United Artists This article is about the film studio. For the cinema chain, see Regal Entertainment Group. For the former record label, see United Artists Records. The United Artists Media Group (UAMG), formerly known as United Artists Corporation (UA), is an American film and television entertainment company. The original studio using the name “United Artists” was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, The first United Artists logo, used until the 1967 sale to Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, with the intention Transamerica of controlling their own interests rather than depending upon the powerful commercial studios.[1] ing 20% held by lawyer William Gibbs McAdoo.[4] The An incarnation of United Artists formed in November idea for the venture originated with Fairbanks, Chaplin, 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Pickford, and cowboy star William S. Hart a year ear- Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and lier as they were traveling around the U.S. selling Liberty Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Paula Wagner left the studio on bonds to help the World War I effort. Already veterans August 14, 2008.[2] Cruise owned a small stake in the stu- of Hollywood, the four film stars began to talk of form- dio until late 2011.[3] In 2014, MGM acquired controlling ing their own company to better control their own work interest in Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's entertain- as well as their futures. ment companies, resulting in another relaunch of United Artists. They were spurred on by established Hollywood pro- ducers and distributors who were tightening their con- trol over actor salaries and creative decisions, a process 1 History that evolved into the rigid studio system. With the ad- dition of Griffith, planning began, but Hart bowed out before things had formalized. When he heard about 1.1 The early years their scheme, Richard A. Rowland, head of Metro Pic- tures, is said to have observed, “The inmates are taking over the asylum.” The four partners, with advice from McAdoo (son-in-law and former Treasury Secretary of then-President Woodrow Wilson), formed their distribu- tion company, with Hiram Abrams as its first managing director. The original terms called for Pickford, Fairbanks, Grif- fith and Chaplin to independently produce five pictures each year. But by the time the company got under way in 1920–1921, feature films were becoming more expen- sive and more polished, and running times had settled at around ninety minutes (or eight reels). It was believed that no one, no matter how popular, could produce and star in five quality feature films a year. Its headquar- ters was established at 729 Seventh Avenue in New York City.[5] Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and D. W. Griffith in 1919 UA’s first film was His Majesty, the American by and star- ring Fairbanks was a success. There was limited funding UA was incorporated as a joint venture on February 5, for movies at the time. Without selling stock to the pub- 1919, by four of the leading figures in early Hollywood: lic like the other studios of the time, all United had to Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and work with was weekly prepayment installments from the- D. W. Griffith. Each held a 20% stake, with the remain- ater owners for the upcoming movies. Thus production 1 2 1 HISTORY and Chaplin to buy and build theaters under the United Artists name. They also began international operations, first in Canada, then in Mexico, and by the end of the 1930s, United Artists was represented in over 40 coun- tries. Schenck resigned in 1935 when an ownership share was denied, Schenck left which set up 20th Century Pictures' merger with Fox Film Corporation to form 20th Century Fox. Schenck was succeeded by Al Lichtman as company president. A number of other independent producers dis- tributed through United Artists in the 1930s including Walt Disney Productions, Alexander Korda, Hal Roach, David O. Selznick and Walter Wanger.[6] As the years passed and the dynamics of the business changed, these “producing partners” drifted away, Samuel Goldwyn Pro- ductions and Disney to RKO and Wanger to Universal List of UA stockholders in 1920. Pictures. In the late 1930s, UA actually turned a profit while Samuel Goldwyn Productions was providing most of the output for distribution. Goldwyn sued United several times for disputed compensation leading Goldwyn Pro- ductions to leave. MGM’s 1939 hit, Gone With the Wind, the top money maker of all time, was supposed to be a UA release except for the fact Selznick wanted Clark Gable to play Rhett Butler, but Gable was under contract to MGM. Also that year Fairbanks died.[6] UA again was embroiled in lawsuits with its top producer, Selznick, over his distribution of some films through RKO and Selznick’s considering their sloppy operation. Selznick left UA and started his own distribution arm.[6] In the 1940s, United Artists was losing money with poor pictures and cinema attendance down as viewers were [6] D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin (seated) and moving to TV. It sold off its Mexican releasing division Douglas Fairbanks at the signing of the contract establishing to Crédito Cinematográfico Mexicano, a local company. United Artists motion picture studio in 1919. Lawyers Albert Banzhaf (left) and Dennis F. O'Brien (right) stand in the back- ground. 1.2 Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers (1940s and 1950s) was slow with the company distributing for the first five The Society of Independent Motion Picture Produc- years averaging five films.[6] ers was founded in 1941 by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Orson Welles, Samuel Goldwyn, By 1924, by which time Griffith had dropped out, the company was facing a crisis: either bring in others to David O. Selznick, Alexander Korda, and Walter Wanger help support a costly distribution system or concede de- – many of the same people who were members of feat. The veteran producer Joseph Schenck was hired United Artists. Later members included Hunt Stromberg, as president.[6] Not only had he been producing pictures William Cagney, Sol Lesser, and Hal Roach. for a decade, but he brought along commitments for The Society aimed to advance the interests of indepen- films starring his wife, Norma Talmadge,[6] his sister-in- dent producers in an industry overwhelmingly controlled law, Constance Talmadge, and his brother-in-law, Buster by the studio system. SIMPP also fought to end ostensibly Keaton.[6] Contracts were signed with a number of inde- anti-competitive practices by the seven major film stu- pendent producers, most notably Samuel Goldwyn, and dios – Loew’s, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Howard Hughes.[6] In 1933, Schenck organized a new Universal Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, 20th Century company with Darryl F. Zanuck, Twentieth Century Pic- Fox, and Warner Bros./First National – that controlled tures, which soon provided four pictures a year to UA’s the production, distribution, and exhibition of films. [6] schedule and was half the schedule. In 1942, the SIMPP filed an antitrust suit against Schenck also formed a separate partnership with Pickford Paramount’s United Detroit Theatres. The complaint ac- 1.4 Public company 3 cused Paramount of conspiracy to control first-run and 1.4 Public company subsequent-run theaters in Detroit. This was the first an- titrust suit brought by producers against exhibitors alleg- United Artists went public in 1957 with a $17 million ing monopoly and restraint of trade. stock and debenture offering. The company was averag- [6] In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court Paramount Deci- ing 50 films a year. In 1958, UA acquired Ilya Lopert's sion ordered the major Hollywood movie studios – Lopert Pictures Corporation, which released foreign films in the United States, that may have attracted criticism or Loew’s/MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros./First National, [7] 20th Century Fox and RKO – to sell their theater chains caused censorship problems. and to eliminate certain anti-competitive practices. This In 1957, United Artists Records Corporation and United effectively brought an end to the studio system. Artists Music Corporation were created after failing to [8] By 1958, many of the objectives that led to the creation buy a record company. In 1968, UA Records was of the SIMPP had been obtained and SIMPP closed its merged with Liberty Records, along with their many offices. subsidiary labels such as Imperial Records and Dolton Records. In 1972, the group was consolidated into one entity as United Artists Records. It was later taken over by EMI and managed by Capitol Records which contin- ues to control the catalog today. 1.3 The 1950s and 1960s In 1959, after failing to sell several pilots in the previous few years, United Artists offered its first ever television series - The Troubleshooters, an adventure/drama on NBC Needing a turnaround, Pickford and Chaplin hired for- starring Keenan Wynn and Bob Mathias as employees of mer governor of Indiana Paul V. McNutt as chairman and an international construction company.[9] Frank L. McNamee as president. McNutt did not have In the 1960s, mainstream studios fell into decline and the skill to solve UA’s financial problems and the duo was some were acquired or diversified. UA prospered while removed in a few months for a new management team.[6] winning 11 Academy Awards, including five for best On February 16, 1951, lawyers-turned-producers Arthur picture,[6] adding relationships with the Mirisch broth- Krim (of Eagle-Lion Films) and Robert Benjamin ap- ers, Billy Wilder, Joseph E. Levine and others. In 1961, proached Pickford and Chaplin with a wild idea: let them United Artists released West Side Story, an adaptation of take over United Artists for ten years.