For many of us, movies are such an important part of our lives that they may shape the way we think, communicate, and remember eras past. However, less familiar is the understanding of the mysterious studio industry that creates our favorite films.
This year marks the centennial of Columbia Pictures, one of film history’s most fascinating and prolific studios, so we decided to have a conversation with two experts about the wild ride of Columbia’s last 100 years and what might lie ahead.
Emory University professor Matthew Bernstein and film historian Eddy Von Mueller recently joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to discuss what 100 years of Columbia really means.
Founded in 1924 by Harry and Jack Cohn and attorney Joe Brandt, Columbia Pictures initially specialized in short comedies before transitioning to feature films. “Harry Cohn was a tough, often ruthless leader, but he had an incredible eye for talent,” noted Bernstein.
Under Cohn’s leadership, Columbia produced beloved classics like Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” which became cultural touchstones during the Great Depression.
