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Harry CohnAmerican film mogul, president and production director of Columbia Pictures.
Date of Birth: 23.07.1891
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Harry Cohn
- Creating CBC Film Sales Corporation
- Success at Columbia Pictures
- Leadership Style and Personal Life
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Harry Cohn
Early Life and CareerHarry Cohn was an American film magnate, president, and managing director of Columbia Pictures. He was born into a working-class Jewish family in New York City. His mother, Bella Joseph, was from Russia, and his father, Joseph Cohen, was from Germany. Despite his Jewish heritage, Harry began to distance himself from it. He initially worked as a conductor before switching to trade. He then found employment at Universal Pictures, where his brother Jack Cohn was already working.
Creating CBC Film Sales Corporation
In 1919, Harry, along with his brother Jack and Joe Brandt, formed the CBC Film Sales Corporation. Harry oversaw the filming process in Hollywood, while his brother handled financial matters in New York. However, tensions arose between the brothers, and Brandt eventually sold his share to Harry, who became the company's president. The CBC Film Sales Corporation later transformed into the modern Columbia Pictures Corporation.
Success at Columbia Pictures
Initially, Columbia Pictures produced low-budget action films, earning a reputation as a "studio for the poor." However, in 1934, the comedy "It Happened One Night," directed by Frank Capra, won five Academy Awards, helping Columbia shed its negative image. The company began receiving requests from distributors who had previously shunned their services. Harry organized the company in a way that ensured consistent profitability. Unlike other studios, he did not maintain a permanent roster of actors but instead sought to attract talent already working for other firms. Nonetheless, Columbia Pictures also had its own stars who gradually rose to prominence from minor roles.
Leadership Style and Personal Life
Harry Cohn was known for his aggressive and tough leadership style. He valued talent in all its forms but never compromised his authority. Rumors circulated that he constantly eavesdropped on film sets, earning him the nickname "King Cohn." He carefully cultivated this reputation. There were also intriguing rumors about Cohn's personal life, with some claiming he had relationships with many of his actresses. However, such reports were common among several major Hollywood producers of that era.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1923 to 1941, Cohn was married to Rose Barker, and from 1941 until his death in 1958, he was married to actress Joan Perry. His niece, Leonore 'Lee' Cohn Annenberg, later married billionaire Walter Annenberg. Harry Cohn remained an active producer for a long time and became the last active film magnate of his era, maintaining his power even after his main competitors, Darryl F. Zanuck and Louis B. Mayer, retired. In February 1958, Harry Cohn suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away en route to the hospital. He was 66 years old. He was laid to rest at the Hollywood Cemetery.
