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King Cohn: The Life and Times of Harry Cohn
A biography of an uneducated immigrant who built Columbia Pictures from the ground up. Includes b&w photos from Cohn's career, spanning the 1920s through the 1950s. Originally published in 1967 as King The Life and Times of Harry Cohn , by G. P. Putnam's Sons. This second edition contains elements that were removed from the first edition by Putnam's a list of persons interviewed, and a chapter explaining influences on Cohn's personality. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
113 people want to read
About the author
Bob Thomas
131 books33 followersRobert Joseph "Bob" Thomas was an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who worked for the Associated Press from 1944.
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 16, 2008
Okay, I picked this up at Deals, the local dollar store. I was there to purchase party supplies and happened to see this book on the shelf with some other overly printed books that had apparently not sold in the bigger bookstores. It was very good. This book accounts the life of Harry Cohn, creator of Columbia Pictures. The author discusses how this hard-nosed man invented Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak and created such spectacular films as "It Happened One Night" (my personal favorite!), "From Here to Eternity, "On the Waterfront," "Pal Joey," "Gilda," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "The Awful Truth," and "You Can't Take it With You" as well as many other terrfic movies. Very detailed, however overly detailed at times- which is fine by me, but may annoy the lesser old movie fan- the book shares Cohn's life from childhood 'til death. He was gruff, pompous, bossy, yet kind, considerate, and shockingly charitable. I would recommend this to all movie fans who want to learn about the history of one line of motion pictures from the 30s-50s.
March 12, 2023
1967’s King Cohn by Bob Thomas is a fairly tame representation of the notorious co-founder/head of Columbia Pictures back in the day. Thomas’s style is a lot like what you’d expect from a writer who cut his teeth as an AP journalist as he lays out a series of events with little attention to deeper examination. The book lists no sources, and even the truth here comes off apocryphal. But there’s enough old Hollywood gossip to make up for the book’s lack of depth.
April 14, 2023
Like with his Thalberg biography, Bob Thomas chooses to lionize his subject, though here he is more likely to condemn Cohn’s personality. His tenure at Columbia is one of the greatest runs in the history of studio filmmaking, but it comes paired with a legacy of ferocious tempers and negotiations.
Cohn is a workaholic, an obsessive, who doesn’t know what to do other than work or place bets. (I’m the film industry, the two are one and the same.) At his core, however, is a poor boy with a chip on his shoulder who vowed never to be second place again.
Both of these book do call into question the “auteur theory” as it seems, at this time, the key artists were guys like Harry Cohn and Irving Thalberg. Like the movies he oversaw, Harry Cohn was a sleazy, argumentative, shister who always moved forward.
It’s easy to see Cohn as a boorish, bully, but Thomas balances the stories of jaw dropping aggression with a man completely willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to save an enemy from a terminal illness, who rewarded loyalty and self assurance above all else, and who maintained a standard of quality that anyone who came after him was forced to reckon with.
Cohn is a workaholic, an obsessive, who doesn’t know what to do other than work or place bets. (I’m the film industry, the two are one and the same.) At his core, however, is a poor boy with a chip on his shoulder who vowed never to be second place again.
Both of these book do call into question the “auteur theory” as it seems, at this time, the key artists were guys like Harry Cohn and Irving Thalberg. Like the movies he oversaw, Harry Cohn was a sleazy, argumentative, shister who always moved forward.
It’s easy to see Cohn as a boorish, bully, but Thomas balances the stories of jaw dropping aggression with a man completely willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to save an enemy from a terminal illness, who rewarded loyalty and self assurance above all else, and who maintained a standard of quality that anyone who came after him was forced to reckon with.
September 17, 2023
"The Cohn code required that he be master of every relationship within his studio. Anyone who ran counter to this was inevitably discharged. That happened with one of Colombia's publicity directors, Whitney Bolton, who committed the error of defending his boss. At a [1944] press preview at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, Bolton heard a Colombia producer ridicule Cohn. Bolton chastised the producer for his disloyalty, and the incident was reported to Cohn by Ben Kahane. Cohn sent for Bolton the following day.
"You're a schmuck," Cohn growled. "Who the FUCK told you to defend me!?"
--Nobody, Bolton answered.
"You put me under obligation to you for something I didn't do," Cohn said. "I want you to quit. If you remained here, I would never be able to pass you on the studio street without knowing that I was obligated to you."
Cohn paid Bolton *$18,000 in future salary as settlement of his contract."
Pg. 193-194
IV Boomtown: The Forties
7 - The King Adds Some Footnotes to The Prince
*adjusted for inflation, $18,000 in 1944 would be the equivalent of $317,613.10 in 2023
"You're a schmuck," Cohn growled. "Who the FUCK told you to defend me!?"
--Nobody, Bolton answered.
"You put me under obligation to you for something I didn't do," Cohn said. "I want you to quit. If you remained here, I would never be able to pass you on the studio street without knowing that I was obligated to you."
Cohn paid Bolton *$18,000 in future salary as settlement of his contract."
Pg. 193-194
IV Boomtown: The Forties
7 - The King Adds Some Footnotes to The Prince
*adjusted for inflation, $18,000 in 1944 would be the equivalent of $317,613.10 in 2023
November 5, 2021
Absolutely fascinating and engaging. Harry Cohn took Columbia Pictures from a one camera Production Company on "poverty row" to a major studio. And just how he did it, with the equally charming and cruel personality unique to him, deserves a movie itself
May 2, 2022
Mostly chronological bio of the co-founder of Columbia Studios, serves as a history of the studio itself as well. Many small vignettes pepper the larger story arc, as the book was entirely sourced from interviews with the people who knew him.
May 12, 2010
This is a marvellous and outstanding book that everyone with an interest in Hollywood should read. Once started it is hard to put down! Harry Cohn was the notorious head of Columbia Pictures from 1924 until his death in 1958. It is a remarkable story of the former song plugger who became the feared chief executive of Columbia Pictures during the "Golden Years of Hollywood". Harry Cohn was a very reclusive man who seldom gave interviews so Bob Thomas has done an exceptional job in putting together this account of Cohn's life. He put in hours of efficient research for this book and spoke with many people who knew Cohn and the stars and directors who worked for him.
Harry Cohn's brother Jack was the first to go into the film business but Harry soon joined him. Jack was based in New York dealing with the business and financial side and Harry was in charge of film production in Hollywood. There was no love lost between the two brothers and they were constantly arguing with each other. Columbia could not compete on an equal footing with the other major studios such as MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox and initially made cheap westerns and second features to begin with but Cohn was ambitious and wanted to produce more prestigious films. His luck changed when he had the enormous good fortune to persuade director Frank Capra to join Columbia who made a series of first rate quality films for the studio. The Capra films were box office successes (and Oscar winners) and brought in the much needed dollars to expand the studio and purchase important screenplays, and hire other talented writers and directors etc. The name of Columbia then became recognised and its films obtained a wider audience.
Columbia did not have a large roster of stars under contract like the major studios so they had to discover new talent and develop their own stars. One of Harry Cohn's discoveries was a dancer named Margarita Cansino - he cast her in a few Columbia features and loaned her out to other studios and then the big build up started. Cohn decided her name should be changed so she became Rita Hayworth and went on to become one of Columbia's top stars.
Columbia's biggest box office success in the 40's was the biographical musical "The Jolson Story". This was not an easy film to get off the ground as the New York office were convinced that Jolson was a "has been" whose career was finished and that the American public would not be interested to see a film about his life. Another problem was the casting - James Cagney and Danny Thomas both turned down the leading role and other actors were considered including Jose Ferrer and Richard Conte. Jolson desperately wanted to play himself in the film but in his 60's was obviously too old. The eventual casting of Larry Parks in the role of Jolson was a masterstroke - he was absolutely brilliant - in fact we can't now imagine anyone else doing it as he is so identified with the two Jolson films.
In 1949 Marilyn Monroe was signed to a contract at Columbia for $175 a week. She appeared in a B picture called "Ladies of the Chorus" but when her six months contract was up Harry Cohn ordered her to be dropped - "She can't act", he said. Some of his associates at Columbia never allowed Cohn to forget he had dismissed Marilyn Monroe who as we all know went on to become a major Hollywood star!!
Harry Cohn was responsible for creating another star at Columbia when he signed Kim Novak to a contract. He tried her out in small budget pictures such as "Pushover", "Phffft", and "Five Against the House". Cohn was not initially impressed by her acting but she did well enough in these films for him to agree to cast her in a major production with top stars - "Picnic" - featuring William Holden, Rosalind Russell and Cliff Robertson. "Picnic" established Kim Novak as a star and she went on to make several other successful films.
The 50's brought even more success to Columbia with films such as "Born Yesterday" (1950) which won the Best Actress Oscar for Judy Holliday. Even more popular was "From Here to Eternity" (1953) which won the Best Picture Oscar and seven other awards. ("Eternity" became the biggest money maker in Columbia's history and Harry Cohn was very proud of the film). "Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) was another Columbia success winning the Best Picture award and six other Oscars.
To sum up "King Cohn" is a marvellous book, full of interesting anecdotes about the stars and "behind the scenes" information what it was like to be in charge of a busy Hollywood studio and with such a fantastic character as Harry Cohn running things there are many wonderful stories to tell. Harry Cohn had the reputation of being something of a monster and tyrant at the studio but this book reveals that he did many kind acts often helping out his employees and stars when they were in financial trouble (sometimes giving them substantial amounts of money) and visiting friends who were in hospital. He enjoyed his image as a tough boss and did not want these stories to be publicised. "King Cohn" is a fascinating read. Buy it - you will enjoy every chapter!
Harry Cohn's brother Jack was the first to go into the film business but Harry soon joined him. Jack was based in New York dealing with the business and financial side and Harry was in charge of film production in Hollywood. There was no love lost between the two brothers and they were constantly arguing with each other. Columbia could not compete on an equal footing with the other major studios such as MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox and initially made cheap westerns and second features to begin with but Cohn was ambitious and wanted to produce more prestigious films. His luck changed when he had the enormous good fortune to persuade director Frank Capra to join Columbia who made a series of first rate quality films for the studio. The Capra films were box office successes (and Oscar winners) and brought in the much needed dollars to expand the studio and purchase important screenplays, and hire other talented writers and directors etc. The name of Columbia then became recognised and its films obtained a wider audience.
Columbia did not have a large roster of stars under contract like the major studios so they had to discover new talent and develop their own stars. One of Harry Cohn's discoveries was a dancer named Margarita Cansino - he cast her in a few Columbia features and loaned her out to other studios and then the big build up started. Cohn decided her name should be changed so she became Rita Hayworth and went on to become one of Columbia's top stars.
Columbia's biggest box office success in the 40's was the biographical musical "The Jolson Story". This was not an easy film to get off the ground as the New York office were convinced that Jolson was a "has been" whose career was finished and that the American public would not be interested to see a film about his life. Another problem was the casting - James Cagney and Danny Thomas both turned down the leading role and other actors were considered including Jose Ferrer and Richard Conte. Jolson desperately wanted to play himself in the film but in his 60's was obviously too old. The eventual casting of Larry Parks in the role of Jolson was a masterstroke - he was absolutely brilliant - in fact we can't now imagine anyone else doing it as he is so identified with the two Jolson films.
In 1949 Marilyn Monroe was signed to a contract at Columbia for $175 a week. She appeared in a B picture called "Ladies of the Chorus" but when her six months contract was up Harry Cohn ordered her to be dropped - "She can't act", he said. Some of his associates at Columbia never allowed Cohn to forget he had dismissed Marilyn Monroe who as we all know went on to become a major Hollywood star!!
Harry Cohn was responsible for creating another star at Columbia when he signed Kim Novak to a contract. He tried her out in small budget pictures such as "Pushover", "Phffft", and "Five Against the House". Cohn was not initially impressed by her acting but she did well enough in these films for him to agree to cast her in a major production with top stars - "Picnic" - featuring William Holden, Rosalind Russell and Cliff Robertson. "Picnic" established Kim Novak as a star and she went on to make several other successful films.
The 50's brought even more success to Columbia with films such as "Born Yesterday" (1950) which won the Best Actress Oscar for Judy Holliday. Even more popular was "From Here to Eternity" (1953) which won the Best Picture Oscar and seven other awards. ("Eternity" became the biggest money maker in Columbia's history and Harry Cohn was very proud of the film). "Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) was another Columbia success winning the Best Picture award and six other Oscars.
To sum up "King Cohn" is a marvellous book, full of interesting anecdotes about the stars and "behind the scenes" information what it was like to be in charge of a busy Hollywood studio and with such a fantastic character as Harry Cohn running things there are many wonderful stories to tell. Harry Cohn had the reputation of being something of a monster and tyrant at the studio but this book reveals that he did many kind acts often helping out his employees and stars when they were in financial trouble (sometimes giving them substantial amounts of money) and visiting friends who were in hospital. He enjoyed his image as a tough boss and did not want these stories to be publicised. "King Cohn" is a fascinating read. Buy it - you will enjoy every chapter!
July 13, 2017
Smart, dishy and well thought out. This is a true page turner.
February 5, 2019
A terrific as well as horrific insight to an old world. Took a while to read, as it's very self appreciative. Currently hunting for more of a playbook.
March 14, 2017
One of the better Hollywood bios I've read.
I'd heard awful things about Harry Cohn before, but it sounds like a lot of this was bluster. He really did have a heart under all his cursing and jerk behavior, unlike Jack Warner, who was a complete SOB with very few redeeming qualities.
Harry, for all his faults, took care of his ex wife after he dumped her (mostly because he wanted an heir). Even though he ruled Columbia with an iron hand, there are examples of him paying complete hospital bills for sick employees and that type of thing.
This book didn't go into his legendary casting couch, but it did make him much more human to me after reading. A very three-dimensional guy. Bob Thomas really knew how to tell a tale-- tons of good anecdotes about funny or mean stuff done by Harry told by people like Glenn Ford, Frank Capra, and Kim Novak.
I'd heard awful things about Harry Cohn before, but it sounds like a lot of this was bluster. He really did have a heart under all his cursing and jerk behavior, unlike Jack Warner, who was a complete SOB with very few redeeming qualities.
Harry, for all his faults, took care of his ex wife after he dumped her (mostly because he wanted an heir). Even though he ruled Columbia with an iron hand, there are examples of him paying complete hospital bills for sick employees and that type of thing.
This book didn't go into his legendary casting couch, but it did make him much more human to me after reading. A very three-dimensional guy. Bob Thomas really knew how to tell a tale-- tons of good anecdotes about funny or mean stuff done by Harry told by people like Glenn Ford, Frank Capra, and Kim Novak.
March 9, 2009
This is an excellent look at the life of Columbia Pictures founder Harry Cohn. Although regarded by many as a crude, offensive & profane loudmouth (and he was certainly all that), he was also the driving force behind the founding of a small Hollywood studio located in an area then known as Poverty Row and making it into one of the majors that is still doing bonanza business in the 21st century.
Harry Cohn, like the other film czars of the "Golden Era" was a master showman and, like the others, knew what it took to build stars in that era when all the studios had "home grown" talent.
An old book, but interestingly told.
Harry Cohn, like the other film czars of the "Golden Era" was a master showman and, like the others, knew what it took to build stars in that era when all the studios had "home grown" talent.
An old book, but interestingly told.
December 6, 2012
It is a great book that really captures the essence of the Hollywood studio system from the 20s to the 50s. Harry Cohn took a poverty row property and turned it into Columbia Studios. Great movies were made there under the iron fist of a street wise, fierce competitor and the last of the Studio bosses.
The book is well researched and the style is quite engaging.
As a big fan of the directors of the period ( Hawks, Ford, Lubitsch and Wyler) I thoroughly regaled in the anecdotes the author provides of an era long gone!
The book is well researched and the style is quite engaging.
As a big fan of the directors of the period ( Hawks, Ford, Lubitsch and Wyler) I thoroughly regaled in the anecdotes the author provides of an era long gone!
March 7, 2008
Well worth reading if just for the story of Cohn having a private meeting with the King of England to ask if would be allowed to have a suit made with the fabric and color that was reserved for the throne.
February 5, 2013
This guy was the crassest, scrapiest studio head in the Golden Age, but he managed to create Columbia Pictures in "Poverty Row" & collaborate with artists like Frank Capra. Just a fascinating personality.
July 26, 2008
Give me a behind-the-scenes book about Hollywood during the Golden Era of the studio system and I'm set. Harry Cohn was a ruthless bastard but I had fun reading about him.
February 11, 2010
Bought the book to read about my dad's cousin, Sidney Buchman. Loads of information on him and he has always been a bit of a mystery to me.
October 20, 2013
Interesting biography on one of Hollywood's most influential film moguls, founding and reigning over Columbia Pictures for 30 years.
June 17, 2015
not enough ruth gordon stories-
November 29, 2014
Amazing story about old Hollywood. I enjoyed this book very much.
August 10, 2015
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews