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The producer Joseph M. Schenck came to New York in 1893 together with
his brother Nicholas Schenck (who later also was active as a producer)
and founded a drugstore.
Beside it they invested there money into entertainment business and
were able to earn a lot of money.
When Marcus Loew bought one of there companies he offered them a partnership
at Consolidated Enterpises in 1912 which also carried theater and movie
houses.
Joseph M. Schenck soon wanted to take over an active part within the
film business and he met many stars of that time, among others Normal Talmadge.
They got married in 1916.
At this time it already became aware that the two Schenck brothers were
completely different. Whereas Joseph M. Schenck liked to deal with people
and was liked, Nicholas preferred to keep people at the short leash. Therefore
people feared his presence.
Joseph M. Schenck was able to realize his dream in 1917 and he became
a film producer, among others for stars like Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle, D.
W. Griffith and Buster Keaton.
To his film produductions and as a presenter belong "The Butcher Boy"
(17), "A Reckless Romeo" (17), "Out West" (18), "The Bell Boy" (18), "The
Sheriff" (18), "A Desert Hero" (19) and "A Virtuous Vamp" (19).
While Nicholas Schenck remained with Marcus Loes and merged the companies
Metro Pictures and Goldwyn Pictures - in 1924 followed Louis B. Mayer and
they launched the legendary MGM-Studio which made Nicholas Schenck one
of the most powerful Hoolywood bosses in the background from 1926 (after
the death of Loew) - Joseph Schenck left the company and went to United
Artists where he became the chairman in 1925.
Joseph M. Schenck realised numerous movies in the 20s, among them many
classics with Buster Keaton.
To his works of those years belong "The Perfect Woman" (20), "The Haunted
House" (21), "Smilin' Through" (22), "The Eternal Flame" (22), "The Electric
House" (22), "The Paleface" (22), "Three Ages" (23), "Sherlock Jr. " (24),
"The Navigator" (24), "The Eagle" (25), "Kiki" (26), "Camille" (26), "The
General" (26), "Sorrell and Son" (27), "Tempest" (28), "Steamboat Bill,
Jr." (28) and "Alibi" (29).
He produced other well-known movies in the 30s like "Abraham Lincoln"
(30), "Indiscreet" (31), "The Bowery" (33), "The House of Rothschild" (34),
"The Last Gentleman" (34), "Les misérables" (35), "Cardinal Richelieu"
(35), "King of Burlesque" (36), "Under Two Flags" (36) and "White Fang"
(36).
Joseph M. Schenck supported Darryl F. Zanuck for creating 20th Century
Pictures which merged with Fix Film Crop. in 1935 and became 20th Century
Fox whose first president Schenck became.
In the middle of the 30s Joseph M. Schenck became enlaces into criminal
activites of Willie Morris Bioff who blackmailed Hollywood with stoppage
when he became the puppet master in the background of the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees & Moving Picture Machine Operators.
In order to avoid a stoppage he demanded 2 million dollars from the
studio bosses which he got.
Joseph M. Schenck also had to take part at the payments but made the
mistake to issue a personal check for one of these payments.
When the tax authority became aware of this they indicted him for tax
fraud.
Finally he was forced to give evidence in front of the court against
Willie Morris Bioff. However in 1946 he was jailed for one year but was
released four months later when Harry Truman pardonned him.
He returned to Fox where he became head of production.
At that time he supported the still unknown Marilyn Monroe from 1947
and helped her to get a role in"Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" (48). In addition
he convinced Harry Cohn to sign her for Columbia.
For his distinguished service to the motion picture he got the Honorary
Awars in 1952. He belonged to the 36 founders of AMPAS (Academy of Motion
Pictures Arts and Science) in 1927.
He was a co-founder together with Michael Todd of Magna Corp. in 1953
for Todd's invention of a widescreen process.
Joseph M. Schenck retired from the film business in 1957, shortly afterwards
he sustained a stroke of which he never fully recovered.
He died at the age of 83 in 1961.
Other movies from Joseph M. Schenck (Producer):
Panthea (17) The Law of Compensation (17) Poppy (17)
The Moth (17) The Secret of the Storm Country (17) The Ghosts of Yesterday
(18) De Luxe Annie (18) Her Only Way (18) The Forbidden City (18) The Heart
of Wetona (19) The New Moon (19) The Probation Wife (19) The Isle of Conquest
(19) She Loves and Lies (20) A Daughter of Two Worlds (20) The Woman Gives
(20) The Branded Woman (20) Convict 13 (20) Neighbors (20) Mama's Affair
(21) Wedding Bells (21) The Play House (21) The Paleface (22) Cops (22)
The Primitive Lover (22) My Wife's Relations (22) The Blacksmith (22) The
Frozen North (22) Daydreams (22) The Balloonatic (23) The Voice from the
Minaret (23) The Love Nest (23) Ashes of Vengeance (23) The Dangerous Maid
(23) Our Hospitality (23) The Goldfish (24) Seven Changes (25) Her Sister
from Paris (25) Go West (25) The Duchess of Buffalo (26) Battling Butler
(26) College (27) Breakfast at Sunrise (27) The Woman Disputed (28) Lady
of the Pavements (29) Eternal Love (29) New York Lights (29) Glorious Vamps
(30) Be Yourself! (30) The Bad One (30) Du Barry, Woman of Passion (30)
The Lottery Bride (30) The Bat Whispers (30) Reaching for the Moon (30)
Rain (32) Hallelujah I'm a Bum (33) Blood Money (33) Born to Be Bad (34)
Folies-Bergère (35) As You Like It (36)
Presenter:
The Law of Compensation (17) The Rough House (17) His
Wedding Night (17) Oh Doctor! (17) Coney Island (17) The Moth (17) A Country
Hero (17) By Right of Purchase (18) Just a Woman (18) Moonshine (18) Good
Night, Nurse! (18) The Safety Curtain (18) The Cook (18) Camping Out (19)
The Pullman Porter (19) Love (19) The Bank Clerk (19) The New Moon (19)
Back Stage (19) A Temperamental Wife (19) The Hayseed (19) The Garage (20)
Good References (20) One Week (20) The Branded Woman (20) Convict 13 (20)
Dangerous Business (20) The Scarecorw (20) Neighbors (20) Hard Luck (21)
Passion Flower (21) The "High Sign" (21) The Goat (21) The Sign on the
Door (21) Lessons in Love (21) Wedding Bells (21) The Play House (21) Woman's
Place (21) The Wonderful Thing (21) The Boat (21) Love's Redemption (21)
Polly of the Follies (22) Cops (22) The Blacksmith (22) The Frozen North
(22) Daydreams (22) The Balloonatic (23) The Voice from the Minaret (23)
Within the Law (23) Our Hospitality (23) The Song of Love (23) Secrets
(24) The Only Woman (24) Her Night of Romance (24) Learning to Love (25)
The Lady (25) Graustark (25) Venus of Venice (27) The Battle of the Sexes
(28) The Locked Door (29) New York Nights (29) The Wizard's Apprentice
(30) Lummox (30) Puttin' on the Ritz (30) One Romantic Night (30) Zampa
(30) Reaching for the Moon (30) Rain (32) I Cover the Waterfront (33) Blood
Money (33) Advice to the Lovelorn (33) Looking for Trouble (34) Born to
Be Bad (34) The Affairs of Cellini (34) Clive of India (35) Foliles Bergère
de Paris (35) The Call of the Wild (35) Metropolitan (35) Thanks a Million
(35) Show Them No Mercy! (35) The Prisoner of Shark Island (36) Sins of
Man (36) |
