Martin Gerald Rosen (born August 31, 1936) is an American filmmaker and theater producer. He directed the animated film adaptations of '' Watership Down'' (1978) and '' The Plague Dogs'' (1982), both from the

Richard Adams Richard George Adams (9 May 1920 – 24 December 2016) was an English novelist and writer of the books ''Watership Down'', ''Maia'', ''Shardik'' and ''The Plague Dogs''. He studied modern history at university before serving in the British Army ...

novels.

Career

Rosen originally worked as a literary agent before he moved with his wife to the United Kingdom. He first produced the Canadian feature ''

A Great Big Thing ''A Great Big Thing'' is a Canadian-American comedy-drama film, directed by Eric Till and released in 1968. Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 90. The film stars Reni Santoni as Vinny Shea, an aimless young ...

'' (1968) and later co-produced

Ken Russell Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was a British film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. His films in the main were liberal adaptation ...

's film version of '' Women in Love'' (1969), which won Academy Awards for Glenda Jackson and

Billy Williams Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is a former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, Williams was named the 1961 National League (NL) ...

(cinematographer) Rosen was originally the producer of '' Watership Down'' but took over as director after John Hubley, the original director, left after disagreements with Rosen. He also wrote the screenplay for it. This was the first of two novels by

he adapted. In 1982 he also produced, directed and wrote the screenplay for another animated feature based on an Adams novel, '' The Plague Dogs'' (1982). Rosen produced '' Smooth Talk'' (1986), which won the Sundance Grand Prize. His last film as director was ''

Stacking Stacking may refer to: Arts and media * ''Stacking'' (video game), a 2011 game from Double Fine * ''Stacking'', a 1987 TV movie directed and produced by Martin Rosen * Stacking, a technique in broadcast programming Language * Consonant stacki ...

'' (1987). His last project as producer was the animated '' ''Watership Down'' TV series in 1999. Rosen has also worked in theater production. He was the originating producer of Michael Weller's '' Moonchildren'', first presented at London's Royal Court Theater before transferring to the US. He was the originating producer of Maxine Hong Kingston's "The Woman Warrior", presented in association with The Berkeley Rep, Boston's Huntington Theater, and the Doolittle Theater in Los Angeles.

''Watership Down'' ownership controversy

On 27 May 2020, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court in London ruled that Rosen had wrongly claimed all rights to the book ''Watership Down'', and terminated the contract which had given him rights to the film. He had entered into adaptation contracts worth more than $500,000 (£400,000), including licenses for an audiobook adaptation and the 2018 television adaptation. In his ruling, Judge Richard Hacon ordered Rosen to pay over $100,000 in damages for copyright infringement, unauthorised license deals, and denying royalty payments to the Adams estate. He was also directed to provide a record of all license agreements involving ''Watership Down'' and pay court costs and the Adams estate's legal fees totalling £28,000. Subsequent failure to comply with the terms of the UK judgement left Rosen in

contempt of court Contempt of court, often referred to simply as "contempt", is the crime of being disobedient to or disrespectful toward a court of law and its officers in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the cour ...

and facing enforcement proceedings in Connecticut.Case Detail - WATERSHIP DOWN ENTERPRISES, LLC v. SIROCCO PRODUCTIONS, INC Et Al
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Personal life

Rosen is married to Elisabeth Payne Rosen, an author and ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church. They reside in Ross, California.

Credits

Films

Television

Theater

* ''I, Frederick'' * ''The Women Warrior'' * ''China Men'' * ''Hallam's War''

Critical reception

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
Nepenthe Productions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosen, Martin American film directors American film producers American male screenwriters American television producers American theatre managers and producers British animated film directors British animated film producers British film directors British film producers British television producers British theatre managers and producers Living people 1936 births