It’s a centenary year for two of the world’s biggest film studios, Katrina Patrick writes.
IN the midst of the roaring twenties, a new type of entertainment was taking the world by storm – “talkies”.
Short motion pictures using sound technology were commercially screened for the first time in 1923, and silent cinema, with its screens of written dialogue accompanied by orchestral audio, was soon drowned out. The film industry was becoming louder by the reel.
In 1924, two of Hollywood’s most famous and successful film studios were established to cash in on this new technology.
Columbia Pictures and MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) have now been captivating audiences around the globe for a century.
Brothers Harry Cohn and Jack Cohn founded CBC Film Sales Corporation in 1918 with co-founder Joe Brandt, but on January 10, 1924, they rebranded to launch into the new world of cinematic sound and adopted the now universally recognised name Columbia Pictures.
The studio emerged quickly as a powerhouse in the film industry, introducing the world to the iconic director Frank Capra and producing timeless classics like “It Happened One Night” in 1934 and “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” in 1939, which earned Columbia its first Academy Awards.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Hollywood’s illustrious spectrum, MGM was carving its own path to cinematic glory.
Formed on April 17, 1924, through the merger of Metro Pictures Corporation, Goldwyn Pictures and Louis B. Mayer Productions, MGM quickly became synonymous with glamour.
Its slogan was “More stars than there are in heaven”, reflecting its enviable roster of contracted film stars.
As the world grappled with the challenges of the Great Depression, notable releases like “Gilda” and “On The Waterfront” solidified Columbia’s reputation for delivering thought-provoking narratives and unforgettable performances, while MGM was one of the first studios to successfully introduce technicolour.
Its lavish musicals, “The Wizard Of Oz” in 1939 followed by “Singin’ In The Rain” in 1952, became cultural touchstones and beloved works of art still enjoyed today.
Under the leadership of Louis B. Mayer, MGM also became a cinematic juggernaut during the golden age of Hollywood.
The studio boasted an impressive array of stars, including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo.
Columbia,
