Frank Capra (1897-1991)Frank Capra's career best illustrated the rising power of the producer-director that pushed the limitations of the studio system in the 1930s. Capra rose to prominence as a contract director at Columbia Pictures with his successful mixture of populist drama and sentimental comedy that defined depression-era attitudes and elevated Harry Cohn's studio from Poverty Row status to one of the Big Eight majors. Capra was suitably rewarded with his own production unit and an unusually high level of creative freedom. Producing about one picture a year, the Capra unit made quality, event pictures, not unlike the prestige films of Capra's independent producing counterparts. After the success of It Happened One Night (1934), his new five-picture contract with Columbia gave him 25 percent of the net profits, and even contained an anti-block booking provision that required all Capra films to be sold individually, beginning with Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1935).
He also made "It's A Wonderful Life", "Pocketful of Miracles", "Arsenic and Old Lace" and my personal favorite "Lost Horizon".
1 comment:
Had the pleasure of hearing Mr Capra speak during a week-long celebration when I was in college.
Got to chat a bit at a party, what a lovely man!
I still love It Happened One Night.
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