Sam Katzman

Sam Katzman
Born July 7, 1901
New York City, New York
Died August 4, 1973 (aged 72)
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Occupation Film producer and director
Years active 1933-1973

Sam Katzman (July 7, 1901 – August 4, 1973) was an American film producer and director. Katzman went to work as a stage laborer at the age of 13 in the fledgling East Coast film industry. He would learn all aspects of filmmaking and was a Hollywood producer for more than 40 years.[1]

Katzman produced low-budget genre films, including serials, which had proportionally high returns for the studios and his financial backers.[1] He is known for numerous westerns of the '30s, his Bela Lugosi and East Side Kids features of the '40s, the 15-chapter Superman serial of 1948 and a string of rock-'n'-roll musicals in the '50s. At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the '60s Katzman produced several Elvis Presley films and singer Roy Orbison's only film, The Fastest Guitar Alive. His best known films are probably Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and The Werewolf (1956).

He is the uncle of television producer Leonard Katzman. Sam Katzman died on August 4, 1973, in Hollywood. He is interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Quotation

“ Twist Around the Clock only cost $250,000 to make, but in less than six months it grossed six million - so of course I'm gonna make more 'Twist' movies ! ”

NME - February 1962[2]

Selected filmography

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sam Katzman: He Makes The Serials.". The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953) (Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia). 20 September 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 103. CN 5585.

External links