Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam Celebrates 100 Years of Columbia Pictures
Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the renowned Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures with a special program titled "The Lady with the Torch." Running from April 3 to April 30, this retrospective explores the golden era of the studio through a curated selection of restored classics and rediscovered films.
The program highlights how Columbia Pictures, founded in 1924, became a significant player in Hollywood by the 1930s. It was known for its distinct blend of artistic integrity and commercial appeal, often granting considerable creative freedom to filmmakers. This unique approach allowed for a rich output of films that challenged American values, often siding with ordinary individuals navigating societal challenges, a hallmark of director Frank Capra's work.
Discovering Columbia Pictures' Legacy at Eye Filmmuseum
Visitors to Eye Filmmuseum can expect a diverse lineup of films, spanning from early sound cinema to the late 1950s. The selection includes celebrated works by directors such as Frank Capra, Fritz Lang, and Orson Welles. Beyond the well-known titles, the program also shines a light on "forgotten" cinematic treasures. For instance, the Academy Award-winning All the King’s Men, which explores the rise of a populist politician, is presented as a timely rediscovery. Another notable inclusion is Gunman's Walk, a western favored by Quentin Tarantino.
The "Lady with the Torch" program also emphasizes Columbia's strength in genres like Westerns and film noir. Many of the genre films produced by Columbia Pictures were considered more hybrid than those from other studios, blending elements in innovative ways, a style later admired by the French Nouvelle Vague and New Hollywood generations.
Restored Classics and Pioneering Women in Film
A significant aspect of the program is the focus on new 4K restorations, offering audiences a high-quality viewing experience for many titles, including The Talk of the Town, All the King’s Men, and Gunman’s Walk. Additionally, some films, such as The Walking Hills and The Glass Wall, will be screened in their original 35mm format. A special screening of Frank Capra's 1928 film Submarine from the Eye collection will feature live musical accompaniment.
Columbia Pictures was also notable for having a higher number of women in key positions within Hollywood. Figures like Virginia Van Upp, who produced Gilda and contributed to the editing of The Lady from Shanghai, and Dorothy Arzner, one of the few female directors in Hollywood during the 1930s to 1950s, will be recognized. Arzner's film Craig's Wife is part of the program.
The selection of 17 films for "The Lady with the Torch" was curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht, originally for the Locarno Film Festival, in collaboration with Cinémathèque Suisse and Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures' parent company. Sony has undertaken the restoration of a majority of these films in recent years.
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