Jack Schwarz (producer)

Jack Schwarz
Born Jack Irving Schwarz
December 19, 1896
Chicago
Died January 6, 1987 (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California
Nationality US
Occupation film producer
Known for work with Frank Buck

Jack Irving Schwarz (December 19, 1896 – January 6, 1987) was a producer of the Frank Buck movie Tiger Fangs.[1]

Early life

Jack Schwarz was born in Chicago, the son of Adolph Schwarz, a traveling clothing salesman, and Dora (Goodman) Schwarz, according to the 1910 US census.

Movies

Schwarz was an independent producer for Eagle-Lion Films and Producers Releasing Corporation, among others. He made many movies, among them Baby Face Morgan (1942), The Payoff (1942), The Boss of Big Town (1942), The Girl from Monterrey (1943), Submarine Base (1943), Dixie Jamboree (1944), Lady in the Death House (1944), Machine Gun Mama (1944), Gold Raiders (1951), The Enchanted Forest (1945), Heading for Heaven (1947), The Fighting Stallion (1950), The Hoodlum (1951), and Son of the Renegade (1953).[2][3][4]

Plagiarism suit

In 1945, Schwarz filed a plagiarism action against Universal Pictures and its executives. He alleged that the studio had pirated a romantic movie manuscript that contained musical themes, and used the material in one of the studio's own movie productions, His Butler’s Sister (1943), which allegedly involved a similar theme. The court read the scenario, viewed the movie, and held in favor of the studio and its executives.[5]

Starlet disappearance

In May 1944, thirteen-year-old Patsy Ruth Brown disappeared after leaving Schwarz's Fox Wilshire Building penthouse. Schwarz told juvenile officers that Patsy had spent the afternoon in his apartment. That evening he gave her three dollars for a taxi. According to Schwarz, Patsy left in the company of an older girl named O'Hara, whom Patsy had brought with her. Schwarz said that Patsy had begged him numerous times for a role in one of his films. Her only film appearance (uncredited) was in Nearly Eighteen (1943).[6] A taxi driver who took Patsy to Union Station told the police that Patsy said she was going to San Bernardino to visit her father, an employee of a Barstow, California rock company. However, the taxi driver's tip failed to help police trace the missing girl.[7]

Work with Frank Buck

In 1944, Schwarz was a producer of the Frank Buck movie Tiger Fangs.

Later life

Schwarz produced his last film in 1953. He owned the Copra Room Night Club and Restaurant, 740 East Broadway, in Long Beach, California.[8] He died in Los Angeles in 1987, aged 90.

References

  1. ↑ Lehrer, Steven (2006). Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech University press. pp. x–xi. ISBN 0-89672-582-0.
  2. ↑ Korean Locale Shot Near Film Stars' Mansions. Toledo Blade - Oct 22, 1950
  3. ↑ Of Local Origin. New York Times - Jul 5, 1951
  4. ↑ Drama. Los Angeles Times - Apr 16, 1950
  5. ↑ Jack Schwarz vs Universal Pictures Co., Inc, et al. USDC SDCal C.D. (12-19-1945) ¤ 85 F.Supp.270, 83 USPQ 153
  6. ↑ Search Pushed for Girl Seeking Movie Career. Los Angeles Times - May 21, 1944 p 10
  7. ↑ Taxi Driver's Tip Fails to Trace Girl. Los Angeles Times - May 25, 1944 p 12
  8. ↑ Independent (Long Beach, California) April 3, 1959, p 37

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