Irving Asher (September 1903 – March 1985) was an American film producer. Born in San Francisco in September 1903, he began his film production career in Hollywood in 1919. After joining the staff of

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

he was sent over to England as the managing director of their subsidiary

Teddington Studios Teddington Studios was a large British television studio in Teddington, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, providing studio facilities for programmes airing on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky1 and others. The complex also prov ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

in the mid-1930s (where he is credited for discovering and seeing the potential of

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...

when he was a young unknown actor who was hanging around Teddington Studios at the time looking for a way into the movies). Flynn played his first significant part as the lead in the now-lost ''

Murder at Monte Carlo ''Murder at Monte Carlo'' is a British 1934 mystery crime thriller film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Errol Flynn, Eve Gray, Paul Graetz and Molly Lamont, the production was Flynn's debut film in a lead role in England. The film is curre ...

'' (1935), which was produced by Asher. Asher went on to join

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)London Film Productions London Films Productions is a British film and television production company founded in 1932 by Alexander Korda and from 1936 based at Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire, near London. The company's productions included ''The Private Life o ...

where he worked on the epic ''

The Four Feathers ''The Four Feathers'' is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. In December 1901, ''Cornhill Magazine'' announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in th ...

'' (1939). Subsequently, he returned to Hollywood to work as a producer for

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

, where he earned his only

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nomination for the 1941

Greer Garson Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) was an English-American actress and singer. She was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who became popular during the Second World War for her portrayal of strong women on the hom ...

film ''

Blossoms in the Dust ''Blossoms in the Dust'' is a 1941 American biographical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Felix Bressart, Marsha Hunt, Fay Holden and Samuel S. Hinds. It tells the true story of Edna Gladney, who helped o ...

''. Later in his career, he was head of production for 20th Century Fox Television. He married the actress

Laura La Plante Laura La Plante (born Laura Laplante; November 1, 1904 – October 14, 1996) was an American film actress, whose more notable performances were in the silent era. Early life La Plante was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 1, 1904, the da ...

in 1934. Asher died in California in March 1985.'Los Angeles Times' obituary, March 23, 1985.

Partial filmography

* ''

Don't Be a Dummy ''Don't Be a Dummy'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Frank Richardson (director), Frank Richardson and starring William Austin (actor), William Austin, Muriel Angelus and Garry Marsh. The film was a quota quickie made by the British su ...

'' (1932) * ''

Help Yourself Help is a word meaning to give aid or signal distress. Help may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Help'' (2010 film), a Bollywood horror film * ''Help'' (2021 theatrical film), a British psychological thriller film * '' ...

'' (1932) * '' Blind Spot'' (1932) * ''

Her Night Out ''Her Night Out'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by William C. McGann and starring Dorothy Bartlam, Lester Matthews and Joan Marion.Wood p.74 It is also known by the alternative title of ''Alone at Last''. It is a quota quickie, made ...

'' (1932) * ''

Illegal Illegal, or unlawful, typically describes something that is explicitly prohibited by law, or is otherwise forbidden by a state or other governing body. Illegal may also refer to: Law * Violation of law * Crime, the practice of breaking the ...

'' (1932) * '' A Voice Said Goodnight '' (1932) * ''

High Society High society, sometimes simply society, is the behavior and lifestyle of people with the highest levels of wealth and social status. It includes their related affiliations, social events and practices. Upscale social clubs were open to men based ...

'' (1932) * ''

Mayfair Girl ''Mayfair Girl'' is a 1933 British crime film directed by George King and starring Sally Blane, John Stuart and Glen Alyn. A quota quickie, it was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Bros. Chibnall p.274 Cast * Sally ...

'' (1933) * ''

Beware of Women ''Beware of Women'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by George King and starring Jack Hobbs, Pat Paterson and Anthony Hankey. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie by Warner Brothers.Chibnall p.270 Cast * Jack Hobbs as ...

'' (1933) * ''

Double Wedding A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...

'' (1933) * ''

Out of the Past ''Out of the Past'' (billed in the United Kingdom as ''Build My Gallows High'') is a 1947 film noir directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas. The film was adapted by Daniel Mainwaring (using the pse ...

'' (1933) * '' Smithy'' (1933) * ''

This Acting Business ''This Acting Business'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by John Daumery and starring Hugh Williams, Wendy Barrie and Donald Calthrop. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Chibn ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Stolen Necklace ''The Stolen Necklace'' is a 1933 British crime film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Lester Matthews, Joan Marion and Mickey Brantford. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios.Wood p.76 Cast * Lester Matthews as Clive ...

'' (1933) * '' As Good as New'' (1933) * ''

Little Fella ''Little Fella'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by William C. McGann and starring John Stuart, Joan Marion and Hal Walters. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall p.268 Cast * Marie Ault as Mrs. Turner * Glyn Ja ...

'' (1933) * ''

Head of the Family ''Head of the Family'' is an American 1996 B movie black comedy released by Full Moon Features. It concerns a Southern couple who blackmail a family of mutants to get money and revenge. Plot Howard (Gordon Jennison Noice) is the meanest nastie ...

'' (1933) * ''

Mr. Quincey of Monte Carlo ''Mr. Quincey of Monte Carlo'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by John Daumery and starring John Stuart (actor), John Stuart, Rosemary Ames and Ben Welden. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall p.268 Cast * John Stu ...

'' (1933) * ''

Going Straight ''Going Straight'' is a BBC sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale. The programme was a direct spin-off to the sitcom '' Porridge'', which all four were involved in, wit ...

'' (1933) * ''

Too Many Wives ''Too Many Wives'' is a 1937 comedy film directed by Ben Holmes and starring Anne Shirley. It lost $35,000. Plot To gain a job as a newspaper reporter, desperate dog walker Barry Trent lies that he is married with children and needs the employme ...

'' (1933) * '' Little Miss Nobody'' (1933) * ''

The Melody-Maker ''The Melody-Maker'' is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Lester Matthews, Joan Marion and Evelyn Roberts . The film was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of War ...

'' (1933) * ''

Enemy of the Police ''Enemy of the Police'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by George King and starring John Stuart, Viola Keats and A. Bromley Davenport. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie by Warner Brothers.Chibnall p.271 Cast * John St ...

'' (1933) * ''

Call Me Mame ''Call Me Mame'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by John Daumery and starring Ethel Irving, John Batten and Dorothy Bartlam. It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall p.271 Cast * Ethel Irving as Mame * John Batt ...

'' (1933) * ''

Big Business Big business involves large-scale corporate-controlled financial or business activities. As a term, it describes activities that run from "huge transactions" to the more general "doing big things". In corporate jargon, the concept is commonly ...

'' (1934) * '' What Happened to Harkness?'' (1934) * ''

Murder at the Inn ''Murder at the Inn'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by George King and starring Wendy Barrie, Harold French and Jane Carr. It was a quota quickie, made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.78 Cast * ...

'' (1934) * '' The Church Mouse'' (1934) * '' A Glimpse of Paradise'' (1934) * ''

Nine Forty-Five ''Nine Forty-Five'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by George King and starring Binnie Barnes, Donald Calthrop and Violet Farebrother. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.79 A quota quicki ...

'' (1934) * '' The Office Wife'' (1934) * ''

Leave It to Blanche Leave may refer to: * Permission (disambiguation) ** Permitted absence from work *** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee *** Annual leave, allowance of time aw ...

'' (1934) * ''

Father and Son Father and Son or Fathers and Sons may refer to: Literature * ''Father and Son'' (book), a 1907 memoir by Edmund Gosse *Father and Son (comics), cartoon characters created by E. O. Plauen * ''Fathers and Sons'' (novel), an 1862 novel by Ivan Tur ...

'' (1934) * '' The Life of the Party'' (1934) * '' No Escape'' (1934) * '' What's in a Name?'' (1934) * ''

Trouble in Store ''Trouble in Store'' is a 1953 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom as a department store clerk in his cinema debut. The film also featured Moira Lister, Margaret Rutherford, Jerry Desmonde and Lana ...

'' (1934) - short * ''

The Black Mask ''The Black Mask'' is a 1901 short story collection by E. W. Hornung. It was published in the UK by Grant Richards, London, and in the US by Scribner's, New York under the title ''Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman''.Rowland, ...

'' (1935) * ''

'' (1935) * '' Man of the Moment'' (1935) * ''

Widow's Might ''Widow's Might'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Cyril Gardner and starring Laura La Plante, Yvonne Arnaud and Garry Marsh. at the B.F.I. Produced by Irving Asher, it is based on a play by Frederick J. Jackson, adapted by Rowland B ...

'' (1935 film) * ''

Hello, Sweetheart ''Hello, Sweetheart'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Claude Hulbert, Gregory Ratoff and Jane Carr. The film was made by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers at the company's Teddington Studios.Wood p.86 I ...

'' (1935) * '' Fair Exchange'' (1936) * '' It's in the Bag'' (1936) * ''

Head Office Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top ...

'' (1936) * ''

Irish for Luck ''Irish for Luck'' is a 1936 British comedy film, also known as ''Meet the Duchess''. Made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers, it was directed by Arthur B. Woods and starred Athene Seyler, Margaret Lockwood and Pa ...

'' (1936) * ''

Gaol Break ''Gaol Break'' is a 1936 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Ince, Basil Gill and Raymond Lovell. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.86 Cast * Ralph Ince a ...

'' (1936) * '' Faithful'' (1936) * ''

Change for a Sovereign ''Change for a Sovereign'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Seymour Hicks, Chili Bouchier and Bruce Lester. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.94 Cast * Seymo ...

'' (1937) * ''

Ship's Concert ''Ship's Concert'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Claude Hulbert, Joyce Kirby and Henry Kendall. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p ...

'' (1937) * ''

Gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

'' (1937) * ''

Mayfair Melody ''Mayfair Melody'' is a 1937 British musical film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring popular bass-baritone singer Keith Falkner in the first of his three screen performances. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary o ...

'' (1937) * ''

It's in the Blood ''It's in the Blood'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Gene Gerrard and starring Claude Hulbert, Lesley Brook and Max Leeds. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.95 Cast * Claude Hulbert ...

'' (1938) * '' Double or Quits'' (1938)

References

External links

* 1903 births 1985 deaths American film producers 20th-century American businesspeople {{US-film-producer-stub