Sol C. Siegel

Sol C. Siegel (March 30, 1903 – December 29, 1982) was an American film producer. Two of the numerous films he produced, A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Sol C. Siegel
Siegel in 1958
Born	(1903-03-30)March 30, 1903 Kalvarija, Lithuania
Died	December 29, 1982(1982-12-29) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Education	Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Occupation	Film producer
Years active	1934–1968
Spouses	Ruth E. Shor ​ ​ (m. 1932; died 1962)​ Helen J. Waite ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	3

Early life and career

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

Sol C.Siegel was born March 30 or 31st (local records lost during WWII) in Kalvarija, Poland, now Lithuania.

During a contract dispute between Republic Studios and Gene Autry Mr. Siegel brought in a member of a singing group called "The Sons of the Pioneers", whose name was Leonard Slye, and changed his screen name to Roy Rogers.^[2]

Producer

In October 1940, Siegel left his position as head of Republic Studios to be a producer at Paramount Pictures.^[3]

In 1946, he moved to 20th Century Fox.^[4] 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 for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong.

MGM

In 1956, Siegel joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^[5] Towards the end of the year, Dore Schary was fired as head of production and Siegel was rumoured to be given his job.^[6] However Ben Thau got the job and Siegel remained a producer, making Les Girls, Man on Fire, Merry Andrew, and Some Came Running.^[7]

Siegel was appointed head of studio operations at MGM for three years in April 1958.^[8] The following month he was appointed vice president in charge of production.^[9] 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.^[10] As part of the deal, MGM bought Siegel's company for over $1 million.^[11]

During Siegel's time, MGM produced the major Cinerama epic How the West Was Won.^[4][12] He was also the subject of an extortion attempt.^[13]

The success of Ben-Hur encouraged Siegel to authorize a series of remakes at MGM such as Cimarron, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Mutiny on the Bounty.^[14] The idea was to re-release these films every seven years, the way MGM did with Gone with the Wind.^[15]

In August 1961 Siegel said his formula at MGM was "old hands plus young faces". His key producers at the studio around this time were John Houseman, Arthur Freed, Joseph Pasternak, Pandro Berman and Laurence Weingarten.^[16] The following month Siegel announced MGM was "in its strongest position in history from the standpoint of big scale product" adding "it has taken us several years to attain this momentum."^[17] Sixteen films were completed and ready for distribution, including King of Kings and Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, along with Bridge to the Sun, Thunder of Drums, Bachelor in Paradise and Light in the Piazza. Filming was taking place on Mutiny on the Bounty, How the West Was Won, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, Sweet Bird of Youth, A Very Private Affair, I Thank a Fool, All Fall Down and The Horizontal Lieutenant. Filming was about to start on Billy Rose's Jumbo, Two Weeks in Another Town, and Swordsman of Siena, and projects planned (not all of which were ultimately filmed) included Boys' Night Out, Damon and Pythias, Seven Seas to Calais, Rififi in Tokyo, The Tartars, Period of Adjustment, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (which became a TV series), The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (eventually adapted for TV), The Prize, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, George Bradshaw's It's Only a Paper Moon, Over the Rainbow, Guns in the Afternoon (released as Ride the High Country), Peter Matthiessen's Raditzer, Rona Jaffe's Away from Home, John Steinbeck's Winter of Our Discontent, Franz Werfel's The Forty Days of Musa Dagh and a sequel to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.^[17][18]

However a number of Siegel films were flops with Four Horsemen and Mutiny being particularly expensive box office failures. This led to Siegel being replaced as head of production in January 1962 by Robert M. Weitman.^[19]

Independent producer

Siegel then began working as an independent producer.^[5] He ran his own production company from 1964 to 1967.

Siegel died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on December 29, 1982, aged 79.^[4]

Personal life

He was married to Ruth (Shor) Siegel until her death in 1962; together they had three sons, Andrew, Norman, and Richard.^[4]

Selected filmography as producer

• The Iron Curtain (1948) - 20th Century Fox
• A Letter to Three Wives (1949) - 20th Century Fox
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) - 20th Century Fox
• Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) - 20th Century Fox
• High Society (1956) - MGM
• Man on Fire (1957) - MGM
• Les Girls (1957) - MGM
• Merry Andrew (1958) - MGM
• Some Came Running (1959) - MGM
• The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959) - MGM
• Home From the Hill (1960) - MGM
• Walk Don't Run (1966) - Columbia
• Alvarez Kelly (1966) - Columbia
• No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) - Paramount

Filmography as head of MGM

Includes MGM profits/losses based on Eddie Mannix ledger:^[20]

• Ben Hur (1959) (November 1959) - profit of $20,409,000
• The Wreck of the Mary Deare (November 1959)
• Never So Few (December 1959) - loss of $1,155,000
• The Gazebo (December 1959) - profit of $628,000
• The Last Voyage (February 1960) - loss of $551,000
• Home from the Hill (March 1960) - loss of $122,000
• Please Don't Eat the Daisies (March 1960) - profit of $1,842,000
• Platinum High School (May 1960) - loss of $270,000
• The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (May 1960) - loss of $57,000
• The Gallant Hours
• The Subterraneans^[21] - loss of $1,311,000
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (August 1960) - loss of $99,000
• The Time Machine (August 1960)^[22] - profit of $245,000
• All the Fine Young Cannibals (September 1960) - loss of $1,108,000
• Key Witness (October 1960) - loss of $496,000
• BUtterfield 8 (November 1960) - profit of $1,857,000
• Cimarron (December 1960) - loss of $3,618,000
• The Village of the Damned (December 1960) - profit of $860,000
• Where the Boys Are (December 1960)
• Go Naked in the World (March 1961) - loss of $1,462,000
• The Green Helmet (1961) - profit of $124,000
• Atlantis, the Lost Continent (May 1961)^[23]
• Two Loves (June 1961)^[24] - loss of $1,773,000
• The Honeymoon Machine (August 1961) - profit of $122,000
• Ada (August 1961) - loss of $2,372,000
• A Thunder of Drums (September 1961) - loss of $42,000
• Bridge to the Sun (August 1961)^[25]
• King of Kings (October 1961) - profit of $1,621,000
• Bachelor in Paradise (November 1961) - lost $344,000
• Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (February 1962) - loss of $5,853,000
• Light in the Piazza (February 1962) - loss of $472,000
• Sweet Bird of Youth (March 1962)
• All Fall Down (April 1962) - loss of $1,048,000
• The Tartars (June 1962) - profit of $34,000
• Damon and Pythias (1962) - profit of $6,000
• Boys' Night Out (June 1962) - loss of $262,000
• The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (August 1962)
• Two Weeks in Another Town (August 1962) - loss of $2,969,000
• I Thank a Fool (Sept 1962) - lost $1,207,000
• Period of Adjustment (October 1962) - profit of $558,000
• Mutiny on the Bounty (November 1962) - loss at least $10 million
• How the West Was Won (November 1962)
• Billy Rose's Jumbo (December 1962) - loss of $3,956,000
• In the Cool of the Day (March 1963)
• The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963) (TV series)

Unmade films

• adaptation of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury^[26]
• And Seven from America about the Olympic Games^[27]
• adaptation of The Alligators by Molly Kazan^[28]
• The Secret Classroom^[29]
• County Fair – drama set against backdrop of harness racing^[30]
• Only in America play by Harry Golden^[31]
• Charlemagne^[32]
• Lady L – film postponed^[33]
• The Winter of Our Discontent based on book by John Steinbeck^[34]
• Inamorta by Richard Brooks^[35]
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich based on the book by William L. Shirer^[36]

References

1. "Sales Mgrs.: There's Hope". Billboard. May 5, 1958. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
2. Sol C. Siegel, as told to Andrew Siegel, Mr. Siegel's youngest son
3. SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD. New York Times 9 Oct 1940: 30.
4. "SOL C. SIEGEL DEAD; HEADED PRODUCTION OF FILMS AT M-G-M". The New York Times. December 31, 1982.
5. Sandra Brennan (2014). "Sol C Siegel". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
6. O'Neill Drama Terrific in Impact, Real Triumph for March and Eldridge Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 16 Nov 1956: B7.
7. "Berman, Weingarten to produce as partners in Metro's new setup". Variety. February 27, 1957. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
8. "Sol C. Siegel Chosen to Head MGM Studio" Los Angeles Times 23 Apr 1958: 5.
9. "Siegel Made Loew's V-P" Los Angeles Times 22 May 1958: C9.
10. "MGM to Make Huge Schedule of New Films" Los Angeles Times; Jan 22, 1958; Los Angeles Times . B20
11. "Sol Siegel Terms". Variety. April 16, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
12. "MGM, With 44 Films, Maps Plans Into 1960" Los Angeles Times 08 July 1959: C10.
13. "CHIEF AT MGM TARGET OF $100,000 EXTORTION: Suspect Seized by FBI" Los Angeles Times 16 Jan 1959: 1.
14. "Studio Mutiny Over 'Bounty' Film Quelled" Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 01 Mar 1961: B7.
15. "Metro's binoculars on tomorrow". Variety. June 28, 1961. p. 3.
16. "Sol Siegel sketches MGM formula". Variety. August 23, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
17. "MGM hits momentum for its 1961-62 season". The Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1961. p. 37.
18. "Bounty leads MGM's big slate". Los Angeles Mirror. January 2, 1962. p. 29.
19. MGM Undergoes Change of Guard: Weitmain Replaces Sol Siegel; Sullivan, Crawford to Spain Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 06 Jan 1962: A6.
20. Figures from The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study
21. Martin Will Star in 'Subterraneans': Freed Plans Modern Jazz Tale; Martha Hyer Sought for 'Dolls' Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 8 Dec 1958: C15.
22. 'Defiant Ones' Is Festival Favorite: Kramer and Stars in Berlin; Webb Readies Newspaper Tale' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 02 July 1958: B7.
23. 'Atlantis' Will Be Conceived by Pal: Moulin Rouge to Go Legit; Two McIntires Sipt at U-I, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 4 May 1960: B10.
24. Dick Clark to Star in Theater Movies: 'Spinster' Grabbed by MGM; India Sends Unique Feature, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 25 Mar 1959: C11.
25. Shaggy Dog' Cast Will Kid Monsters: Jean Hagen Completes Roster; New Film Faster, Less Distorted, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 30 July 1958: A9.
26. Conquest of Mars Told by Bradbury: MGM Will Picturize Novel; Walters Explains 'Jumbo' Yen Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 15 Feb 1960: C9.
27. MGM Reactivates True Olympic Tale: It's 'Seven From America'; Single Projector Hits 360 Deg. Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 18 Mar 1960: A9.
28. Kazan 'Alligators' Acquired by MGM: Barry Jr. Assigns 'Widower;' Presley as Siegel's Mr. Adam? Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 09 Dec 1960: C11.
29. New Impetus Lent Activity at MGM: Siegel Cites Impressive List of Stories, Stars, New Faces, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 09 Apr 1959: B9.
30. FILM LAND EVENTS: Lyons Assigned to 'County Fair' Los Angeles Times 25 June 1959: B9.
31. 'Only in America' Secured by MGM: Newman Plans Chekhov Novelty; Fox Wilshire Takes 'Sheba', Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 22 Oct 1959: B11.
32. MGM Has 30 Films Ready or in Production: Successful Year Seen With 'Charlemagne,' Cinerama in Story Form, Heading Offerings, Los Angeles Times 16 Feb 1960: 16.
33. Five Pictures Put on Bresler's S1ate: 'Lonely Londoners' to Parrish; Production in Spurt at MGM, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 07 July 1960: C9.
34. MGM Buys Rights To Steinbeck Novel The Washington Post and Times-Herald 19 Dec 1960: B8.
35. MGM Record Picture Schedule Set for 1961, Los Angeles Times 09 Jan 1961: A9.
36. Shirer Best Seller on Nazis Bought: MGM Secures 'Third Reich'; Of Puppets and Improvising, Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 09 Jan 1961: C13.

External links

• Sol C. Siegel at IMDb