Columbia
Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn of
Columbia was the most foul-mouthed of the moghuls but from modest
beginnings his studio developed into one of the industry's most
successful in the Fifties and Sixties. It was boosted as were all the
smaller studios by the 1948 divorcement decree which meant that the big
studios had to sell their cinemas. They were no longer exhibitors of
their own films. Columbia owned no cinemas itself so before 1948 it had
to rely on left over programme slots or deal with independent
exhibitors.
Formed in 1924 Columbia was a comparatively minor studio until its discovery of the director Frank Capra. In 1934 It Happened One Night was the first film to win all four main Oscars : Best Actor for Clark Gable, Best Actress for Claudette Colbert, Best Director for Frank Capra and Best Film. Mr Deeds Goes To Town (1936) starring Gary Cooper and Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) with James Stewart were two of Capra's best films for Columbia. His Girl Friday (1940) with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell set new standards for screwball comedy.
Columbia's only major star of the Forties was Rita Hayworth. In 1946 the studio had its biggest hit up to that time with The Jolson Story. Among the classics which followed were Born Yesterday (1950), From Here To Eternity (1953), On the Waterfront (1954), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967) and Funny Girl (1968). In the Eighties the Sony Corporation bought Columbia.
Formed in 1924 Columbia was a comparatively minor studio until its discovery of the director Frank Capra. In 1934 It Happened One Night was the first film to win all four main Oscars : Best Actor for Clark Gable, Best Actress for Claudette Colbert, Best Director for Frank Capra and Best Film. Mr Deeds Goes To Town (1936) starring Gary Cooper and Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) with James Stewart were two of Capra's best films for Columbia. His Girl Friday (1940) with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell set new standards for screwball comedy.
Columbia's only major star of the Forties was Rita Hayworth. In 1946 the studio had its biggest hit up to that time with The Jolson Story. Among the classics which followed were Born Yesterday (1950), From Here To Eternity (1953), On the Waterfront (1954), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967) and Funny Girl (1968). In the Eighties the Sony Corporation bought Columbia.
Written content copyright Derek McLellan,2005.
Copyright © The Fedora Chronicles
Harry Cohn image from
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