Samuel Goldwyn Allowed Use of Name -- November 26, 2023

Motion Picture News, 03-November-1923

Samuel Goldwyn was born in Warsaw, which was then part of the Russian Empire, in 1879 or 1882. When he came to the US in 1899, he was called Samuel Goldfish. He worked in the glove industry, eventually becoming a successful salesman. In 1913, he joined with Jesse Lasky, Cecil B. DeMille, and Arthur Friend to found the Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company. In 1916, the Lasky Company merged with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company to form the Famous Players–Lasky Corporation. Goldfish was chairman of the board, but, later in 1916, he resigned after repeatedly clashing with Adolph Zukor, he resigned. Goldfish joined with brothers Edgar and Archie Selwyn to form Goldwyn Pictures. Goldfish liked the name Goldwyn, so he changed his last name in 1918. In 1924, Goldwyn Pictures merged into the Metro Company. Goldwyn left before the merger and formed Samuel Goldwyn Productions.

The original Goldwyn Company sued to prevent Goldwyn from using his name on the new company. He eventually prevailed in court and went on to a long career as an independent producer.

Sherlock Holmes is October Release -- September 26, 1922

Moving Picture World, 02-September-1922

John Barrymore, "America's greatest dramatic artist," played Sherlock Holmes in Sam Goldwyn's production of Sherlock Holmes. 

Moving Picture World, 02-September-1922

Sherlock Holmes was among "The Big Birds On The Horizon!"

Moving Picture World, 16-September-1922

This was the only movie Carol Dempster appeared in that was not directed by her patron, DW Griffith.

Moving Picture World, 30-September-1922

Moving Picture World, 16-September-1922

This item is a little confusing because it reports that FBO was going to produce an adaption of The Hound of the Baskervilles starring Eille Norwood as Holmes. The movie had been made the year before in Great Britain. It was directed by Maurice Elvey, who had directed the two successful series of short stories starring Norwood as Holmes. 

Moving Picture World, 30-September-1922

I like the picture of the hound. 

Sherlock Holmes is Big Goldwyn Film -- August 15, 2022

Motion Picture News, 19-August-1922

John Barrymore played Sherlock Holmes in a loose adaption of William Gillette's play. I didn't enjoy the movie much, but Barrymore certainly looked like Holmes.

Moving Picture World, 26-August-1922

Sam Goldwyn produced the Barrymore film.

New York Evening World, 24-August-1922

Eille Norwood played Sherlock Holmes and Hubert Willis played Dr John Watson in a series of short films and features made between 1921 and 1923 by Stoll Pictures.

Legion Protests Caligari Showing in Los Angeles -- May 17, 2021

 

Motion Picture News, 21-May-1921

In 1919, German director Robert Weine created The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, an expressionist horror film. The movie premiered in Germany in early 1920. In 1921, it premiered in the United States and caused an uproar, distributed by Goldwyn. I think I first saw it on KQED-Channel 9, our local PBS station. 

Conrad Veidt played Cesare, the Somnambulist. Werner Krauss played Doctor Caligari.

Motion Picture News, 07-May-1921

"The Town Clerk Insults Dr. Caligari." I cannot find the name of the actor who played the town clerk. The character later came to regret this act. I think his desk needs some ergonomic adjustments.

Motion Picture News, 21-May-1921

The American Legion, a veterans' organization, opposed the showing of Caligari, not because it was a weird film but because it was made in Germany.

Virginia Mayo 100 -- November 30, 2020

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Remarkably beautiful actress Virginia Mayo was born 100 years ago today, on 30-November-1920. Sam Goldwyn signed her to a contract and put her in a number of musicals with Danny Kaye. She was very with dramatic roles in The Best Years of Our Lives and White Heat. 

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Mabel Normand in West is Making New "Sis Hopkins" -- December 19, 2018

Moving Picture World, 28-December-1918

Last month I decided that I haven't been posting enough items about Mabel Normand. Mabel and Mack Sennett co-produced Mickey, which became an enormous hit when it was released in 1918. This twenty-four sheet poster was "displayed on the curtain of Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York."

Moving Picture World, 21-December-1918

Mabel was under contract to Goldwyn Pictures.  I think Samuel Goldwyn was still using the name Samuel Goldfish. "Goldwyn" was a combination of the names of Samuel Goldfish and his partner, Archie Selwyn.  Most of Mabel's Goldwyn films are lost.

The Best Years of Our Lives -- November 11, 2015

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Happy Veterans Day, everyone. Veterans of the Second World War thought very highly of The Best Years of Our Lives, which was produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by William Wyler. 

Three men meet while returning home after separation from the service. 

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Frederick March played Al, a middle-aged banker who joined the army to do his part.  He wound up as an NCO.  His wife Milly was Myrna Loy, a favorite of mine and his daughter Peggy was Theresa Wright.  I don't remember much about his son.  Al felt out of place at home and at work.  He made a loan to another vet who had little collateral and got shot down for it. 

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Dana Andrews was Fred, who had been a bombardier in the Army Air Force.  He found that his wife was no longer interested in him, and he suffered from nightmares caused by PTSD.  He was a soda jerk before the war and wanted something better after.  Fred and Peggy were attracted to each other.  Al told Fred to leave her alone. 

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Harold Russell was Homer, who had lost his arms while serving in the Navy.  He went through a long period of rehabilitation before he got home.  His parents didn't know what to do and he tried to push away his fiancee Wilma, who was played by Cathy O'Donnell.  Cathy persisted in wanting to stay.  The hooks are real. 

Fred encouraged Homer to marry Wilma, and he won the love of Peggy.  The marriage scene makes me cry. 

Fred gets a job building housing out of salvaged aircraft aluminum. 

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And the movie has Hoagy Carmichael as Homer's Uncle Butch, a bar keep.  Any movie is better with Hoagy Carmichael. 

The movie won nine Academy Awards and was nominated for one more. 

Harold Russell made only two more movies and appeared in a couple of television shows, but was very active in AMVETS, serving as National Commander. 

In 1992, to raise money for his wife's medical expenses, he sold his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.  This was controversial, but I understood.  I remember when he died in 2002.