Sandy Frank

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For the television writer and Huffington Post contributer, see Sandy Frank (writer).

Sundel "Sandy" Frank (born 1929 in Mount Kisco, New York) is an American television producer and film distributor. He is best known for importing the many Gamera films to the United States.

He began working for Paramount Pictures during the 1950s, but struck out on his own in 1964 to start a program syndication company, Sandy Frank Program Sales, Inc. (renamed Sandy Frank Entertainment, Inc. in 1974). He is best known for importing and redubbing 1960s and 1970s Japanese films and television series, such as Gamera and Battle of the Planets, for distribution in the American market. As well as Japanese imports, Sandy Frank is known in game show circles for distributing the 1984 version of Name That Tune and Face The Music from 1980-81.

Five of the Gamera films, as well as Fugitive Alien, Star Force: Fugitive Alien II, Time of the Apes, Mighty Jack, and Humanoid Woman (KTMA season), were featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Frank eventually became the target of mockery on the show; a rumor says he responded by refusing to renew distribution rights for any episode featuring one of his films. MST3K writer Kevin Murphy recently confirmed that Frank only pulled distribution rights simply because Best Brains and Comedy Central didn't have enough money to resecure the rights.

As of April 2006, the Sandy Frank Entertainment website has been relocated to www.sandyfrankentertainment.com. Sandy Frank lives in Manhattan.