In his first non-fiction book, literary-agent-turned-producer Charles Elton takes on a major topic: the first biography of “critically acclaimed then critically derided filmmaker Michael Cimino.” In “Cimino: The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate, and The Price of a Vision,” Elton explores Cimino’s fraught legacy — including his two best known films, “The Deer Hunter” and “Heaven’s Gate” — and uses extensive interviews with Cimino’s peers, collaborators, enemies, and friends to explore and reevaluate a number of sprawling Hollywood myths.
In an excerpt below — available exclusively on IndieWire — Elton unpacks the real truth behind the persistent belief that Cimino’s epic (both in scale and in terms of financial failure) “Heaven’s Gate” led to the end of United Artists. The book is out today.
Michael Cimino’s epic Western, “Heaven’s Gate,” his first film since the Oscar-winning “The Deer Hunter,” was shown to the New York press on November 19, 1980. The next morning,...
In an excerpt below — available exclusively on IndieWire — Elton unpacks the real truth behind the persistent belief that Cimino’s epic (both in scale and in terms of financial failure) “Heaven’s Gate” led to the end of United Artists. The book is out today.
Michael Cimino’s epic Western, “Heaven’s Gate,” his first film since the Oscar-winning “The Deer Hunter,” was shown to the New York press on November 19, 1980. The next morning,...
- 3/29/2022
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
Movie executive who saw United Artists' fortunes plummet
When Andy Albeck, who has died aged 89, became president of United Artists (UA) in 1978, the days of dictatorial movie moguls such as Harry Cohn, Louis B Mayer and Jack Warner, hiring and firing, making and breaking people, were long past. However, the relatively unknown Albeck, who had been with UA for almost 30 years, was suddenly in a position to approve or reject projects.
Albeck became boss of UA when the company had roughly $100m a year to make pictures, $7.5m of which it invested in Apocalypse Now (1979), as well as lending Francis Coppola a few million more to complete the Vietnam war movie. Despite the mounting cost of Apocalypse Now, the summer of 1979 saw UA enjoy the most successful box-office period in its history. The company, however, would be almost wiped out in a few years.
In 1978, the director Michael Cimino...
When Andy Albeck, who has died aged 89, became president of United Artists (UA) in 1978, the days of dictatorial movie moguls such as Harry Cohn, Louis B Mayer and Jack Warner, hiring and firing, making and breaking people, were long past. However, the relatively unknown Albeck, who had been with UA for almost 30 years, was suddenly in a position to approve or reject projects.
Albeck became boss of UA when the company had roughly $100m a year to make pictures, $7.5m of which it invested in Apocalypse Now (1979), as well as lending Francis Coppola a few million more to complete the Vietnam war movie. Despite the mounting cost of Apocalypse Now, the summer of 1979 saw UA enjoy the most successful box-office period in its history. The company, however, would be almost wiped out in a few years.
In 1978, the director Michael Cimino...
- 11/3/2010
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
By Lee Pfeiffer
Andy Albeck's name may not be known to even the most die-hard movie fans. Like most executives of United Artists, Albeck, who died on September 29 at the age of 89, chose to keep a low profile even when he was appointed president of the company in 1978, following many years of service. Albeck took over the position when legendary UA chief Arthur Krim and his team left the company to form Orion Pictures. Albeck's unobtrusive manner belied the fact that he championed a number of highly successful films including sequels to Rocky and Pink Panther franchises. He also backed Scorsese's masterpiece Raging Bull when many others in the industry thought a black and white film about boxing would be a major miscalculation. Albeck also oversaw the continuing success of the James Bond series, working with producer Cubby Broccoli to produce the Roger Moore hits Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only.
Andy Albeck's name may not be known to even the most die-hard movie fans. Like most executives of United Artists, Albeck, who died on September 29 at the age of 89, chose to keep a low profile even when he was appointed president of the company in 1978, following many years of service. Albeck took over the position when legendary UA chief Arthur Krim and his team left the company to form Orion Pictures. Albeck's unobtrusive manner belied the fact that he championed a number of highly successful films including sequels to Rocky and Pink Panther franchises. He also backed Scorsese's masterpiece Raging Bull when many others in the industry thought a black and white film about boxing would be a major miscalculation. Albeck also oversaw the continuing success of the James Bond series, working with producer Cubby Broccoli to produce the Roger Moore hits Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only.
- 10/7/2010
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Hollywood movie mogul Andy Albeck has died at the age of 89.
The former United Artists boss passed away last Wednesday at the Nyu Hospital in New York after suffering heart failure.
Albeck is best known for his 30-year tenure at the Hollywood studio, working with renowned filmmakers including Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
He was instrumental in bringing Scorsese's Oscar-winning 1980 film Raging Bull to the big screen and was also involved with the James Bond franchise, the Rocky movies and the Pink Panther pictures.
Albeck, who later retired from Hollywood to run a Christmas tree farm in New Jersey with his wife Lotte, also appeared on screen in Woody Allen's 1980 movie Stardust Memories, playing a studio head based on himself.
He is survived by his wife and children, Johannes and Nina.
The former United Artists boss passed away last Wednesday at the Nyu Hospital in New York after suffering heart failure.
Albeck is best known for his 30-year tenure at the Hollywood studio, working with renowned filmmakers including Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
He was instrumental in bringing Scorsese's Oscar-winning 1980 film Raging Bull to the big screen and was also involved with the James Bond franchise, the Rocky movies and the Pink Panther pictures.
Albeck, who later retired from Hollywood to run a Christmas tree farm in New Jersey with his wife Lotte, also appeared on screen in Woody Allen's 1980 movie Stardust Memories, playing a studio head based on himself.
He is survived by his wife and children, Johannes and Nina.
- 10/4/2010
- WENN
Andy Albeck, who as head of United Artists signed off on the classic "Raging Bull" and the infamous flop "Heaven's Gate," died of heart failure Sept. 29, four days after his 89th birthday, at Nyu Hospital in New York.
Albeck spent more than 30 years at UA, where he worked with such renowned filmmakers as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola and impacted the iconic James Bond, Rocky and Pink Panther franchises.
After stints as president of UA broadcasting and senior vp operations, Albeck was named studio president and CEO in 1978 after the previous studio leadership left and formed Orion Pictures. His three-year stint at the top was well-documented in former UA executive Steven Bach's best-selling book "Final Cut," which focused on the making of the Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate."
The 1980 Western, starring Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken, is considered one of the biggest box-office bombs in history.
Albeck spent more than 30 years at UA, where he worked with such renowned filmmakers as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola and impacted the iconic James Bond, Rocky and Pink Panther franchises.
After stints as president of UA broadcasting and senior vp operations, Albeck was named studio president and CEO in 1978 after the previous studio leadership left and formed Orion Pictures. His three-year stint at the top was well-documented in former UA executive Steven Bach's best-selling book "Final Cut," which focused on the making of the Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate."
The 1980 Western, starring Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken, is considered one of the biggest box-office bombs in history.
- 10/1/2010
- by By Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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