Sol C. Siegel

Sol C. Siegel
Born (1903-03-30)March 30, 1903
New York City, United States
Died December 29, 1982(1982-12-29) (aged 79)
Los Angeles
Occupation Film producer

Sol C. Siegel (March 30, 1903 in New York City – December 29, 1982 in Los Angeles) was an American reporter and film producer.

Sol C. Siegel was born on March 30, 1903 in New York City.[1] In the early 1930s Siegel was sales manager of the Brunswick-Columbia record label.[2] In 1934 he began his Hollywood career by assisting his brother, Moe Siegel, with the merger of four production studios into Republic Pictures. He stayed on at Republic as an executive producer, working with Gene Autry and John Wayne.

Producer

In 1940 Siegel joined Paramount Pictures to produce feature films. In 1946 he moved to 20th Century Fox.[3] Two of the films he produced there, A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. He also produced The Iron Curtain (1948) and later the Marilyn Monroe musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, as well as the star-studded High Society starring Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong.

MGM

In 1956 Siegel joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[4] Towards the end of the year Dore Schary was fired as head of production and Siegel was rumoured to be given his job.[5] However Ben Thau got the job and Siegel remained a producer, making Les Girls, Man on Fire and Merry Andrew and Some Came Running.

Siegel was appointed head of studio operations at MGM for three years in April 1958.[6] The following month he was appointed vice president in charge of production.[7] By this stage the studio had already greenlit a number of movies that would go on to be major successes, including Ben Hur and North by Northwest.[8]

During Siegel's time MGM produced the major Cinerama epic How the West Was Won.[3][9] He was also the subject of an extortion attempt.[10]

The success of Ben Hur encouraged Siegel to authorise a series of remakes at MGM such as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Cimarron and Mutiny on the Bounty. All these films lost money for the studio.[11] This - along with a number of other box office failures - led to him being replaced as head of production in January 1962 by Robert M. Weitman.[12]

Siegel then began working as an independent producer.[4] He ran his own production company from 1964-67.

Siegel died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on 29 December 1982, aged 79.[3]

Selected films made under Siegel at MGM

Unmade films

References

  1. ↑ Sol C. Siegel at Find a Grave
  2. ↑ "Sales Mgrs.: There's Hope". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1958-05-05. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  3. 1 2 3 "SOL C. SIEGEL DEAD; HEADED PRODUCTION OF FILMS AT M-G-M". The New York Times. December 31, 1982.
  4. 1 2 "Sol C Siegel". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  5. ↑ O'Neill Drama Terrific in Impact, Real Triumph for March and Eldridge Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 Nov 1956: B7.
  6. ↑ Sol C. Siegel Chosen to Head MGM Studio Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 Apr 1958: 5.
  7. ↑ Siegel Made Loew's V-P Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 May 1958: C9.
  8. ↑ MGM to Make Huge Schedule of New Films Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File); Jan 22, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times (1881-1990) pg. B20
  9. ↑ MGM, With 44 Films, Maps Plans Into 1960 Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 08 July 1959: C10.
  10. ↑ CHIEF AT MGM TARGET OF $100,000 EXTORTION: Suspect Seized by FBI Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 Jan 1959: 1.
  11. ↑ Studio Mutiny Over 'Bounty' Film Quelled Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 01 Mar 1961: B7.
  12. ↑ MGM Undergoes Change of Guard: Weitmain Replaces Sol Siegel; Sullivan, Crawford to Spain Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 06 Jan 1962: A6.
  13. ↑ 'Defiant Ones' Is Festival Favorite: Kramer and Stars in Berlin; Webb Readies Newspaper Tale Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 02 July 1958: B7.
  14. ↑ Dick Clark to Star in Theater Movies: 'Spinster' Grabbed by MGM; India Sends Unique Feature Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 25 Mar 1959: C11.
  15. ↑ Martin Will Star in 'Subterraneans': Freed Plans Modern Jazz Tale; Martha Hyer Sought for 'Dolls' Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 08 Dec 1958: C15.
  16. ↑ 'Atlantis' Will Be Conceived by Pal: Moulin Rouge to Go Legit; Two McIntires Sipt at U-I Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 May 1960: B10.
  17. ↑ Shaggy Dog' Cast Will Kid Monsters: Jean Hagen Completes Roster; New Film Faster, Less Distorted Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 30 July 1958: A9.
  18. ↑ Conquest of Mars Told by Bradbury: MGM Will Picturize Novel; Walters Explains 'Jumbo' Yen Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 15 Feb 1960: C9.
  19. ↑ MGM Reactivates True Olympic Tale: It's 'Seven From America'; Single Projector Hits 360 Deg. Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 18 Mar 1960: A9.
  20. ↑ Kazan 'Alligators' Acquired by MGM: Barry Jr. Assigns 'Widower;' Presley as Siegel's Mr. Adam? Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 09 Dec 1960: C11.
  21. ↑ New Impetus Lent Activity at MGM: Siegel Cites Impressive List of Stories, Stars, New Faces Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 09 Apr 1959: B9.
  22. ↑ FILM LAND EVENTS: Lyons Assigned to 'County Fair' Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 25 June 1959: B9.
  23. ↑ 'Only in America' Secured by MGM: Newman Plans Chekhov Novelty; Fox Wilshire Takes 'Sheba' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 Oct 1959: B11.
  24. ↑ MGM Has 30 Films Ready or in Production: Successful Year Seen With 'Charlemagne,' Cinerama in Story Form, Heading Offerings Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 Feb 1960: 16.
  25. ↑ Five Pictures Put on Bresler's S1ate: 'Lonely Londoners' to Parrish; Production in Spurt at MGM Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 07 July 1960: C9.
  26. ↑ MGM Buys Rights To Steinbeck Novel The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 19 Dec 1960: B8.
  27. ↑ MGM Record Picture Schedule Set for 1961 Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 09 Jan 1961: A9.
  28. ↑ Shirer Best Seller on Nazis Bought: MGM Secures 'Third Reich'; Of Puppets and Improvising Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 09 Jan 1961: C13.


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