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Harold Hecht
Harold Adolphe Hecht (June 1, 1907 – May 26, 1985) was an American film producer, dance director and talent agent. He was also, though less noted for, a literary agent, a theatrical producer, a theatre director and a Broadway actor. He was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the Screen Producers Guild. During his first stay in Hollywood in the early to mid-1930s, Hecht was one of the leading dance directors in the movie industry, working with the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, W. C. Fields, Gary Cooper, Maurice Chevalier and Marion Davies. In 1947, he co-founded Norma Productions, an independent film production company, with his business partner and managed actor Burt Lancaster. From 1954 to 1959, the Norma Productions subsidiaries Hecht-Lancaster Productions and later Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, were the biggest and most important independent production units in Hollywood. Following the end of the Hecht-Hill-Lancaste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the List of United States cities by population density, most densely populated major city in the United States, and is more than twice as populous as second-place Los Angeles. New York City lies at the southern tip of New York (state), New York State, and constitutes the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass. With over 20.1 million people in its metropolitan statistical area and 23.5 million in its combined statistical area as of 2020, New York is one of the world's most populous Megacity, megacities, and over 58 million people live within of the city. New York City is a global city, global Culture of New ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1926 to 1977. He made over 70 feature films and recorded more than 1,600 songs. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed, such as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. ''Yank'' magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. In 1948, ''Music Digest'' estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
31st Academy Awards
The 31st Academy Awards ceremony was held on April 6, 1959, to honor the best films of 1958. The show's producer, Jerry Wald, started cutting numbers from the show to make sure it ran on time. He cut too much material and the ceremony ended 20 minutes early, leaving Jerry Lewis to attempt to fill in the time. Eventually, NBC cut to a re-run of a sports show. The film '' Gigi'' won nine Oscars, breaking the previous record of eight (set by ''Gone with the Wind'' and tied by ''From Here to Eternity'' and ''On the Waterfront''). It would be short-lived, however, as '' Ben-Hur'' broke the record with eleven Oscars the following year. ''Gigi'' was the last film until ''The Last Emperor'' (1987) to win Best Picture without any acting nominations. It also had the biggest clean sweep at the time, winning all nine of its nominations, a record that would be tied by ''The Last Emperor''. This record was broken in 2003 when '' The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' won all 11 of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marty (film)
''Marty'' is a 1955 American romantic drama film directed by Delbert Mann in his directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Paddy Chayefsky, expanding upon his 1953 teleplay of the same name, which was broadcast on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and starred Rod Steiger in the title role. The film stars Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair. In addition to winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film enjoyed international success, becoming the fourth American film to win the Palme d'Or. ''Marty'', '' The Lost Weekend'' (1945) and ''Parasite'' (2019) are the only three films to win both organizations' grand prizes. In 1994, ''Marty'' was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Plot Marty Piletti is an Italian-American butcher who lives in The Bronx with his mother. Unmarried at 34, the good-natured but socially awkward Marty faces constant badgering from fa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mirisch Company
The Mirisch Company was an American film production company owned by Walter Mirisch and his brothers, Marvin Mirisch, Marvin and Harold Mirisch. The company also had sister firms known at various times as Mirisch Production Company, Mirisch Pictures Inc., Mirisch Films, and The Mirisch Corporation. History Walter Mirisch began to work as a producer at Monogram Pictures beginning with ''Fall Guy (1947 film), Fall Guy'' (1947), the profitable ''Bomba the Jungle Boy'' series, ''Wichita (1955 film), Wichita'' (1955), and ''The First Texan'' (1956), by which time the company was known as Allied Artists. Walter Mirisch was in charge of production at the studio when it made ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' (1956) and ''Love in the Afternoon (1957 film), Love in the Afternoon'' (1957). The Mirisch Company was founded in 1957 at which time it signed a 12-picture deal with United Artists (UA) that was extended to 20 films two years later. UA acquired the company on March 1, 1963, but th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer (September 29, 1913February 19, 2001) was an American film director and producer, responsible for making many of Hollywood's most famous "message picture, message films" (he would call his movies ''heavy dramas'') and a liberal movie icon.Film-maker Stanley Kramer dies a February 2001 BBC obituary As an independent producer and director, he brought attention to topical social issues that most studios avoided. Among the subjects covered in his films were racism (in ''The Defiant Ones'' and ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner''), nuclear war (in ''On the Beach (1959 film), On the Beach''), greed (in ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World''), creationism vs. evolution (in ''Inherit the Wind (1960 film), Inherit the Wind'') and the causes and effects of fascism (in ''Judgment at Nuremberg''). His other films ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hecht-Lancaster Productions
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster was a production company formed by the actor Burt Lancaster in association with his agent, Harold Hecht, and James Hill. In 1948 Lancaster and Hecht formed Norma Productions (named after his wife), which later became Hecht-Lancaster. Hill joined in the mid-1950s. The company produced some of the most notable American films of the 1950s. In 1956 they renewed their deal with United Artists. In late 1957 they announced they would make ten films worth $14 million in 1958."Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Planning Record Year: Group Will Produce $14,000,000 Worth of Motion Pictures in 1958". Los Angeles ''Times'', December 16, 1957. p. B9. Filmography *''Kiss the Blood Off My Hands'' (1948), N *''The Flame and the Arrow'' (1950), N *''Ten Tall Men'' (1951), N *''The Crimson Pirate'' (1952), HL *''Apache'' (1954), HL *'' Vera Cruz'' (1954), HL *'' Marty'' (1955), HL *'' The Kentuckian'' (1955), HL *''Trapeze'' (1956), HHL *''The Bachelor Party'' (1957), HHL *''Sweet Smell o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in film and, later, television. He was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor (winning once), and he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor. The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Lancaster performed as a circus acrobat in the 1930s. After serving in World War II, the 33-year-old Lancaster landed a role in a Broadway play and drew the attention of a Hollywood agent. His breakthrough role was in the film noir ''The Killers'' in 1946 alongside Ava Gardner. A critical success, it launched both of their careers. Not long after in 1948, Lancaster starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck in the commercially and criticall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Production Company
A production company, production house, production studio, or a production team is a studio that creates works in the fields of performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, comics, interactive arts, video games, websites, music, and video. These groups consist of technical staff to produce the media, and are often incorporated as a commercial publisher. Generally the term refers to all individuals responsible for the technical aspects of creating a particular product, regardless of where in the process their expertise is required, or how long they are involved in the project. For example, in a theatrical performance, the production team has not only the running crew, but also the theatrical producer, designers and theatrical direction. Tasks and functions The production company may be directly responsible for fundraising the production or may accomplish this through a parent company, partner, or private investor. It handles budgeting, scheduling, scripting, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Independent Film
An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, in some cases, distributed by major companies). Independent films are sometimes distinguishable by their content and style and the way in which the filmmakers' personal artistic vision is realized. Usually, but not always, independent films are made with considerably lower budgets than major studio films. It is not unusual for well-known actors who are cast in independent features to take substantial pay cuts for a variety of reasons: if they truly believe in the message of the film; they feel indebted to filmmaker for a career break; their career is otherwise stalled or they feel unable to manage a larger commitment to a studio film; the film offers an opportunity to showcase a talent that hasn't gained traction in the studio system; or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norma Productions
Norma may refer to: * Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Astronomy * Norma (constellation) *555 Norma, a minor asteroid * Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral arm in the Milky Way galaxy Geography *Norma, Lazio, a city in the province of Latina, Italy * Norma, Tibet Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Norma'' (album), by Mon Laferte * ''Norma'' (journal), in men's studies * ''Norma'' (opera), by Vincenzo Bellini * ''Norma'' (play), by Henrik Ibsen * Grupo Editorial Norma, a Colombian publishing house * Norma Editorial, a comics publishing company in Spain, unrelated to Grupo Editorial Norma *''Norma'', a 1942 sculpture by Abram Belskie *''Norma'', a novel by Vladimir Sorokin Tropical storms * Tropical Storm Norma (1970) * Hurricane Norma (1974) * Hurricane Norma (1981) * Hurricane Norma (1987) * Tropical Storm Norma (1993) * Tropical Storm Norma (2005) Other uses * ''Norma'' (AK-86), a never-commissioned U.S. Navy cargo vessel * Nor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marion Davies
Marion Davies (born Marion Cecilia Douras; January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Educated in a religious convent, Davies fled the school to pursue a career as a chorus girl. As a teenager, she appeared in several Broadway musicals and one film, '' Runaway Romany'' (1917). She soon became a featured performer in the '' Ziegfeld Follies''. While performing in the 1916 ''Follies'', the nineteen-year-old Marion met the fifty-three-year-old newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, and became his mistress. Hearst took over management of Davies' career and promoted her as a film actress. Hearst financed Davies' pictures and promoted her career extensively in his newspapers and Hearst newsreels. He founded Cosmopolitan Pictures to produce her films. By 1924, Davies was the number one female box office star in Hollywood because of the popularity of '' When Knighthood Was in Flower'' and '' Little Old New York'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
