Exploding onto the movie scene in 1935, Republic Pictures brought the
pop culture of the 30s and 40s to neighborhood movie houses. Week after
week kids sank into their matinee seats to soak up the Golden Age of the
Republic series, to ride off into the classic American West. And they
gave us visions of the future. Visions that inspire film makers today.
Republic was a studio that dollar for dollar packed more movie onto the
screen than the majors could believe. From sunrise on into the night
over grueling six day weeks, no matter how much mayhem movie makers were
called upon to produce, at Republic Pictures it was all in a day's
work.
Republic Pictures was the little studio in the San Fernando Valley where
movies were made family style. A core of technicians, directors, and
actors worked hard at their craft as Republic released a staggering
total of more than a thousand films through the late 1950s.
Republic Pictures was home to John Wayne for thirty-three films. Always
inventing, Republic brought a song to the West. It featured the West's
first singing cowboy. Republic brought action, adventure, and escape to
neighborhood movies houses across America. And they brought it with
style. Scene from westerns such as The Three Mesquiteers and the Lawless
Range gave screaming kids at the bijou a white-knuckle display of expert
film making.
Republic Pictures became a studio where major directors could bring
their personal vision to the screen. Sometimes these were projects no
other studio would touch such as The Quiet Man (which brought director
John Ford an Oscar) and Macbeth.
Killer Bs, Cowboys, Creatures and Classics: The Story of Republic
Pictures is for anyone who likes B movies magic. It is the honest
account of an extraordinary production house, one whose ability to turn
out films quickly boded well for its transition into television
production. Not only were its sets used for such shows as Leave it to
Beaver and Gilligan's Island, stock footage from Republic's movies was
used on such shows as Gunsmoke and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.
