Every now and then, someone on social media will lament about why they don’t make movies like The Fugitive anymore. For Fugitive director Andrew Davis, the decrease in crime dramas and thrillers that are primarily geared toward grown-ups actually dates back much further than the blockbuster craze of the past 15 years.
With the film, which turned 30 in August, Davis accomplished the rare feat of being both a commercial and critical success, culminating in seven Oscar nominations and one win for Tommy Lee Jones as best supporting actor. The Harrison Ford-starring vehicle that reimagined the 1963 TV series of the same name certainly didn’t set out to be the third-highest-grossing film of 1993 or an awards darling. Warner Bros. merely strove for a base hit, as opposed to swinging for the fences, and that philosophy ties into why the major studios no longer prioritize films with the scope and scale of The Fugitive.
With the film, which turned 30 in August, Davis accomplished the rare feat of being both a commercial and critical success, culminating in seven Oscar nominations and one win for Tommy Lee Jones as best supporting actor. The Harrison Ford-starring vehicle that reimagined the 1963 TV series of the same name certainly didn’t set out to be the third-highest-grossing film of 1993 or an awards darling. Warner Bros. merely strove for a base hit, as opposed to swinging for the fences, and that philosophy ties into why the major studios no longer prioritize films with the scope and scale of The Fugitive.
- 11/27/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Paxton Whitehead, the Tony-nominated British actor best known for his snooty roles on “Mad About You” and in the Rodney Dangerfield comedy “Back to School,” died Friday at age 85, according to his son, Charles Whitehead.
In the latter feature film, he memorably played Dr. Barbay, the disapproving dean of the business school who is horrified to learn that Rodney Dangerfield’s low-brow middle-aged character has bribed his way into college. Whitehead also had a recurring role on ’90s sitcom “Mad About You” as the “neighbor from hell” Hal Conway. The actor additionally guested on a number of series including “Frasier” and “Friends.”
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Barry Reardon, Former Warner Bros. Theatrical Distribution Chief, Dies at 92
Actress Dana Ivey remembered him fondly on Twitter: “I’ve just heard that my beloved friend Paxton Whitehead has died, on Friday the 16th. We first worked together in ‘My Fair Lady’ in 1964, and the...
In the latter feature film, he memorably played Dr. Barbay, the disapproving dean of the business school who is horrified to learn that Rodney Dangerfield’s low-brow middle-aged character has bribed his way into college. Whitehead also had a recurring role on ’90s sitcom “Mad About You” as the “neighbor from hell” Hal Conway. The actor additionally guested on a number of series including “Frasier” and “Friends.”
Also Read:
Barry Reardon, Former Warner Bros. Theatrical Distribution Chief, Dies at 92
Actress Dana Ivey remembered him fondly on Twitter: “I’ve just heard that my beloved friend Paxton Whitehead has died, on Friday the 16th. We first worked together in ‘My Fair Lady’ in 1964, and the...
- 6/19/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
George Winston, a Grammy-winning pianist known for his new-age, soothing instrumentals, died Sunday following a 10-year battle with cancer, according to a statement on his website released Tuesday. He was 73.
“George quietly and painlessly left this world while asleep,” the statement read.
Winston had been dealing with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a cancer for which he had a bone marrow transplant a decade ago that prolonged his life. He was forced to postpone his 2023 tour due to his health issues, but aimed to return to the tour next year.
Winston won the Grammy for Best New Age Album in 1996 for his seventh studio album, “Forest.” He was nominated four other times across his career for Best New Age Album, Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Recording for Children. His 16 albums, spanning more than 50 years, sold a combined 15 million copies. His final album, “Night,” was released by RCA Records in May 2022.
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Peter Meyer,...
“George quietly and painlessly left this world while asleep,” the statement read.
Winston had been dealing with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a cancer for which he had a bone marrow transplant a decade ago that prolonged his life. He was forced to postpone his 2023 tour due to his health issues, but aimed to return to the tour next year.
Winston won the Grammy for Best New Age Album in 1996 for his seventh studio album, “Forest.” He was nominated four other times across his career for Best New Age Album, Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Recording for Children. His 16 albums, spanning more than 50 years, sold a combined 15 million copies. His final album, “Night,” was released by RCA Records in May 2022.
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Peter Meyer,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
Peter Meyer a prominent talent agent who prior to launching his company was a William Morris agent for over a decade, died Monday following a years-long battle with sarcoma. He was 68.
“After a heroic five-year battle against sarcoma, Meyer found peace surrounded by his family. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Anna Maria, and his three children, Christopher, Sasha, and Chase, as well as by his brothers John & Michael, sister Patty, nephews Zachary, Nathan, and Matthew and the rest of the Meyer and Sistare families. He also will be mourned by his beloved friends and incredibly talented clients with whom he grew very close over the decades,” the family said in a statement, provided to TheWrap by Meyer’s sister, producer Patricia K Meyer.
Born May 11, 1955 in Los Angeles, Meyer came from a family with deep ties to Hollywood and to the city. His father was Stanley Meyer,...
“After a heroic five-year battle against sarcoma, Meyer found peace surrounded by his family. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Anna Maria, and his three children, Christopher, Sasha, and Chase, as well as by his brothers John & Michael, sister Patty, nephews Zachary, Nathan, and Matthew and the rest of the Meyer and Sistare families. He also will be mourned by his beloved friends and incredibly talented clients with whom he grew very close over the decades,” the family said in a statement, provided to TheWrap by Meyer’s sister, producer Patricia K Meyer.
Born May 11, 1955 in Los Angeles, Meyer came from a family with deep ties to Hollywood and to the city. His father was Stanley Meyer,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Former Warner Bros. President of Sales and Distribution, D. Barry Reardon, passed at the age of 92 on May 27 in Vero Beach, Florida.
Known as “The Dean of Distribution” among industry peers and filmmakers, Reardon was the head of theatrical distribution at Warner Bros from 1978 to 1999, and was known for breaking the mold on the motion picture business, i.e. getting a jumpstart on summer before Memorial Day and dating blockbusters during the early days of August, previously considered a dead zone.
Also before his departure from Warner Bros. in March 1999, Reardon had developed an internal marketing...
Known as “The Dean of Distribution” among industry peers and filmmakers, Reardon was the head of theatrical distribution at Warner Bros from 1978 to 1999, and was known for breaking the mold on the motion picture business, i.e. getting a jumpstart on summer before Memorial Day and dating blockbusters during the early days of August, previously considered a dead zone.
Also before his departure from Warner Bros. in March 1999, Reardon had developed an internal marketing...
- 6/5/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Barry Reardon, who led theatrical distribution at Warner Bros. for nearly 20 years starting in the late 1970s, died on May 27 at his home in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 92.
A respected 31-year industry veteran, Reardon was known as the “dean” of theatrical distribution and was credited with transforming the way that studio films are marketed and released. During his tenure, the industry began to place more of an emphasis on daily and weekend box office reports and expanded the scope of the all-important summer blockbuster season.
At the time of his retirement in 1999 — after 21 years at the studio and 17 as distribution chief — he exited with an enviable track record. Under his leadership, the studio had 22 films cross the $100 million mark domestically — an impressive milestone since movie tickets were much less expensive back then, and one that’s proven to be challenging to match again in these pandemic times. And Warner Bros.
A respected 31-year industry veteran, Reardon was known as the “dean” of theatrical distribution and was credited with transforming the way that studio films are marketed and released. During his tenure, the industry began to place more of an emphasis on daily and weekend box office reports and expanded the scope of the all-important summer blockbuster season.
At the time of his retirement in 1999 — after 21 years at the studio and 17 as distribution chief — he exited with an enviable track record. Under his leadership, the studio had 22 films cross the $100 million mark domestically — an impressive milestone since movie tickets were much less expensive back then, and one that’s proven to be challenging to match again in these pandemic times. And Warner Bros.
- 6/5/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Reardon, the veteran film executive who served as Warner Bros.’ chief of theatrical distribution from 1978 to 1999, has died at age 92, the studio announced Monday.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and Trinity College, Reardon got his start at the printing company Litton Industries in 1957. A decade later, he made the jump to the entertainment industry with a job at Paramount Pictures as the associate to the VP of finance in their New York office.
From 1967 to 1975, he worked his way up to become the VP of marketing and distribution at Paramount before becoming the head of marketing and film procurement for General Cinemas, which at the time was America’s largest movie theater chain. He worked at General Cinemas for three years before being recruited by Warner Bros.
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Jacky Oh, Cast Member on MTV’s ‘Wild ‘N Out,’ Dies at...
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and Trinity College, Reardon got his start at the printing company Litton Industries in 1957. A decade later, he made the jump to the entertainment industry with a job at Paramount Pictures as the associate to the VP of finance in their New York office.
From 1967 to 1975, he worked his way up to become the VP of marketing and distribution at Paramount before becoming the head of marketing and film procurement for General Cinemas, which at the time was America’s largest movie theater chain. He worked at General Cinemas for three years before being recruited by Warner Bros.
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Jacky Oh, Cast Member on MTV’s ‘Wild ‘N Out,’ Dies at...
- 6/5/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
John Fithian, longtime head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Variety of Southern California as he prepares to step down after overseeing NATO through decades of transition.
The award from the children’s charity goes each year to an individual who has made a significant and profound charitable impact over the course of their career.
Fithian was named NATO president and CEO in 2000 after serving as outside counsel. Last fall, he announced plans to retire effective May 1 and will pass the baton to new chief Michael O’Leary at CinemaCon in Las Vegas later this month.
As NATO boss, Fithian guided theater owners through a transition to digital projection, fighting movie theft, implementing a voluntary movie ratings system, advocating for a healthy theatrical release window and maintaining strong relationships with creatives, producers, distributors and other trade organizations, including the Motion Picture Association. He...
The award from the children’s charity goes each year to an individual who has made a significant and profound charitable impact over the course of their career.
Fithian was named NATO president and CEO in 2000 after serving as outside counsel. Last fall, he announced plans to retire effective May 1 and will pass the baton to new chief Michael O’Leary at CinemaCon in Las Vegas later this month.
As NATO boss, Fithian guided theater owners through a transition to digital projection, fighting movie theft, implementing a voluntary movie ratings system, advocating for a healthy theatrical release window and maintaining strong relationships with creatives, producers, distributors and other trade organizations, including the Motion Picture Association. He...
- 4/5/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
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