- published: 28 Mar 2013
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Lewis Robert "Lew" Wasserman (March 22, 1913 – June 3, 2002) was an American talent agent and studio executive, sometimes credited with creating and later taking apart the studio system[dubious – discuss] in a career spanning more than six decades. He was also the manager of MCA for the Martin and Lewis comedy team.
Wasserman was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Russian Jewish immigrants, Isaac Wasserman and Minnie Chernick. He began his show business career as an usher in a Cleveland theater in 1933. He later became a booking agent for the Music Corporation of America (MCA), founded by Jules Stein.
Under Wasserman, MCA branched out into representing actors and actresses in addition to musicians and in the process created the star system, which drove up prices for studios. MCA struggled to gain ground in Hollywood since major agencies like those belonging to Charles Feldman, Myron Selznick, and Leland Hayward had already grabbed up most of the major talent. However, in the mid-1940s, when it purchased Hayward's agency, MCA finally gained bargaining leverage with the studios. As an agency, Wasserman's MCA came to dominate Hollywood, representing such stars as Bette Davis and Ronald Reagan, whom Wasserman was instrumental in helping to become president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood. On 19 April 1955, he became an American citizen while remaining a British subject.
Over a career spanning more than half a century, Hitchcock fashioned for himself a distinctive and recognisable directorial style. He pioneered the use of a camera made to move in a way that mimics a person's gaze, forcing viewers to engage in a form of voyeurism. He framed shots to maximise anxiety, fear, or empathy, and used innovative film editing. His stories frequently feature fugitives on the run from the law alongside "icy blonde" female characters. Many of Hitchcock's films have twist endings and thrilling plots featuring depictions of violence, murder, and crime, although many of the mysteries function as decoys or "MacGuffins" meant only to serve thematic elements in the film and the extremely complex psychological examinations of the characters. Hitchcock's films also borrow many themes from psychoanalysis and feature strong sexual undertones. Through his cameo appearances in his own films, interviews, film trailers, and the television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents, he became a cultural icon. Hitchocks reputation as a filmmaker is offset by claims that he engaged in obsessive and controlling behaviour towards many of his leading ladies, and that in some cases this extended to physical abuse and sexual harrassment.
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( /ˈrɒnəld ˈwɪlsən ˈreɪɡən/; February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. Prior to that, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and a radio, film and television actor.
Born in Tampico, Illinois and raised in Dixon, Reagan was educated at Eureka College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and sociology. After his graduation, Reagan moved first to Iowa to work as a radio broadcaster and then in to Los Angeles in 1937 where he began a career as an actor, first in films and later television. Some of his most notable films include Knute Rockne, All American, Kings Row, and Bedtime for Bonzo. Reagan served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and later as a spokesman for General Electric (GE); his start in politics occurred during his work for GE. Originally a member of the Democratic Party, his positions began shifting rightward in the late 1950s, and he switched to the Republican Party in 1962. After delivering a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but won both the nomination and general election in 1980, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter.
Alfred Hitchcock presents the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Lew Wasserman
The Last Mogul Official Trailer
'We began getting the idea of the summer blockbuster, and that was Lew Wasserman's brainchild'
Who was Lew Wasserman? (Casey Wasserman)
Hollywood Legend Lew Wasserman
Q&A; with Barry Avrich on THE LAST MOGUL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LEW WASSERMAN at STF docs Summer 2014
Lessons from Lew Wasserman (Casey Wasserman)
Brian Grazer on Dyslexia: Movies, Lew Wasserman Advice
The Last Mogul - Variety Screening Series
Edie & Lew Wasserman Building, UCLA, Los Angeles
Moldea on MCA, the Mafia and the corruption of Ronald Reagan
Calling Lew Wasserman
Actors: Kurtwood Smith (actor), Gary Sievers (actor), Richard Portnow (actor), Wallace Langham (actor), John Rothman (actor), Walter Pidgeon (actor), Danny Huston (actor), Ralph Macchio (actor), James D'Arcy (actor), Anthony Hopkins (actor), Spencer Garrett (actor), Rene Auberjonois (actor), David Hill (actor), Michael Wincott (actor), Joel Thingvall (actor),
Plot: In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, are at the top of their creative game as filmmakers amid disquieting insinuations about it being time to retire. To recapture his youth's artistic daring, Alfred decides his next film will adapt the lurid horror novel, Psycho, over everyone's misgivings. Unfortunately, as Alfred self-finances and labors on this film, Alma finally loses patience with his roving eye and controlling habits with his actresses. When an ambitious friend lures her to collaborate on a work of their own, the resulting marital tension colors Alfred's work even as the novel's inspiration haunts his dreams.
Keywords: 1950s, 1960s, actor, actress, adultery, automobile, based-on-book, beach-house, black-humor, blondeActors: Francis X. McCarthy (actor), Sean McCann (actor), Mark Antony Krupa (actor), Robert Higden (actor), Frank Fontaine (actor), Richard Jutras (actor), Aidan Devine (actor), Zeljko Ivanek (actor), Richard Fitzpatrick (actor), James Brolin (actor), John Bourgeois (actor), Alan Fawcett (actor), Alain Goulem (actor), Daniel Pilon (actor), Frank Moore (actor),
Genres: Biography, Drama, Romance,Actors: Mark Moore (miscellaneous crew), Bill Lake (actor), John Stamos (producer), Craig Eldridge (actor), Ernest Troost (composer), Anna Rane (miscellaneous crew), Neil Meron (producer), Tony Nappo (actor), Craig Zadan (producer), Sean Hayes (actor), Aron Tager (actor), Seán Cullen (actor), Vince Nyuli (miscellaneous crew), Pamela Hackwell (miscellaneous crew), Keith Reamer (editor),
Plot: Even at the start of his singing career, Dean Martin is an impressive gentleman, big, tall, handsome, exquisitely dressed, fitting his nightingale voice and naturally classy appeal, even though his womanizing costs him enough in alimony to declare bankruptcy. Jerry Lewis on the other hand is an unsightly schmuck, whose buffoon version of stand-up comedy is an agent's nightmare. When he accepts playing MC in a show with Dean, he tries interacting with him, and they hit gold judging by the audience's reactions. Initially Dean wants to walk off and stay a solo act, but success as a duo is irresistible, and they rocket together, even in Hollywood. However in time they fall out of friendship as their characters and lifestyle clash, and Dean still dreams of solo success.
Keywords: 1940s, 1950s, based-on-book, character-name-in-titleQu'est-ce qu'ils font, ceux du palais? Ils ne se pressent pas. Moi. je trouve que c'est le plus dur, cette attente : on est là , on piétine sous un ciel de feu, sans quitter des yeux cette pierre noire ... Ha! ils sont là -bas derrière; ils attendent comme nous, tout réjouis à la pensée du mal qu'ils vont nous faire.
Horrible, horrible attente. Il me semble, vous tous, que vous vous éloignez lentement de moi. La pierre n'est pas encore ôtée, et déjà chacun est en proie à ses morts, seul comme une goutte de pluie.
Chiens! Osez-vous bien vous plaindre? Avez-vous perdu la mémoire de votre abjection? Par Jupiter, je rafraîchirai vos souvenirs. Il faut bien nous résoundre à commencer sans elle. Qu'on aille quérir Électre au palais et qu'on l'amène ici, de gré ou de force.
Pitié! Pitié!
A vos places. Les hommes à ma droite. A ma gauche les femmes et les enfants.
Ces gens-là n'en peuvent plus. Ôtez la pierre.
Ils sont là !
Horreur! Pitié! Horreur! Pitié!
Ruffian! Je ne te permettrai pas de mêler le nom de mon père à tes singeries!
Arrêtez, jeunne homme, arrêtez-vous!
Électre!
Électre!