Two of the world’s biggest film studios celebrate 100 years on the silver screen
WORDS: KATRINA PATRICK
Columbia Pictures and MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) have now been captivating audiences around the globe for a century.
The two studios were set up in 1924 to take quick advantage of the latest technology in the movie industry – synched audio. Gone were the days of silent film with dramatic live piano accompaniment!
Columbia emerged as a powerhouse in the industry, introducing the world to the iconic director Frank Capra and producing classics like It Happened One Night in 1934 and Mr Smith Goes To Washington in 1939, earning Columbia its first Academy Awards.
Meanwhile, MGM was blazing its own path to cinematic glory. Its slogan was “More stars than there are in heaven”, reflecting its enviable roster of contracted film stars including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo.
Under the leadership of Louis B. Mayer, MGM became a cinematic juggernaut during the golden age of Hollywood. Columbia could not afford to keep so many contract stars, often borrowing them from other studios.
It was nicknamed “Siberia” by MGM staff, as Mayer allegedly punished his less-obedient signings by loaning them to Columbia – the phrase “being sent to Siberia” stuck!
The Love Goddess
Columbia may not have had the roster of MGM, but they did have one shining star – Rita Hayworth. Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, Rita was the most glamorous screen idol of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the press coined the term “The Love Goddess” to describe her. She and appeared in 61 films in total, including Gilda, Salome and The Lady From Shanghai. She was also the top pin-up girl for American GIs during World War II.
The Name’s Bond . . .
MGM has distributed all 25 Bond films since absorbing production company United Artists in 1981.
From Octopussy in 1983 to No Time To Die in 2021, MGM has overseen one of the most successful franchises in the world.
The adaptations of Ian Fleming’s spy novels have been a global and enduring sensation since the first film, Dr. No, was released in 1962. James Bond, the British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007, has become a household name.
So, too, have the actors that starred in the titular role. U
