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Edward Muhl

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Edward Muhl (1907 - 2001) was an American businessman and executive best known for being head of production for Universal Pictures from the 1953 until his retirement in 1973. According to one writer, he:

Played key roles in, some of the studio's most important decisions. Muhl's contributions range from the technical (he was instrumental in persuading studio heads to shoot most of their films in Technicolor rather than the cheaper black-and-white) to the purely business (he made the deal that allowed MCA to purchase Universal in the early '60s).[1]

Career

Muhl began his career at Universal in 1927 as a secretary to Carl Laemmle. He worked in a variety of positions for the company, moving into production in 1936. When William Goetz and Leo Spitz's International Pictures merged with Universal in 1947, Muhl was appointed vice president and general manager of studio operations.

In 1953 Muhl was appointed general production executive under William Goetz.[2] Later that year he became head of production for the studio, replacing Goetz and Leo Spitz, who had run Universal for seven years.[3][4]

Muhl oversaw a period of expansion for Universal.[5] The studio enjoyed a very successful run of films, primarily comedies (notably those starring Doris Day) and melodramas. Muhl kept a very low profile during that time,[6] although the phrase "Edward Muhl In Charge Of Production" appeared on the new Universal logo starting in 1963, a throwback to an industry practice that had largely faded since the 1940s. He was also credited with influential support of the films of Douglas Sirk and Ross Hunter, as well as supporting the blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo's right to screenplay credit on Spartacus.[7]

Muhl died in 2001 at age 94.[7]

Select Films Produced Under the Muhl Regime

References

  1. ^ Biography at All Movie
  2. ^ PARAMOUNT STARTS 3-DIMENSION MOVIE: ' Sangaree,' Being Filmed 'Flat' for Two Weeks, Is Switched to Studio's Own Process By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 27 Jan 1953: 22.
  3. ^ NEW SCREEN PLUM FOR JAMES MASON: Briton Tapped for Mankiewicz Film, 'The Barefoot Contessa,' to Be Produced in Europe By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 04 Aug 1953: 15.
  4. ^ HOLLYWOOD CHANGE: No Qualms at Universal as Edward Muhl Takes Production Reins -- Other Items By THOMAS M. PRYORHOLLYWOOD.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 09 Aug 1953: X3.
  5. ^ U-I WILL CONTINUE HEAVY FILM OUTPUT: Studio Plan 34 Features for New Year in Contrast With Rivals' Cutback Program By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 27 Oct 1953: 32.
  6. ^ Reign of Comedy as King in Hollywood Nears End By PETER BARTSpecial to The New York Times. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 22 Feb 1965: 14.
  7. ^ a b c Sam Staggs, Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life (Macmillan Publishers, 2009), ISBN 978-1429942089, pp. 213ff. Excerpts available at Google Books.
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