Arkoff International Pictures

Arkoff International Pictures was a film production company set up by Samuel Z. Arkoff, co-founder of American International Pictures (AIP).

Arkoff sold AIP to Filmways in 1979, which he later described as "a giant mistake... heywanted to change everything AIP stood for." Arkoff stayed on for a time as consultant but eventually sold the rest of his stock and retired. AIP did not last long afterwards.

Arkoff decided to come out of retirement establishing a new company which was run along similar principles to AIP. Its first film was '' Q – The Winged Serpent'' entirely financed by Arkoff himself.

"People always ask me if it's difficult for me at my age to keep up with trends", said Arkoff in 1982. "What they don't understand is that I'm not older today. I was already older before."

In 1987 it was announced Arkoff had secured funds from a Canadian investor "reported to run into nine figures". Arkoff announced a series of films to be made in Canada, the US and Mexico with his son Lou Arkoff as executive vice president. The company's founder advised an audience tending an acquisitions seminar at the Showbiz Expo to divide rights in 1987 as a way of recouping their costs.

Filmography

*'' Q – The Winged Serpent'' (1982)
*''The Final Terror'' (1983)
*'' Up the Creek'' (1984) – as "Samuel Z. Arkoff and Louis S. Arkoff Productions"
*'' Hellhole'' (1985)

Proposed films

*''The Night in the Woods'' (1982)
*''Ice Riders'' (1987) – the story of an ice motor cyclist traumatised by a friend's death, trying to make a new start in a new town
*''Nightcrawler'' (1987) – a man who returns from the dead to wreck vengeance
*sequel to ''I Was a Teenage Werewolf'' starring Michael Landon's children
*''Club Malibu'' (1983–84)
*''Spike'' (1982–83)
*''Teachers'' (1982)
*''P.S. I Love You'' (1982–83)
*''The Oracle'' aka ''Reunion'' (1980–83)
*''Outcalls Only'' (1985)
*''Phenomena'' (1985)
*''Phobia'' 1986–1996 (dates broken)
*''Rotate'' 1983–1984
*''Trust Matters'' 1963–1987
*remake of ''Machine Gun Kelly'' (1987–1988)
*''Double or Nothing'' 1988
*''They're Here'' 1988
*''Future Cop'' 1988
*''Undercover'' 1988
*''Harry Knapp'' 1988
*''Angel of Mercy''1986–1988
*''Willie Mays Story'' 1988
*''Big Time'' 1988
*''Marilyn'' 1988
*''Girl Friday'' 1988
*''My Yesterdays are Your Tomorrows'' 1988–1989
*''Skyscraper'' 1983–1984
*untitled Robert Hays project 1982
*''Tow Truck Cowboy'' (1981)
*''Machismo'' 1981–1982
*''Fast Food'' (1981)
*''Wreckers'' (1982)

References

{{reflist

External links

Arkoff International
at IMDb
Samuel Z. Arkoff Papers
– includes Arkoff International Pictures information

Mass media companies established in 1981
Film production companies of the United States