tack on” contract clause. She won, thus also changing the game for her peers. She ultimately thrived, as evidenced by her work in such films as “The Heiress.”