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How did Harry Cohn and Frank Capra help build Columbia Pictures into a major studio?

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Frank Capra (From left) Unidentified, Gary Cooper, and Frank Capra on the set of *Mr. Deeds Goes to Town*.

Harry Cohn and Frank Capra were instrumental in transforming Columbia Pictures from a minor "Poverty Row" studio into a major Hollywood powerhouse.

Their partnership began in 1928 when Cohn hired Frank Capra to direct That Certain Thing. Capra quickly became Cohn’s most trusted director, playing a vital role in elevating the studio's reputation through his work on comedies and dramas. The turning point for the studio occurred with the 1934 film It Happened One Night, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and propelled Columbia into the ranks of the major studios.123

Harry Cohn served as the driving force behind this growth. While he was known for being a tyrannical and demanding leader, he possessed a keen intuition for talent and commercial success. By consolidating power as both president and head of production, Cohn effectively managed the studio's resources and recruited top-tier talent, ensuring that Columbia could compete with larger, more established studios.13