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In 1950, he and another entertainment lawyer, Arthur Krim, headed up the syndicate that bought United Artists from Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin. Successful releases during this period included THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), HIGH NOON (1952), THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER and MARTY (both 1955), WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957), SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), THE APARTMENT and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (both 1960). In the 1960s, UA became one of the most profitable Hollywood operations with films like TOM JONES (1963) and the James Bond films. In 1957, they took the company public and, in 1967, it became a subsidiary of TransAmerica Corporation. The company continued to do well in the 1970s, with three Best Picture Academy Awards in a row for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975), ROCKY (1976) and ANNIE HALL (1977).
The beginning of the end for United Artists came when five of its top executives -- Benjamin, Krim, William Bernstein, Mike Medavoy and Eric Pleskow -- left in a disagreement over policy to found Orion Pictures in 1978.
1 Honorary Award |
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award