July 23, 1964 - Independent television film companies in Hollywood have decided to turn the tables on the major movie studios by producing pictures for theaters while the studios increase their production of films for television.
One television company, Filmways, is emerging as one of the most active movie producers in Hollywood. It has one picture ready for release, three about to go into production, and two in the planning stages.
Four Star Television, another important television company, has just completed one more and has three more planned. Still another independent, Desilu, is preparing one film for production and has plans to expand movie output.
Although all this activity has taken Hollywood by surprise, the television men say their diversification was inevitable. “There is no longer a hard and fast division between TV and motion pictures,” Tom McDermott, president of Four Star, commented. “This move was a natural for us.”
The first television company to move into motion pictures in a significant way was Filmways, which was founded in 1952 to turn out commercials. Martin Ransohoff (pictured), Filmways’ aggressive 36-year-old chairman, admits that he is surprised at the swiftness of his company’s Hollywood expansion.
Filmways recently completed “The Americanization of Emily,” with Julie Andrews and James Garner, and is about to start production of three films. These are “The Loved One,” to be directed by Tony Richardson; “The Cincinnati Kid,” with Spencer Tracy and Steve McQueen; and “The Sandpiper,” with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Ransohoff is also nailing down plans for another movie, “Ice Station Zebra.”
“Our aim is to produce films that are both interesting and commercial,” Ransohoff remarked. “We are looking for stories that have something unique to say. I wouldn’t do a picture like ‘The Carpetbaggers.’”
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