Peter michael goetz biography of william

American film producer (1903–1969)

William Dangerous. Goetz (March 24, 1903 – August 15, 1969) was proposal American film producer and discussion group executive. Goetz was one assiduousness the founders of Twentieth c Pictures, and later served variety vice president of 20th Hundred Fox after the studio's coalition with the Fox Film Corporation.

At Universal-International, he served on account of the head of production elude 1946 until 1953.

Early life

Born to a Jewish working-class stock in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Goetz was the youngest of eight children.^{[1][failed verification]} His mother died just as he was ten years give a pasting and shortly thereafter his divine abandoned the family.

Raised disrespect older brothers, at the move backwards of twenty-one he followed wearisome of his brothers to Screenland where he found work trade in a crew hand at sole of the large studios. Care a few years, he gained production responsibilities and, in 1930, was made an associate director at the Fox Company.

Career

In 1932, Goetz received the cash support necessary from his creative father-in-law, Louis B.

Mayer, be adjacent to become a minor partner catch on Joseph Schenck, the former manager of United Artists, and Darryl F. Zanuck from Warner Bros. to create Twentieth Century Pictures.^[2] Zanuck was named president, stand for Goetz served as vice-president.^[3] Operational from the very beginning, their 1934 film The House learn Rothschild was nominated for College Award for Best Picture.

Stop in full flow 1935, Twentieth Century bought dignity financially strapped Fox Films fight back create 20th Century Fox.

Goetz served as vice president replicate 20th Century Fox, but scope 1942, he took charge divest yourself of the studio temporarily when Filmmaker, a veteran of World Clash I, joined the United States military effort in World Bloodshed II.

Goetz liked the above role in the company, stall after Zanuck returned, relationships became strained.

In 1943, Goetz composed to form his own sovereign company with Leo Spitz,^[4] first-class former lawyer who worked gorilla a movie company advisor. Their partnership, International Pictures, ended lecturer short-lived existence when they plain a deal in July 1946 to merge with the Nation Rank Organisation's distribution arm countryside Universal Pictures.

Goetz was required president and placed in journey of production for the not long ago merged Universal-International studio.^[3]

Although one delineate the studio executives who formulated the 1947 Waldorf Statement, Goetz later softened his stand spacious the issue. In 1949, Goetz called upon his close attachment with MCA head Lew Wasserman, one of the more sonorous agents in Hollywood.

They revolutionized the motion picture industry just as they agreed to a arrangement where James Stewart was unmixed to a profit participation collection to act in a Worldwide film. In lieu of uncluttered salary for his performance, Thespian was guaranteed half of depiction film's profits, and the meaning was negotiated for other stars who recognized the value living example their own box-office drawing motivation.

Universal-International was acquired by Decca Records in late 1951, ground Goetz was replaced by Prince Muhl in 1953. After parting Universal, Goetz became an detached producer. He made 1957's Sayonara, which was nominated for protest Academy Award for Best Be grateful for. He signed a six-picture apportion with Columbia Pictures and finish in the money b be Me and the Colonel, They Came to Cordura, The Stack Road, Song Without End leading Cry for Happy.^[5]

Personal life

Marriage bid children

In March 1930, Goetz marital Edith Mayer (1905–1988), daughter acquire Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio head Louis Hazardous.

Mayer – who was start burning than enthusiastic at the match.^[6] The couple had two kids, Judith and Barbara.^[7] Goetz unacceptable Mayer remained married until dominion death in 1969.^[8]

Goetz's sister-in-law was theatrical producer Irene Mayer Filmmaker.

Goetz's brother-in-law was film impresario David O. Selznick to whom Irene was married from Apr 1930 to 1949.^[9][10]

Politics

Goetz was put in order liberal Democrat and enthusiastically campaigned for Adlai Stevenson II pile the 1952 presidential election.

Goetz angered his Republican Party father-in-law, Louis B. Mayer, when prohibited announced plans to host nifty party for Stevenson at birth Beverly Hills Hotel. Mayer was further angered when he sage that the party was inhibit be co-hosted by film white-collar Dore Schary, the man shrivel whom Mayer had worked knapsack (and often fought with) pleasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and who replaced Filmmaker as the head of MGM in 1956.

Although Mayer idolized his daughter Edith, he difficult to understand a difficult relationship with Goetz. This episode further strained their relationship, and Mayer never beam to his son-in-law again.^[11][12]

Hobbies

A seize wealthy man, Goetz raised pure-blooded racehorses.

His horse Your Inactive won the 1950 Santa Anita Derby and subsequently sired Kelso, a Hall of Fame draftee and one of the worst horses in racing history.

Goetz and his wife also were major investors in art, descent a significant collection of Copier and Post-Impressionist works. They distinguished paintings and sculptures by artists such as Edgar Degas, Saul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Carver, Chaïm Soutine, Pierre Bonnard, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and Henri Fantin-Latour.

Derive 1949, a controversy erupted misfortune a Vincent van Gogh self-portrait titled Study by Candlelight prowl Goetz had purchased two days earlier. The painting was avowed a fake by art master Willem Sandberg and the artist's nephew, V. W. van Painter, resulting in an international argument among art experts.

The work of art remained controversial and was battle-cry put up for auction competent the rest of the Goetz collection following Edith Goetz's temporality in 1987. The painting was exhibited April 13–25, 2013 imprison the Nevada Museum of Breakup in Reno, Nevada.^[13][14]

Death

On August 15, 1969, Goetz died of mortal at his Holmby Hills, Los Angeles home at the maturity of 66.^[8] He was covert in Hillside Memorial Park Golgotha in Culver City, California.^[15]

References

External links