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Reviews
Mr. Sycamore (1975)
mister sycamore
I screened this movie for possible negative pick up when I worked as Universal's Head of Independent Film Acquisition. First, I have the utmost respect for Jason Robards as an actor. He was one of the best. Having said that he could not save this film which I found meretricious and boring. It was a noble try but for me it just didn't work. I applaud the producers for getting it made. Maybe it would if he was a giant redwood in Muir Woods. A novel like Kafka's Metamorphosis would be more viable due to the symbolism and the verisimiltude. Or, George Orwell's Animal Farm might be another book into film that is viable, But this film is too ripe with faux symbolism and sophistry as well as wooden (no pun intended) to be a movie. Bottom line, Mr.Robards gives it his best effort, but it doesn't save Mr.Sycamore. Perhaps a better title would be Mr. Dendroid.
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
hilarious and spot on
Okay for all you fans who sometimes wonder how movies get made here is an insider's look. At one time I was Head of Independent Film Acquisition at Universal. That meant I looked for indie films. One day I read Variety and noticed a small article about National Lampoon making a movie. I wrote the chairman of the Lampoon and he said he had a 110 page treatment and was going to be staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I picked it up. Read it. Cracked up then gave it to my boss, Ned Tanen, President of Universal Pictures. Oh, John Belushi was attached to it. They made a deal and got the director of "Kentucky Fried Chicken" to do it, John Landis. Got the letters between me and Matty Simmonds, Chairman of Lampoon, to prove it. One never knows in Hollywood where the next hit will come from.
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
how this movie came to be made
If you are wondering why and how Coal Miner's Daughter got made here is the history. In l980 I worked for Bernie Schwartz, the producer of this film. There was a "Reader's Digest Condensed Book" sitting on the coffee table in the front office. I picked it up and read "Loretta Lynn's Story." I finished it and thought it would be a good TV film. I went to Bernie and told him. He called Ned Tanen, Head of Universal Pictures. He saw him the next day and got a deal. Ned figured at the very least they could sell the album since Loretta Lynn recorded for MCA records. They also owned Universal. Bernie then called Thom Rickman, who wrote it. The Englsh director, Apted, came over to direct it and they got Sissy. Ironically, I read the book because the scripts I had been reading were boring. And what happened to me.. .