Joseph Edward Levine (1905–87) was an influential American film producer and distributor who shaped Hollywood’s independent production landscape. His career began in film exhibition, owning theaters in New England before moving into distribution.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a Russian-Jewish immigrant family, Levine gained prominence in the 1950s by bringing foreign films to American audiences, including Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) and Attila (1955.) His success in marketing these films led him to establish Embassy Pictures, a major force in production and distribution.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Levine produced and financed acclaimed films such as The Carpetbaggers (1964,) Marriage Italian Style (1964,) The 10th Victim (1965,) The Graduate (1967,) The Producers (1968,) The Lion in Winter (1968,) Carnal Knowledge (1971,) and A Bridge Too Far (1977.) His marketing expertise drove their commercial success.
Levine’s aggressive promotional strategies revolutionized film marketing, making him one of Hollywood’s most influential figures. After selling Embassy Pictures to Avco, he continued producing films independently.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Joseph E. Levine
You can fool all the people all the time if the advertising is right and the budget is big enough.
—Joseph E. Levine
Topics: People, Business, Deceit, Deception/Lying
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