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{{Short description|British-American film studio and film production company}}
{{About|the defunct PolyGram Filmed Entertainment whose assets belong to Universal Pictures|the former record company and Universal Music Group's current film unit|PolyGram}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
 
{{Infobox company
| name = PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
| logo = PolyGram Filmed Entertainment logo.pngsvg
| logo_caption = PolyGram Filmed Entertainment logo, used from 1997 until 1999
| former_name = Filmworks (1975–1976)<br>Casablanca Record & Filmworks (1976–1980)<br>PolyGram Pictures (1980–1983)
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Acquired by [[Universal PicturesSeagram]] and mergedfolded withinto [[GramercyUniversal Pictures]],; andmajority [[Octoberof Films]]assets inwere 1999sold to form [[USA FilmsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]<br>NameSome revivedof byits [[UniversalNorth MusicAmerican Group]]distribution inassets 2017sold and renamedto [[PolyGramUSA EntertainmentNetworks]]
| predecessor = [[Casablanca Records|Casablanca Filmworks]]
| successor = [[USA Films]]
| successors = Studio:<br>[[Universal Pictures]]<br>USA Films<br>[[Focus Features]]<br>[[PolyGram Entertainment]]<br>Library:<br>[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]<br>(pre-April 1996 films with exceptions)<br>Universal Pictures<br>(post-March 1996 films with exceptions and some pre-March 1996 films)
| location =
| founderlocation =
| founders = [[Peter Guber]]
| key_people =
| key_people =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|19801975}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1999}}
| owner = {{ubl|[[Philips]] (1980–1998)<br>|[[Seagram]] (1998–1999)}}
| parent = {{ubl|[[PolyGram]] (1980–1998)<br>|Universal Pictures (1998–1999)}}
| divisions = [[PolyGram Television]]<br>[[PolyGram Video]]
| subsid =
}}
{{Evolution of Comcast NBCUniversal}}
'''PolyGram Filmed Entertainment''' (formerly known as '''Filmworks''', '''Casablanca Records & Filmworks''', '''PolyGram Films''' and '''PolyGram Pictures''' or simply '''PFE''') was a film [[production company]] founded in 1975 as an American film studio, which became a European competitor to [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] within two decades, but was eventually sold to [[Seagram|Seagram Company Ltd.]] in 1998 and was folded a year later. Among its most successful and well known films were ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' (1977), ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]'' (1978), ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' (1981), ''[[Flashdance]]'' (1983), ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994), ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1995), ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' (1998), ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'' (1996), ''[[The Usual Suspects]]'' (1995), ''[[The Game (1997 film)|The Game]]'' (1997), ''[[Barney's Great Adventure]]'' (1998) and ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999).
 
== Overview ==
'''PolyGram Filmed Entertainment''' (formerly known as '''PolyGram Films''' and '''PolyGram Pictures''' or simply '''PFE''') was a British-American [[film studio]] founded in 1980 which became a [[Europe]]an competitor to [[Hollywood]], but was eventually sold to [[Seagram|Seagram Company Ltd.]] in 1998 and was folded in 1999. Among its most successful and well known films were ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' (1981), ''[[Flashdance]]'' (1983), ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994), ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1995), ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'' (1998), ''[[Fargo (film)|Fargo]]'' (1996), ''[[The Usual Suspects]]'' (1995), and ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999).
In 1975, [[Peter Guber]] formed its own production company FilmWorks, then in 1976, it became Casablanca Records & FilmWorks after a merger with [[Casablanca Records]], which [[PolyGram]] got a 50% by 1977, and by 1980, PolyGram took the other 50% stake in the company and renamed the film unit as PolyGram Pictures.
 
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies. In 1995, PolyGram purchased [[ITC Entertainment]] for $156 million.
In 2017, [[Universal Music Group]] established a film and television division, resurrecting the [[PolyGram|Polygram Entertainment]] name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/tv-film/7686199/universal-music-relaunching-polygram-announces-story-of-motown-as|title=Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production|work=billboard.com|accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>
 
In May 1998, PolyGram was sold to Seagram, which owned [[Universal Pictures]] and [[Universal Music Group]] (UMG), for $10 billion. Seagram sold off some of PolyGram's assets while mainly acquiring its music division: the ITC Entertainment library was sold to [[Carlton Communications]] for £91 million, the pre-March 1996 PFE library was sold to [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]], and PolyGram's US distribution operation was sold to [[USA Network]].
== History ==
 
After many of its assets were sold, the remains of PolyGram's film division were folded into Universal Pictures. When the newly formed entertainment division of Seagram faced financial difficulties, it was sold to [[Vivendi]], and MCA became known as Universal Studios, as Seagram ceased to exist.
=== PolyGram Pictures ===
The music company [[PolyGram]] (owned by [[Netherlands|Dutch]]-based [[Philips]] and [[Germany]]'s [[Siemens]]) created '''PolyGram Pictures''' in 1980 as a partnership with film producer [[Peter Guber]]. It was a spin-off of sorts to Casablanca FilmWorks, the film unit of PolyGram's [[Casablanca Records]] which Guber previously ran and had success with ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' and ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]''. PolyGram reserved the finances and Guber would run as [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]. Guber would form a partnership with [[Barbra Streisand]]'s hairdresser [[Jon Peters]], who co-produced his client's ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' remake. Peters would produce PolyGram's films, and eventually become a stockholder with Guber.<ref name="kom">Griffin, Nancy and Masters, Kim (1996). "Hit and Run" (pp. 100-116). New York: Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company.</ref>
 
Vivendi remained the majority owner of the UMG until 2021, when it sold most of its stake. MGM owns the rights to most of the pre-April 1996 library, and the remaining post-March 1996 film and television library is owned by [[NBCUniversal]].
Its first film was ''[[King of the Mountain (film)|King of the Mountain]]'' (1981), which was a box-office flop. More money-losers followed. Ancillary markets such as [[home video]] and [[pay television]] were not yet established, and broadcast television networks were paying less for licenses to films. PolyGram's European investors were not happy; they had lost about $80 million on its film division. Not long after, Siemens parted with Philips. Guber and Peters left PolyGram Pictures in 1982, taking their plans for a new [[Batman]] movie with them, along with a few other projects. The duo eventually found a home at [[Warner Bros.]] A part of their exit proceedings, PolyGram would still own 7.5% of profits from some of its projects, including the 1989 ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' film.<ref name="kom"/>
 
In 2017, Universal Music Group established a film and television division, resurrecting the [[PolyGram#PolyGram Entertainment|PolyGram Entertainment]] name.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7686198/universal-music-group-umg-polygram-entertainment-story-of-motown|title=Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production|magazine=Billboard|access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>
 
== History ==
=== FilmWorks, Casablanca Records & FilmWorks and PolyGram Pictures ===
In 1975, [[Peter Guber]] quit [[Columbia Pictures]] to start out '''FilmWorks''' with a producing deal. A year later, during the production of ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'', it was merged with [[Casablanca Records]] to form '''Casablanca Records & FilmWorks'''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1976-11-06 |title=Casablanca And Filmworks Merge Into New Combine |pages=3 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1976/1976-11-06-Billboard-Page-0003.pdf}}</ref> The company would enjoy success with ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' and ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]''. The music company [[PolyGram]] (owned by [[Netherlands|Dutch]]-based [[Philips]] and [[Germany]]'s [[Siemens]]) bought out its share of Casablanca Records & FilmWorks in 1977. Two years later, in 1979, Casablanca Record & Filmworks left Columbia Pictures to join [[Universal Pictures]], and gave Casablanca Records & Filmworks creative control over the pictures.<ref name=":0" /> A year later, PolyGram took on its stake of the company and it was renamed to '''PolyGram Pictures''' in 1980.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1980-03-29 |title=PolyGram Insures Home Video Base |pages=9 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1980/1980-03-29-Billboard-Page-0009.pdf}}</ref> PolyGram reserved the finances and Guber would run as [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]. Guber would form a partnership with [[Barbra Streisand]]'s hairdresser [[Jon Peters]], who co-produced his client's ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' remake. Peters would produce PolyGram's films, and eventually become a stockholder with Guber.<ref name="kom">Griffin, Nancy and Masters, Kim (1996). "Hit and Run" (pp. 100-116). New York: Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company.</ref> He had intended to work with [[Boardwalk Records]], but he was forced to join PolyGram Pictures instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boardwalk - Music label - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/label/boardwalk/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Rate Your Music |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Medavoy |first=Mike |title=You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot |publisher=[[Atria Books]] |date=2013-06-25}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Masters |first1=Kim |title=Hit & Run |last2=Griffin |first2=Nancy |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=2016-01-12}}</ref>
 
The first film under the Universal/PolyGram alliance was ''[[King of the Mountain (film)|King of the Mountain]]'' (1981), which was a box-office flop. More money-losers followed. Ancillary markets such as [[home video]] and [[pay television]] were not yet established, and broadcast television networks were paying less for licenses to films. PolyGram's European investors were not happy; they had lost about $80 million on its film division. Not long after, Siemens parted with Philips. Guber and Peters left PolyGram Pictures in 1982, taking their plans for a new [[Batman]] movie with them, along with a few other projects. The duo eventually found a home at [[Warner Bros.]] A part of their exit proceedings, PolyGram would still own 7.5% of profits from some of its projects, including the 1989 ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' film.<ref name="kom"/> Also in 1980, PolyGram launched a syndicated television division, PolyGram Television, to be headed by former [[Columbia Pictures Television]] syndication executive Norman Horowitz,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1980-11-03 |title=Horowitz to head new PolyGram television unit |pages=46 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-11-03-BC-OCR-Page-0046.pdf}}</ref> both the film and TV units eventually closed down by 1983 after a string of first-run syndication strip flops.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1983-05-09|title=PolyGram to fold|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/83-OCR/BC-1983-05-09-OCR-Page-0062.pdf|access-date=2021-09-20}}</ref>
 
=== PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ===
In the early 1980s, PolyGram Video was launched. PolyGram Video, headed by Michael Kuhn and David Hockman, was created to distribute concert films and feature films acquired from third-parties, as well as long-form music videos; in 1986, a joint venture with Heron Communications, Channel 5 Video began operation.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|date=1986-01-01|title=Heron, PolyGram Set Joint Venture With Low Pricing|page=25|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Channel 5 Video later began to obtain the rights to titles from Heron's US children's arm, [[Hi-Tops Video]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 1987 |title=Channel Five Moves Into Music & Kid Vid |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-07-11-Billboard-Page-0058.pdf |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=World Radio History}}</ref> Kuhn and Hockman were able to parlay PolyGram Video's success into financing feature films. The first film produced by PolyGram's new film division was ''[[P.I. Private Investigations]]'' in 1987.<ref>Kuhn, pp. 17-23</ref> During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies.<ref name="4wf" /> In 1989, PolyGram launched Manifesto Film Sales to handle the licensing of films outside North America.<ref>Kuhn, pp. 40-41</ref> In 1991, PolyGram's Michael Kuhn became the head of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,<ref name="4wf" /> with US$200 million pumped in with the intention of developing a European film studio that could produce and distribute films internationally on a scale to match the [[Major film studio|major Hollywood studios]].
 
Following the style of its music business, the company produced films through a number of creatively semi-autonomous 'labels', such as [[Working Title Films]] in the UKUnited Kingdom and [[Propaganda Films]] and [[Interscope Communications]] in the [[United States]]; Itit also built up its own network of distribution companies.
 
Film production within PolyGram differed from traditional Hollywood studios, in that power to make ('green light') a film was not centralised in the hands of a small number of executives, but instead was decided by negotiations between producers, management and marketing. Kuhn claimed that "movies sort of green lit themselves."
 
In 1993, PolyGram purchased the video arm of [[Virgin Group]] from [[General Electric Capital]] for $5.6 million and remodeled the label as Vision Video Ltd.
PolyGram also built up a sizable film and television library that could be profitable. In 1995, the company purchased [[ITC Entertainment]] for $156 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-17/business/fi-21037_1_itc-entertainment-group |title=ITC Entertainment Sold to Polygram for $156 Million |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-01-17 |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> Through this purchase, PolyGram acquired 350 feature films, several thousand hours of television programming, and gained further access into the television market.<ref name="4wf">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-02-21/business/fi-34446_1_itc-entertainment-group |title=Screen Play : PolyGram Hopes to Bolster Its Hollywood Presence With Purchase of Once-Venerable ITC Entertainment |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-02-21 |accessdate=2012-10-22 |first=Patrice |last=Apodaca}}</ref> In 1997, PFE agreed to purchase the Epic film library, which included a thousand feature films, from [[Crédit Lyonnais]] Bank for $225 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/|title=New Epic librarian|first1=Rex|last1=Weiner|first2=Rex|last2=Weiner|date=3 December 1997|publisher=}}</ref> PolyGram also attempted purchasing [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/17/business/kerkorian-group-plans-to-buy-mgm-studio-for-1.3-billion.html |title=Kerkorian Group Plans to Buy MGM Studio for $1.3 Billion |publisher=New York Times |date=1996-07-17 |accessdate=2012-10-22 |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant}}</ref> and [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]'s library,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/31/business/company-news-polygram-said-to-drop-goldwyn-offer.html |title=Company News;Polygram Said To Drop Goldwyn Offer|publisher=New York Times |date=1996-01-31 |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> but to no avail.
 
PolyGram also built up a sizable film and television library that could be profitable. In 1995, the company purchased [[ITC Entertainment]] for $156 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-17-fi-21037-story.html |title=ITC Entertainment Sold to Polygram for $156 Million |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-01-17 |access-date=2012-10-22}}</ref> Through this purchase, PolyGram acquired 350 feature films, several thousand hours of television programming, and gained further access into the television market.<ref name="4wf">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-21-fi-34446-story.html |title=Screen Play : PolyGram Hopes to Bolster Its Hollywood Presence With Purchase of Once-Venerable ITC Entertainment |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1995-02-21 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Patrice |last=Apodaca}}</ref> That same year, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment acquired a 75% majority stake in British home video distributor [[Abbey Home Entertainment]]. In 1997, PFE agreed to purchase the [[Trans World Entertainment (film company)|Epic film library]], which included a thousand feature films from a variety of companies, from [[Crédit Lyonnais]] for $225 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/|title=New Epic librarian|first1=Rex|last1=Weiner|date=3 December 1997}}</ref> PolyGram also attempted purchasing [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/17/business/kerkorian-group-plans-to-buy-mgm-studio-for-1.3-billion.html |title=Kerkorian Group Plans to Buy MGM Studio for $1.3 Billion |work=The New York Times |date=1996-07-17 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant}}</ref> and [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]'s library,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/31/business/company-news-polygram-said-to-drop-goldwyn-offer.html |title=Company News;Polygram Said To Drop Goldwyn Offer|work=The New York Times |date=1996-01-31 |access-date=2012-10-22}}</ref> but to no avail. In July 1998, PolyGram was in talks to sell their stake in Abbey Home Entertainment back to Ian and Anne Miles, letting AHE trade independently again. On December 7, 1997, PolyGram and [[Warner Bros.]] reached a deal to co-finance films produced by [[Castle Rock Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Dan|date=1997-12-08|title=WB, Polygram to co-fund Castle Rock|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/wb-polygram-to-co-fund-castle-rock-1116679438/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
PFE's film distribution arm was based in the [[United Kingdom]], and invested heavily in British film making — some credit it with reviving the British film industry in the 1990s. Despite a successful production history, new Philips CEO [[Cor Boonstra]] began to draw back Philips' media operations, excepting their stake in PolyGram, in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Variety |date=1997-07-22 |title=Philips quitting media biz, except for Polygram stake |url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/philips-quitting-media-biz-except-for-polygram-stake-1116676468/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time, Philips was seen as a bloated conglomerate riddled with problems; Boonstra initially denied that PolyGram would be sold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAN HE FIX PHILIPS? HECK, CAN ANYONE? NEW CEO COR BOONSTRA IS AN OUTSIDER WHO TALKS A GOOD TURNAROUND GAME FOR THE ELECTRONICS GIANT--BUT MAY HAVE TO MOVE FASTER. - March 31, 1997 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/03/31/224067/index.htm |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> However, by early 1998, Boonstra's attitude had shifted and various bidders began to make themselves known, as Philips began to pursue a manufacturing-only business model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Week |first=Marketing |date=1998-06-11 |title=Why Phillips must sharpen up its act |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/why-phillips-must-sharpen-up-its-act/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Marketing Week |language=en}}</ref> At the same time, PolyGram had been suffering from their own internal issues, chiefly a series of loss-making films and a lack of major pop music hits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |last2=Philips |first2=Chuck |date=1998-05-07 |title=Philips Puts PolyGram Empire Up for Sale |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-07-fi-47137-story.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In hindsight, analysts have also pointed to another reason for Boonstra's sale of the assets, namely Philips manufacturing blank CDs, as [[music piracy]] subsequently impacted the music industry hugely in the years afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCullen |first=Aidan |date=2023-10-27 |title=Killing Your Business While It’s Still Working: That (Kodak) Moment |url=https://theinnovationshow.io/killing-your-business-while-its-still-working-that-kodak-moment/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Innovation Show |language=en-GB}}</ref>
 
Philips ultimately decided to sell PolyGram to the beverage [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] [[Seagram]] in 1998 (Seagram had chosen PolyGram over EMI because of PolyGram's better management);<ref>{{Cite news |title=Suitors Buzz Around Polygram |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-05-24/suitors-buzz-around-polygram |access-date=2024-05-05 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |last2=Philips |first2=Chuck |date=1998-05-15 |title=Seagram, Philips Confirm Talks for All of PolyGram |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-15-fi-49855-story.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> only interested in PolyGram's music operations, Seagram, which at the time controlled [[Universal Pictures]], looked forward to divesting in PFE. After being dissatisfied with offers to buy the studio (including a joint venture between [[Canal+]] and [[Artisan Entertainment]]), Seagram opted to sell off individual assets and folded whatever remained into Universal.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-fi-30635-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Claudia | last=Eller | title=Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library | date=October 9, 1998}}</ref> In October 1998, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mgm-signs-250-million-agreement-acquire-polygram-film-library|title=MGM Signs $250 Million Agreement to Acquire PolyGram Film Library|date=25 October 1998|website=Sound & Vision}}</ref> paid $235–250 million to acquire 1,300 films released before March 31, 1996, from PolyGram.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-23-fi-35357-story.html |title=MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library|work=Los Angeles Times |date=1998-10-23 |access-date=2012-10-22 |first=Claudia |last=Eller}}</ref> In 1999, the ITC library was sold to [[Carlton Communications]] (later known as [[ITV Studios]]) for $150 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thal |first=Peter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/carlton-pays-150m-for-film-library-1075109.html |title=Carlton pays $150m for film library |work=The Independent |date=1999-01-20 |access-date=2012-10-22 |location=London}}</ref> Some of PFE's North American distribution assets were sold to [[USA Network|USA Networks]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-08-fi-25336-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets | date=April 8, 1999}}</ref> Universal would later take over the remaining titles, which included a third of the pre-April 1996 films, as well as PolyGram Television's library. Universal would eventually set up their international arm from the ashes of PFE's international division on February 9, 1999, that included theatrical and video distribution when its contracts with [[United International Pictures]] and [[CIC Video]] expired.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Carver|first1=Benedict|last2=Dawtrey|first2=Adam|date=1999-02-10|title=U to start int'l distrib|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/u-to-start-int-l-distrib-1117491165/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> After the box office failure of ''[[Mickey Blue Eyes]]'', a title inherited from PolyGram that became one of the few titles that were self-distributed by Universal internationally, all the theatrical assets of Universal Pictures International were merged with United International Pictures, which continued to exist until 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|date=1999-10-15|title=U, Par extend UIP pact|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/u-par-extend-uip-pact-1117756685/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
PFE was based in the [[United Kingdom]], and invested heavily in British film making — some credit it with reviving the British film industry in the 1990s. Despite a successful production history, Philips decided to sell PolyGram to the beverage (liquor) [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] [[Seagram]] in 1998.
 
PolyGram Video took over the distribution of [[Manga Entertainment]]'s titles in Australia and New Zealand in late 1996 after Siren Entertainment's license to the Manga Video catalog expired, but PolyGram lost the license to the Manga Video catalog in 1998 after [[Madman Entertainment]] took over the licenses. This was due to Manga Entertainment being moved from Island Records to Palm Pictures.
Only interested in PolyGram's music operations, Seagram, which at the time controlled [[Universal Pictures]], looked forward to divesting in PFE. After being dissatisfied with offers to buy the studio (including a joint venture between [[Canal+]] and [[Artisan Entertainment]]), Seagram opted to sell off individual assets and folded whatever remained into Universal.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/09/business/fi-30635 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Claudia | last=Eller | title=Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library | date=October 9, 1998}}</ref> In October 1998, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (through [[Orion Pictures]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mgm-signs-250-million-agreement-acquire-polygram-film-library|title=MGM Signs $250 Million Agreement to Acquire PolyGram Film Library|date=25 October 1998|website=Sound & Vision}}</ref> paid $235-250 million to acquire 1,300 films released before March 31, 1996 from PolyGram.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/23/business/fi-35357 |title=MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library|publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1998-10-23 |accessdate=2012-10-22 |first=Claudia |last=Eller}}</ref>. In 1999, the ITC library was sold to [[Carlton Communications]] (later known as [[ITV Studios]]) for $150 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thal |first=Peter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/carlton-pays-150m-for-film-library-1075109.html |title=Carlton pays $150m for film library |publisher=The Independent |date=1999-01-20 |accessdate=2012-10-22 |location=London}}</ref> Some of PFE's North American distribution assets were sold to [[USA Network]]s.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/1999/apr/08/business/fi-25336 | work=Los Angeles Times | title=USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets | date=April 8, 1999}}</ref> Universal Pictures now owns the rest of the post-1996 films (beginning with ''Barb Wire'') and PolyGram Television.
 
=== Relaunch as PolyGram Entertainment ===
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment took over the distribution of [[Manga Entertainment]]'s titles in Australia and New Zealand in late 1996 after Siren Entertainment's license to the Manga Video catalogue expired, but PolyGram lost the license to the Manga Video catalogue in 1998 after [[Madman Entertainment]] took over the licenses. This was due to Manga Entertainment being moved from Island Records to Palm Pictures.
{{Main|PolyGram#PolyGram Entertainment}}
 
== Production companies ==
* [[Working Title Films]] (UK), acquired by PFE in 1991.
* [[Propaganda Films]] (US), acquired by PFE in 1991.
Line 51 ⟶ 69:
* [[Gramercy Pictures]] (US), launched by PFE and Universal in 1992.
* [[ITC Entertainment]] (UK), acquired by PFE in 1995.
* [[Rogue Pictures]] (US), acquired by PFE in 1997.
* A&M Films (theatrical film division of [[A&M Records]])
* Island Pictures (theatrical film division of [[Island Records]]), acquired December 1994, closed 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/polygram-shutters-island-pictures-111747549/|title=Polygram shutters Island Pictures|first1=Nick|last1=Madigan|first2=Nick|last2=Madigan|date=9 December 1997|publisher=}}</ref>
* Cinéa (France)
* PolyGram Video
** 4 Front Video
** [[Abbey Home Media|Abbey Home Entertainment]] (UK), 75% majority stake acquired by PFE in 1995. Sold back to original owners in 1998.
** Channel 5 Video (joint venture with [[Heron Communications]])<ref name=":02"/>
** Vision Video Ltd
*** Astrion Plc
* PolyGram Television
* PolyGram Visual Programming
 
== US distribution ==
==Distribution company==
In 1992, PolyGram partnered with [[Universal Pictures]] to create a [[joint venture]] called [[Gramercy Pictures]]. Gramercy primarily distributed PolyGram films in the USAUnited States, and it doubled as a specialty label for Universal. In January 1996, PolyGram bought out Universal<ref name=game/> and in 1997, '''PolyGram Filmed Entertainment DistributionFilms''' was founded to release PFE's mainstream titles in the USAUnited States, while Gramercy became a low-budget/art-house sublabel.<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-03/business/-fi-55129_1_polygram55129-filmed-entertainmentstory.html |title=PolyGram Unit to Distribute Films in U.S. -|work= Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1997-05-03 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-10-22 |first=Claudia |last=Eller}}</ref><ref name=party>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 11, 1997|title=Partyers play 'Game'|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/partyers-play-game-1116674696/|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref> PolyGram Films' first release was ''[[The Game (1997 film)|The Game]]''.<ref name=party/><ref name=game>{{cite magazine|title=PolyGram joins the big Game|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=19 September 1997|page=33}}</ref> After PolyGram's merger with Universal in 1999, the company merged Gramercy with [[October Films]], which included its subsidiary [[Rogue Pictures]]<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Roman|first=Monica|date=1998-04-03|title=Rogue of October|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/rogue-of-october-1117469445/|access-date=2022-01-01|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en-US}}</ref> to create USA Films, which eventually became [[Focus Features]]. Gramercy was revived in 2015 as a label of Focus Features,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2015-05-20|title=Focus Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/focus-features-revives-gramercy-pictures-label-genre-films-1201430500/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> but shut down and went dormant the next year.
 
== Selected films ==
Among the films directly produced by PFE were:
 
===1980s 1970s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Release Date
! Title
! Notes
|-
| align="right"|17 June 1977 || ''[[The Deep (1977 film)|The Deep]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[EMI Films]]
|-
| align="right"|19 May 1978 || ''[[Thank God It's Friday (film)|Thank God It's Friday]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[De Passe Entertainment|Motown Productions]]
|-
| align="right"| 6 October 1978 || ''[[Midnight Express (film)|Midnight Express]]'' ||co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| 9 February 1979 || ''[[Agatha (film)|Agatha]]'' || co-production with [[First Artists]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]
|}
 
=== 1980s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
Line 72 ⟶ 109:
! Notes
|-
| align="right"| February 29, February 1980 || ''[[Foxes (film)|Foxes]]'' || co-production with [[United Artists]]
|-
| align="right"| May 30, May 1980 || ''[[The Hollywood Knights]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| May 1, May 1981 || ''[[King of the Mountain (film)|King of the Mountain]]'' || releasedco-production bywith [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| July 17, July 1981 || ''[[Endless Love (1981 film)|Endless Love]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| August 14, August 1981 || ''[[Deadly Blessing]]'' || releaseddistributed by [[United Artists]]
|-
| align="right"| August 21, August 1981 || ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| November 13, November 1981 || ''[[The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| March 12, March 1982 || ''[[Missing (1982 film)|Missing]]'' || co-production with [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| October 3, October 1982 || ''[[Split Image (film)|Split Image]]'' || releaseddistributed by [[Orion Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| December 24, December 1982 || ''[[Six Weeks]]'' || releasedco-production bywith [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| April 15, April 1983 || ''[[Flashdance]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| December 13, December 1985 || ''[[A Chorus Line (film)|A Chorus Line]]'' || co-production with [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[Embassy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| December 13, 1985 || ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| April05 22,June 19881987 || ''[[TheP.I. BluePrivate IguanaInvestigations]]'' || co-production with [[Paramount PicturesMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
|-
| align="right"| March22 24,April 19891988 || ''[[TroopThe BeverlyBlue HillsIguana]]'' || co-production with [[WeintraubParamount Entertainment GroupPictures]]
|-
| align="right"| December24 8,March 1989 || ''[[Fear,Troop AnxietyBeverly & DepressionHills]]'' || releasedco-production bywith [[The SamuelWeintraub GoldwynEntertainment CompanyGroup]]
|-
| align="right"| 23 June 1989 || ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' || co-production with [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] and The Guber-Peters Company
|-
| align="right"| 27 October 1989 || ''[[Kill Me Again]]'' || co-production with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
|-
| align="right"| 8 December 1989 || ''[[Fear, Anxiety & Depression]]'' || co-production with [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
|}
 
=== 1990s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
Line 112 ⟶ 155:
! Notes
|-
| align="right"| July 27, July 1990 || ''[[Chicago Joe and the Showgirl]]'' || co-production with [[New Line Cinema]] and [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| August 17, August 1990 || ''[[Wild at Heart (film)|Wild at Heart]]'' || co-production with [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] (co-owned by MGM and Universal)
|-
| align="right"| September 14, September 1990 || ''[[Fools of Fortune]]'' || co-production with [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| align="right"| May 24, May 1991 || ''[[Drop Dead Fred]]'' || co-production with [[New Line Cinema]] and [[Working Title Films]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| November21 August 1991 || ''[[TrabbiBarton Goes to Hollywood|Driving Me CrazyFink]]'' || distributed by [[20th Century Fox]]; co-production with [[MotionWorking PictureTitle Corporation of AmericaFilms]] (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
|-
| align="right"| January15 17,November 19921991 || ''[[ATrabbi GnomeGoes Namedto GnormHollywood|Driving Me Crazy]]'' || co-production with [[VestronMotion Picture Corporation of PicturesAmerica]]
|-
| align="right"| March17 27,January 1992 || ''[[RubyA (1992Gnome film)|RubyNamed Gnorm]]'' || co-production with [[TriumphVestron FilmsPictures]]
|-
| align="right"| August27 7,March 1992 || ''[[LondonRuby Kills(1992 Mefilm)|Ruby]]'' || distributedco-production bywith [[Fine LineTriumph FeaturesFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| September15 4,May 1992 || ''[[BobRubin Roberts& Ed]]'' || distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]]; co-production with [[Miramax|MiramaxWorking Title Films]], [[Artisan(owned Entertainment|LIVEby Entertainment]] and [[Working Title Films]]Sony)
|-
| align="right"| October19 16,June 1992 || ''[[CandymanBatman (1992 film)|CandymanReturns]]'' || distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[TriStarDC Comics]], [[Tim Burton Productions]] and [[Denise Di Novi|De Novi Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| April7 23,August 19931992 || ''[[MapLondon ofKills the Human HeartMe]]'' || distributed by [[Miramax|MiramaxNew Line FilmsCinema]]; co-production with [[WorkingFine TitleLine FilmsFeatures]]
|-
| align="right"| May4 14,September 19931992 || ''[[PosseBob (1993 film)|PosseRoberts]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyParamount Pictures]]; co-production with [[Miramax|Miramax Films]], [[Artisan Entertainment|Live Entertainment]] and [[Working Title Films]] (co-owned by Lionsgate and Universal)
|-
| align="right"| August16 20,October 19931992 || ''[[TheCandyman Ballad(1992 of Little Jofilm)|Candyman]]'' || distributed by [[FineSony LinePictures FeaturesReleasing]]; co-production with [[TriStar Pictures]] and [[Propaganda Films]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| September23 3,April 1993 || ''[[KaliforniaMap of the Human Heart]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyMiramax|Miramax PicturesFilms]]; co-production with [[PropagandaWorking Title Films]] (co-owned by Miramax and Universal)
|-
| align="right"| October14 8,May 1993 || ''[[The Young AmericansPosse (1993 film)|The Young AmericansPosse]]'' || distributed by [[ArtisanGramercy Entertainment|LIVE EntertainmentPictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]] (owned by MGM)
|-
| align="right"| November20 5,August 1993 || ''[[AThe HomeBallad of OurLittle OwnJo]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyFine PicturesLine Features]]
|-
| align="right"| January3 7,September 19941993 || ''[[The Air Up ThereKalifornia]]'' || distributed by [[HollywoodGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopePropaganda CommunicationsFilms]] (owned by MGM)
|-
| align="right"| February1 4,October 19941993 || ''[[RomeoMalice Is(1993 Bleedingfilm)|Malice]]'' || distributed by [[GramercySony Pictures Releasing]]; co-production with [[WorkingColumbia TitlePictures]], Films[[New Line Cinema]], [[Castle Rock Entertainment]] and [[Nelvana]] (owned by MGM)
|-
| align="right"| March8 9,October 19941993 || ''[[FourThe WeddingsYoung andAmericans a(film)|The Young FuneralAmericans]]'' || co-productiondistributed withby [[WorkingArtisan TitleEntertainment|Live FilmsEntertainment]]; andco-production with [[Film4Working Productions|Channel FourTitle Films]]
|-
| align="right"| March5 11,November 19941993 || ''[[TheA HudsuckerHome Proxyof Our Own]]'' || distributed by [[WarnerGramercy Bros.Pictures]]; co-production(owned withby [[Working Title Films]] and [[Silver Pictures]]MGM)
|-
| align="right"| April7 8,January 1994 || ''[[HolyThe MatrimonyAir (1994Up film)|Holy MatrimonyThere]]'' || distributed by [[Hollywood Pictures]]; co-production with [[Interscope Communications]] (owned by Disney)
|-
| align="right"| April4 15,February 1994 || ''[[BackbeatRomeo (film)|BackbeatIs Bleeding]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]<br>Most 1994–95 PolyGram films currently owned by MGM unless mentioned otherwise
|-
| align="right"| May9 6,March 1994 || ''[[DreamFour LoverWeddings (1993and film)|Dreama LoverFuneral]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[PropagandaWorking Title Films]] and [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
|-
| align="right"| August11 10,March 1994 || ''[[The AdventuresHudsucker of Priscilla, Queen of the DesertProxy]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyWarner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]] and [[Silver Pictures]] (co-owned by Warner Bros. and Universal)
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| September8 23,April 1994 || ''[[TerminalHoly VelocityMatrimony (1994 film)|TerminalHoly VelocityMatrimony]]'' || distributed by [[HollywoodBuena Vista Pictures]]; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]] (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
|-
| align="right"| September 28, 1994 || ''[[Jason'sRed Rock LyricWest]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyRoxie Theater|Roxie Releasing]] (theatrical), [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment|Columbia TriStar Home Video]] (home video); co-production with [[Propaganda Films]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| January15 20,April 19951994 || ''[[S.F.W.Backbeat (film)|Backbeat]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production(owned withby [[Propaganda Films]]Universal)
|-
| align="right"| February6 10,May 19951994 || ''[[ShallowDream GraveLover (1993 film)|Dream Lover]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"| February18 24,May 19951994 || ''[[Before the Rain (1994 film)|Before theFinal RainCombination]]'' || distributedco-production bywith [[GramercyPropaganda PicturesFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| March15 17,July 19951994 || ''[[Candyman:A FarewellPig's to the Flesh]]Tale'' || distributed by [[GramercyPolyGram Pictures]]Filmed Entertainment; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| May10 3,August 19951994 || ''[[PantherThe (film)|PantherAdventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| May23 5,September 19951994 || ''[[FrenchTerminal KissVelocity (1995 film)|FrenchTerminal KissVelocity]]'' || distributed by [[20thHollywood Century FoxPictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingInterscope Title FilmsCommunications]] (owned by Disney)
|-
| align="right"| July 28, 1995September 1994 || ''[[Operation DumboJason's DropLyric]]'' || distributed by [[Walt DisneyGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopePropaganda CommunicationsFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| August 16, 1995December 1994 || ''[[TheNell Usual Suspects(film)|Nell]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy20th PicturesCentury Fox]] (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
|-
| align="right"| September20 22,January 1995 || ''[[Canadian BaconS.F.W.]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"| September10 29,February 1995 || ''[[MoonlightShallow andGrave Valentino(1994 film)|Shallow Grave]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingFilm4 Productions|Channel TitleFour Films]]
|-
| align="right"| November24 3,February 1995 || ''[[Home forBefore the HolidaysRain (19951994 film)|Home forBefore the HolidaysRain]]'' || distributed by [[ParamountGramercy Pictures]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| November17 10,March 1995 || ''[[CarringtonCandyman: (film)|CarringtonFarewell to the Flesh]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"| December21 29,April 1995 || ''[[DeadThe ManBasketball WalkingDiaries (film)|DeadThe ManBasketball WalkingDiaries]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyNew PicturesLine Cinema]]; co-production with [[WorkingIsland Title FilmsPictures]] (co-owned by Palm Pictures and MGM)
|-
| align="right"| December3 29,May 1995 || ''[[Mr.Panther Holland's Opus(film)|Panther]]'' || distributed by [[HollywoodGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopeWorking Title CommunicationsFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| February5 23,May 19961995 || ''[[LaFrench HaineKiss (1995 film)|French Kiss]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy20th PicturesCentury Fox]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]] (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
|-
| align="right"| March16 8,June 19961995 || ''[[FargoBatman (film)|FargoForever]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyWarner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[WorkingDC Comics]] and [[Tim TitleBurton FilmsProductions]]
|-
| align="right"| 30 June 1995 || ''[[Innocent Lies]]'' ||
| align="right" rowspan="2"| March 22, 1996 || ''[[Jack and Sarah]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[ITV Studios|Granada Productions]] and [[StudioCanal|Le Studio Canal+]]
|-
| align="right"| 28 July 1995 || ''[[LandOperation andDumbo FreedomDrop]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyBuena Vista Pictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingWalt TitleDisney FilmsPictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]] (owned by Disney)
|-
| align="right"| May16 3,August 19961995 || ''[[BarbThe WireUsual (film)|Barb WireSuspects]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[PropagandaBad Hat Harry Productions]] and [[Spelling Television|Spelling Films]]<br> (co-owned by MGM and Paramount)
All films released since this point are owned by [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| May15 31,September 19961995 || ''[[EddieColdblooded (film)|EddieColdblooded]]'' || distributed by [[HollywoodIRS PicturesMedia]]; co-production with [[IslandMotion Records|IslandPicture PicturesCorporation of America]] and [[Propaganda Films]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| July22 17,September 19961995 || ''[[WalkingCanadian and TalkingBacon]]'' || distributed by [[Miramax|MiramaxGramercy FilmsPictures]]; co-production with [[Film4 Productions|Channel FourPropaganda Films]], [[Zenith Productions]], [[Pandora Film]], Mikado Films (France), Electric, TEAM Communications Group and [[Good Machine]]
|-
| align="right"| July29 17,September 19961995 || ''[[KazaamMoonlight and Valentino]]'' || co-productiondistributed withby [[TouchstoneGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopeWorking Title CommunicationsFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| July3 19,November 19961995 || ''[[TrainspottingHome for the Holidays (1995 film)|TrainspottingHome for the Holidays]]'' || distributed by [[Miramax|MiramaxParamount FilmsPictures]]; (co-productionowned withby [[Film4Paramount Productions|Channeland Four Films]]MGM)
|-
| align="right"| September10 20,November 19961995 || ''[[Loch NessCarrington (film)|Loch NessCarrington]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right" | October15 18,December 19961995 || ''[[SleepersJumanji]]'' || distributed by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]; co-production with [[PropagandaTriStar FilmsPictures]]<br />distributedand by[[Interscope WarnerCommunications]] Bros.(owned in Northby AmericaSony)
|-
| align="right"| October28 18,December 19961995 || ''[[Jude12 (film)|JudeMonkeys]]'' || distributedUK distribution only; produced by [[GramercyAtlas PicturesEntertainment]] and [[Mutual Film Company|Classico]] (owned by Universal)
|-
| align="right"| December29 24,December 19961995 || ''[[TheDead PortraitMan of a LadyWalking (film)|TheDead PortraitMan of a LadyWalking]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[PropagandaWorking Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| January29 10,December 19971995 || ''[[TheMr. RelicHolland's (film)|The RelicOpus]]'' || distributed by [[ParamountBuena Vista Pictures]]; co-production with [[Hollywood Pictures]] and [[Interscope Communications]] (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
|-
| align="right"| January9 29,February 19971996 || ''[[Gridlock'dLoch Ness (film)|Loch Ness]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopeWorking Title CommunicationsFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| February23 14,February 19971996 || ''[[WhenLa We Were KingsHaine]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[StudioCanal|Le Studio Canal+]] and Arte France Cinema<br>Most films released since this point are owned by [[Universal Pictures]]<ref>[https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No. V3495D070 / 2003-03-06</ref>
|-
| align="right"| 8 March 7, 19971996 || ''[[The Eighth DayFargo (1996 film)|The Eighth DayFargo]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]] (owned by MGM)
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| April22 11,March 19971996 || ''[[KeysJack toand TulsaSarah]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[ITCITV EntertainmentStudios|Granada Productions]] and [[StudioCanal|Le Studio Canal+]] (owned by MGM)
|-
| align="right"|''[[Land Mayand 9,Freedom 1997 |(film)|Land ''[[Twinand TownFreedom]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| August3 6,May 19971996 || ''[[DefBarb Jam'sWire How(1996 to Be afilm)|Barb PlayerWire]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|31 May 1996 || ''[[Eddie (film)|Eddie]]'' || distributed by [[Hollywood Pictures]]; co-production with [[Island Records|Island Pictures]] (co-owned by Disney and MGM)<ref>[https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No. V15006D985 / 2022-04-22</ref><br>Last film in the pre-April 1996 library owned by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] via [[Orion Pictures]]
| align="right"| August 24, 1997 || ''[[Snow White: A Tale of Terror]]'' || co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
|-
| align="right"| September 12, 1997 || ''[[The GameArrival (19971996 film)|The GameArrival]]'' || distributed by [[Orion Pictures]]; co-production with [[PropagandaArtisan Entertainment|LIVE Entertainment]], Steelework Films and [[Interscope Communications]] (owned by Lionsgate)
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|17 July 1996 || ''[[Walking and Talking]]'' || distributed by [[Miramax|Miramax Films]]; co-production with [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]], [[Zenith Productions]], [[Pandora Film]], Mikado Films (France), Electric, TEAM Communications Group and [[Good Machine]] (co-owned by Miramax and Universal)
| align="right"| September 19, 1997 || ''[[Going All the Way]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"| October 3, 1997 || ''[[The Matchmaker (1997 film)|The MatchmakerKazaam]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyBuena Vista Pictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingTouchstone TitlePictures]] Filmsand [[Interscope Communications]] (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
|-
| align="right"|19 OctoberJuly 24, 19971996 || ''[[ATrainspotting Life Less Ordinary(film)|Trainspotting]]'' || distributed by [[20thMiramax|Miramax Films]]; co-production with [[Film4 Productions|Channel CenturyFour FoxFilms]]
|-
| align="right"| Novemberrowspan="2"|18 7,October 19971996 || ''[[BeanSleepers (film)|BeanSleepers]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyWarner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[Working TitlePropaganda Films]] (co-owned by Warner Bros. and Universal)
|-
| ''[[Jude (film)|Jude]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]] (owned by Universal; U.S. rights sub-licensed to Scorpion Releasing)
| align="right" | December 5, 1997 || ''[[The Borrowers (1997 film)|The Borrowers]]'' || co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|24 JanuaryDecember 16, 19981996 || ''[[HardThe RainPortrait of a Lady (film)|HardThe RainPortrait of a Lady]]'' || distributed by [[ParamountGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[BBCPropaganda Films]], [[Mutual Film Company]], [[Nordisk Film]] and [[Toho]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|10 January 23, 19981997 || ''[[SpiceThe WorldRelic (film)|SpiceThe WorldRelic]]'' || distributed by [[SonyParamount Pictures|Sony Pictures Entertainment]]; co-production with [[IconLeonine ProductionsHolding|Tele-München Gruppe]], [[BBC Film]]s, [[Toho]], [[Valhalla Entertainment|Pacific Western Production]], [[Marubeni]] and [[ColumbiaMutual PicturesFilm Company|Cloud Nine Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|29 January 1997 || ''[[Gridlock'd]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
| ''[[The Gingerbread Man (film)|The Gingerbread Man]]'' || co-production with [[Island Records|Island Pictures]] and Enchanter Entertainment
|-
| align="right"|14 February 18, 19981997 || ''[[IWhen WantWe YouWere (1998 film)|I Want YouKings]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]] (owned by Shout! Studios via Westchester)
|-
| align="right"|7 FebruaryMarch 26, 19981997 || ''[[DeadThe LetterEighth OfficeDay (1996 film)|DeadThe LetterEighth OfficeDay]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|11 MarchApril 6, 19981997 || ''[[TheKeys Bigto LebowskiTulsa]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingITC Title FilmsEntertainment]] (owned by ITV Studios)
|-
| align="right" rowspan="3"|9 MarchMay 27, 19981997 || ''[[No Looking Back (film)|No LookingTwin BackTown]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| align="right"|20 June 1997 || ''[[TheBatman Proposition& (1998Robin (film)|TheBatman Proposition& Robin]]'' || distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[InterscopeDC CommunicationsComics]]
|-
| align="right"|6 August 1997 || ''[[Def Jam's How to Be a Player]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]
| ''[[Barney's Great Adventure|Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie]]'' || co-production with [[Lyrick Studios]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|24 MayAugust 1, 19981997 || ''[[WildeSnow (film)|WildeWhite: A Tale of Terror]]'' || distributed by [[Sony Pictures Classics]]; co-production with [[BBC Films]], [[Capitol Films]] and [[PonyInterscope CanyonCommunications]]
|-
| align="right"|12 September 1997 || ''[[GoThe NowGame (1997 film)|GoThe NowGame]]'' || distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with [[GramercyPropaganda PicturesFilms]]
|-
| align="right"|19 MaySeptember 29, 19981997 || ''[[TheGoing LastAll Daysthe of DiscoWay]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Castle Rock Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|3 JuneOctober 12, 19981997 || ''[[The LandMatchmaker Girls(1997 film)|The Matchmaker]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|24 AugustOctober 14, 19981997 || ''[[ReturnA toLife ParadiseLess (1998 film)|Return to ParadiseOrdinary]]'' || co-productiondistributed withby [[Propaganda20th FilmsCentury Fox]] (co-owned by Disney and TetragramUniversal)
|-
| align="right"|7 AugustNovember 21, 19981997 || ''[[YourBean Friends & Neighbors(film)|Bean]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right" |5 SeptemberDecember 25, 19981997 || ''[[ClayThe PigeonsBorrowers (1997 film)|The Borrowers]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|16 October 2,January 1998 || ''[[WhatHard Dreams May ComeRain (film)|WhatHard Dreams May ComeRain]]'' || distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]]; co-production with [[InterscopeBBC CommunicationsFilm]]s, [[Mutual Film Company]], [[Nordisk Film|Nordisk Film Production]] and [[Toho]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"|23 November 13,January 1998 || ''[[ThursdaySpice World (film)|ThursdaySpice World]]'' || distributed by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]; co-production with [[PropagandaColumbia FilmsPictures]], [[Icon Productions|Icon Entertainment International]] and Fragile Films
|-
| align="right"| November 22, 1998 || ''[[ElizabethThe Gingerbread Man (film)|ElizabethThe Gingerbread Man]]'' || distributed by [[GramercyPolyGram Pictures]]Films; co-production with [[StudioCanal]],Island [[WorkingRecords|Island Title FilmsPictures]] and [[Film4Enchanter Productions|Channel Four Films]]Entertainment
|-
| align="right"|18 November 25,February 1998 || ''[[VeryI Want You (1998 film)|I BadWant ThingsYou]]'' || co-productiondistributed withby [[InterscopeGramercy CommunicationsPictures]]
|-
| align="right"|26 JanuaryFebruary 22, 19991998 || ''[[TheDead Hi-LoLetter CountryOffice (film)|Dead Letter Office]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[WorkingSouthern TitleStar FilmsEntertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|6 FebruaryMarch 19991998 || ''Choke[[The Big Lebowski]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[PropagandaWorking Title Films]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="3"|3 MarchApril 5, 19991998 || ''[[Lock,No StockLooking andBack Two(1998 Smokingfilm)|No Looking BarrelsBack]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]] in U.S.; co-production with [[Steve Tisch|The Steve Tisch Company]], SKA Films, [[HandMade Films]] and [[Summit Entertainment]]. [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia TriStar Pictures]] internationally distributed
|-
| align="right"| May 28, 1999 || ''[[NottingThe HillProposition (1998 film)|NottingThe HillProposition]]'' || distributed by [[UniversalGramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working TitleInterscope FilmsCommunications]]
|-
| align="right"|''[[Barney's JulyGreat 9,Adventure|Barney's 1999Great ||Adventure: ''[[ArlingtonThe RoadMovie]]'' || distributed by [[ScreenPolyGram Gems]]Films; co-production with [[LakeshoreLyrick EntertainmentStudios]]
|-
| align="right" rowspan="2"| October 1, 1999May 1998 || ''[[PlunkettWilde & Macleane(film)|Wilde]]'' || distributedUK distribution only; produced by [[USABBC Film]]s, [[Capitol Films]]; co-productionand with[[Pony Canyon]] (owned by [[WorkingAltitude TitleFilm FilmsDistribution|Altitude]])
|-
| align="right"| October 29, 1999 || ''[[BeingGo JohnNow Malkovich(film)|Go Now]]'' || distributed by [[USA Films]]; co-production with [[PropagandaGramercy FilmsPictures]]
|}
 
===2000s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| align="right"|29 May 1998 || ''[[The Last Days of Disco]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]] in North America and [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] internationally;<ref name="Warner-PolyGram">{{cite web |title=Warner Bros. Teams Up with PolyGram to Co-Finance & Co-Distribute Castle Rock Pictures |url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/01/06/warner-bros-teams-up-with-polygram-to-co-finance-co-distribute |website=WarnerMedia |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> co-production with [[Castle Rock Entertainment]] (co-owned by Universal and Warner Bros.)
! Release Date
! Title
! Notes
|-
| align="right"|12 FebruaryJune 18, 20001998 || ''[[PitchThe BlackLand (film)|Pitch BlackGirls]]'' || distributed by [[USA Films]]; co-production with [[InterscopeGramercy CommunicationsPictures]]
|-
| align="right"|14 MarchAugust 24, 20001998 || ''[[WakingReturn theto DeadParadise (1998 film)|WakingReturn theto DeadParadise]]'' || distributed by USAPolyGram Films; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]] and Tetragram
|-
| align="right"|21 AprilAugust 14, 20001998 || ''[[WhereYour theFriends Money& IsNeighbors]]'' || distributed by USA[[Gramercy FilmsPictures]]
|-
| align="right"|25 JulySeptember 28, 20001998 || ''[[WonderlandClay (1999 film)|WonderlandPigeons]]'' || distributed by USA[[Gramercy FilmsPictures]]
|-
| align="right"|2 October 1998 || ''[[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]]'' || distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
|-
| align="right"|13 November 1998 || ''[[Thursday (film)|Thursday]]'' || distributed by [[Legacy Releasing]]; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"|22 November 1998 || ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]] and [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]]
|-
| align="right"|25 November 1998 || ''[[Very Bad Things]]'' || distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with [[Interscope Communications]]
|-
| align="right"|22 January 1999 || ''[[The Hi-Lo Country]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"| February 1999 || ''Choke'' || distributed by PolyGram Visual Programming; co-production with [[Propaganda Films]]
|-
| align="right"|5 March 1999 || ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]'' || distributed by [[Gramercy Pictures]]; co-production with [[Steve Tisch|The Steve Tisch Company]], [[SKA Films]], [[HandMade Films]] and [[Summit Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|1 April 1999 || ''Millionaire Dogs'' || distributed by Pop Twist Entertainment in U.S.; co-production with [[Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg]], EIV Entertainment Invest GmbH & Company KG, [[Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen]] and Benchmark Entertainment
|-
| align="right"|28 May 1999 || ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' || distributed by [[Universal Pictures]]; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|9 July 1999 || ''[[Arlington Road]]'' || distributed by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]; co-production with [[Screen Gems]] and [[Lakeshore Entertainment]]
|-
| align="right"|1 October 1999 || ''[[Plunkett & Macleane]]'' || international distribution only; co-production with [[Working Title Films]]
|-
| align="right"|10 December 1999 || ''[[The Green Mile (film)|The Green Mile]]'' || distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]; co-production with [[Castle Rock Entertainment]] and Darkwoods Productions
|}
 
== See also ==
* ''[[100 Films and a Funeral]]'', a documentary film about the rise and fall of PFE.
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== Further reading ==
* Michael Kuhn, ''One Hundred Films and a Funeral: The Life and Death of Polygram Films'', Thorogood, 2002. {{ISBN|1-85418-216-1}}.
 
{{Philips}}
{{NBCUniversal}}
{{Film Studio}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Film productionEntertainment companies of theestablished Unitedin Kingdom1975]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United StatesNetherlands]]
[[Category:CompaniesFilm baseddistributors inof Los Angeles County, CaliforniaFrance]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Germany]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Spain]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Australia]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in London]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:19801975 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1999Re-established disestablishments in Californiacompanies]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures]]
 
[[Category:UniversalDutch Studioscompanies disestablished in 1999]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 1999]]

Revision as of 08:38, 9 May 2024

This article is about the defunct PolyGram Filmed Entertainment whose assets belong to Universal Pictures. For the former record company and Universal Music Group's current film unit, see PolyGram.

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
FormerlyFilmworks (1975–1976)
Casablanca Record & Filmworks (1976–1980)
PolyGram Pictures (1980–1983)
Company typeSubsidiary
PredecessorCasablanca Filmworks
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975)
FoundersPeter Guber
Defunct1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FateAcquired by Seagram and folded into Universal Pictures; majority of assets were sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Some of its North American distribution assets sold to USA Networks
SuccessorsStudio:
Universal Pictures
USA Films
Focus Features
PolyGram Entertainment
Library:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
(pre-April 1996 films with exceptions)
Universal Pictures
(post-March 1996 films with exceptions and some pre-March 1996 films)
Owner
Parent
  • PolyGram (1980–1998)
  • Universal Pictures (1998–1999)
DivisionsPolyGram Television
PolyGram Video
Evolution of Comcast NBCUniversal
1912Universal Pictures is founded
1926NBC is founded
1928Walter Lantz Productions is established
1943MCA Inc. establishes Revue Studios (later Universal Television)
1953NBC begins first compatible color broadcasts, preceding other networks by nine years
1956NBC's first peacock logo debuts
1963American Cable Systems is founded
1964Universal Studios Hollywood opens
1967NBC broadcasts the first Super Bowl
1968American Cable Systems rebrands to Comcast
1972Comcast began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
1975Universal releases Jaws
1980PolyGram renames Casablanca Record & Filmworks to PolyGram Pictures
MCA Videocassette‚ Inc. (later Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is established
1982Universal releases E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1984Walter Lantz Productions' assets are sold to Universal
Telemundo is founded
1985Universal releases Back to the Future
1986General Electric buys RCA for $6.4 billion, including NBC and a stake in A&E
1989NBC relaunches Tempo Television as CNBC
1990Universal Studios Florida opens
Law & Order premieres on NBC
Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting merge to form British Sky Broadcasting
Universal Cartoon Studios (later Universal Animation Studios) is established
1993Universal releases Jurassic Park
1994DreamWorks Animation is founded
1996NBC and Microsoft replace America's Talking with MSNBC
1997Barry Diller purchases Universal's domestic television assets
1998Seagram acquires PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Universal Television is renamed Studios USA Television
1999PolyGram Filmed Entertainment is folded into Universal Pictures
Universal Studios Florida expands to become Universal Orlando Resort
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premieres on NBC
2001Grand opening of Universal Studios Japan
Universal releases The Fast and the Furious
Vivendi purchases Studios USA
2002NBC acquires Telemundo and Bravo
Studios USA assets are folded into Universal
Focus Features is formed
Comcast acquires AT&T Broadband for $44.5 billion
2003Universal becomes the first studio with five summer releases breaking the $100 million mark
2004GE and Vivendi merge NBC and Universal into NBCUniversal
2005The Office premieres on NBC
Comcast sets up a joint-venture with PBS, Sesame Workshop & HIT Entertainment to form PBS Kids Sprout
Comcast & Time Warner Cable jointly acquire Adelphia Cable assets for $17.6 billion
2006USA Network begins 13-year streak as #1 cable network in total viewers
2007Illumination is founded
2010Universal releases Illumination's first film Despicable Me
2011Vivendi divested in NBCU; Comcast buys 51% of NBCU from GE, turning it into a limited liability company
NBCUniversal Archives is founded
2012Universal celebrates its 100th anniversary
NBCUniversal divests its A&E Networks minority stake
2013Comcast buys GE's remaining 49% of NBCU
Comcast/NBCU assumes full ownership of Sprout
2014Comcast attempts to acquire Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion
NBCUniversal reaches a new long-term deal with WWE
2016NBCU acquires DreamWorks Animation
2017Sprout relaunches as Universal Kids
2018Comcast acquires Sky after a heated bidding war with 21st Century Fox
2019NBCU acquires Cineo Lighting
2020NBCU launches Peacock
2021Grand opening of Universal Beijing Resort
2023The Super Mario Bros. Movie becomes Illumination's highest-grossing film

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (formerly known as Filmworks, Casablanca Records & Filmworks, PolyGram Films and PolyGram Pictures or simply PFE) was a film production company founded in 1975 as an American film studio, which became a European competitor to Hollywood within two decades, but was eventually sold to Seagram Company Ltd. in 1998 and was folded a year later. Among its most successful and well known films were The Deep (1977), Midnight Express (1978), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Flashdance (1983), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Dead Man Walking (1995), The Big Lebowski (1998), Fargo (1996), The Usual Suspects (1995), The Game (1997), Barney's Great Adventure (1998) and Notting Hill (1999).

Overview

In 1975, Peter Guber formed its own production company FilmWorks, then in 1976, it became Casablanca Records & FilmWorks after a merger with Casablanca Records, which PolyGram got a 50% by 1977, and by 1980, PolyGram took the other 50% stake in the company and renamed the film unit as PolyGram Pictures.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies. In 1995, PolyGram purchased ITC Entertainment for $156 million.

In May 1998, PolyGram was sold to Seagram, which owned Universal Pictures and Universal Music Group (UMG), for $10 billion. Seagram sold off some of PolyGram's assets while mainly acquiring its music division: the ITC Entertainment library was sold to Carlton Communications for £91 million, the pre-March 1996 PFE library was sold to MGM, and PolyGram's US distribution operation was sold to USA Network.

After many of its assets were sold, the remains of PolyGram's film division were folded into Universal Pictures. When the newly formed entertainment division of Seagram faced financial difficulties, it was sold to Vivendi, and MCA became known as Universal Studios, as Seagram ceased to exist.

Vivendi remained the majority owner of the UMG until 2021, when it sold most of its stake. MGM owns the rights to most of the pre-April 1996 library, and the remaining post-March 1996 film and television library is owned by NBCUniversal.

In 2017, Universal Music Group established a film and television division, resurrecting the PolyGram Entertainment name.[1]

History

FilmWorks, Casablanca Records & FilmWorks and PolyGram Pictures

In 1975, Peter Guber quit Columbia Pictures to start out FilmWorks with a producing deal. A year later, during the production of The Deep, it was merged with Casablanca Records to form Casablanca Records & FilmWorks.[2] The company would enjoy success with The Deep and Midnight Express. The music company PolyGram (owned by Dutch-based Philips and Germany's Siemens) bought out its share of Casablanca Records & FilmWorks in 1977. Two years later, in 1979, Casablanca Record & Filmworks left Columbia Pictures to join Universal Pictures, and gave Casablanca Records & Filmworks creative control over the pictures.[3] A year later, PolyGram took on its stake of the company and it was renamed to PolyGram Pictures in 1980.[4] PolyGram reserved the finances and Guber would run as CEO. Guber would form a partnership with Barbra Streisand's hairdresser Jon Peters, who co-produced his client's A Star Is Born remake. Peters would produce PolyGram's films, and eventually become a stockholder with Guber.[5] He had intended to work with Boardwalk Records, but he was forced to join PolyGram Pictures instead.[6][7][3]

The first film under the Universal/PolyGram alliance was King of the Mountain (1981), which was a box-office flop. More money-losers followed. Ancillary markets such as home video and pay television were not yet established, and broadcast television networks were paying less for licenses to films. PolyGram's European investors were not happy; they had lost about $80 million on its film division. Not long after, Siemens parted with Philips. Guber and Peters left PolyGram Pictures in 1982, taking their plans for a new Batman movie with them, along with a few other projects. The duo eventually found a home at Warner Bros. A part of their exit proceedings, PolyGram would still own 7.5% of profits from some of its projects, including the 1989 Batman film.[5] Also in 1980, PolyGram launched a syndicated television division, PolyGram Television, to be headed by former Columbia Pictures Television syndication executive Norman Horowitz,[8] both the film and TV units eventually closed down by 1983 after a string of first-run syndication strip flops.[9]

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

In the early 1980s, PolyGram Video was launched. PolyGram Video, headed by Michael Kuhn and David Hockman, was created to distribute concert films and feature films acquired from third-parties, as well as long-form music videos; in 1986, a joint venture with Heron Communications, Channel 5 Video began operation.[10] Channel 5 Video later began to obtain the rights to titles from Heron's US children's arm, Hi-Tops Video.[11] Kuhn and Hockman were able to parlay PolyGram Video's success into financing feature films. The first film produced by PolyGram's new film division was P.I. Private Investigations in 1987.[12] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies.[13] In 1989, PolyGram launched Manifesto Film Sales to handle the licensing of films outside North America.[14] In 1991, PolyGram's Michael Kuhn became the head of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,[13] with US$200 million pumped in with the intention of developing a European film studio that could produce and distribute films internationally on a scale to match the major Hollywood studios.

Following the style of its music business, the company produced films through a number of creatively semi-autonomous 'labels', such as Working Title Films in the United Kingdom and Propaganda Films and Interscope Communications in the United States; it also built up its own network of distribution companies.

Film production within PolyGram differed from traditional Hollywood studios, in that power to make ('green light') a film was not centralised in the hands of a small number of executives, but instead was decided by negotiations between producers, management and marketing. Kuhn claimed that "movies sort of green lit themselves."

In 1993, PolyGram purchased the video arm of Virgin Group from General Electric Capital for $5.6 million and remodeled the label as Vision Video Ltd.

PolyGram also built up a sizable film and television library that could be profitable. In 1995, the company purchased ITC Entertainment for $156 million.[15] Through this purchase, PolyGram acquired 350 feature films, several thousand hours of television programming, and gained further access into the television market.[13] That same year, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment acquired a 75% majority stake in British home video distributor Abbey Home Entertainment. In 1997, PFE agreed to purchase the Epic film library, which included a thousand feature films from a variety of companies, from Crédit Lyonnais for $225 million.[16] PolyGram also attempted purchasing MGM[17] and The Samuel Goldwyn Company's library,[18] but to no avail. In July 1998, PolyGram was in talks to sell their stake in Abbey Home Entertainment back to Ian and Anne Miles, letting AHE trade independently again. On December 7, 1997, PolyGram and Warner Bros. reached a deal to co-finance films produced by Castle Rock Entertainment.[19]

PFE's film distribution arm was based in the United Kingdom, and invested heavily in British film making — some credit it with reviving the British film industry in the 1990s. Despite a successful production history, new Philips CEO Cor Boonstra began to draw back Philips' media operations, excepting their stake in PolyGram, in 1997.[20] At the time, Philips was seen as a bloated conglomerate riddled with problems; Boonstra initially denied that PolyGram would be sold.[21] However, by early 1998, Boonstra's attitude had shifted and various bidders began to make themselves known, as Philips began to pursue a manufacturing-only business model.[22] At the same time, PolyGram had been suffering from their own internal issues, chiefly a series of loss-making films and a lack of major pop music hits.[23] In hindsight, analysts have also pointed to another reason for Boonstra's sale of the assets, namely Philips manufacturing blank CDs, as music piracy subsequently impacted the music industry hugely in the years afterwards.[24]

Philips ultimately decided to sell PolyGram to the beverage conglomerate Seagram in 1998 (Seagram had chosen PolyGram over EMI because of PolyGram's better management);[25][26] only interested in PolyGram's music operations, Seagram, which at the time controlled Universal Pictures, looked forward to divesting in PFE. After being dissatisfied with offers to buy the studio (including a joint venture between Canal+ and Artisan Entertainment), Seagram opted to sell off individual assets and folded whatever remained into Universal.[27] In October 1998, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)[28] paid $235–250 million to acquire 1,300 films released before March 31, 1996, from PolyGram.[29] In 1999, the ITC library was sold to Carlton Communications (later known as ITV Studios) for $150 million.[30] Some of PFE's North American distribution assets were sold to USA Networks.[31] Universal would later take over the remaining titles, which included a third of the pre-April 1996 films, as well as PolyGram Television's library. Universal would eventually set up their international arm from the ashes of PFE's international division on February 9, 1999, that included theatrical and video distribution when its contracts with United International Pictures and CIC Video expired.[32] After the box office failure of Mickey Blue Eyes, a title inherited from PolyGram that became one of the few titles that were self-distributed by Universal internationally, all the theatrical assets of Universal Pictures International were merged with United International Pictures, which continued to exist until 2007.[33]

PolyGram Video took over the distribution of Manga Entertainment's titles in Australia and New Zealand in late 1996 after Siren Entertainment's license to the Manga Video catalog expired, but PolyGram lost the license to the Manga Video catalog in 1998 after Madman Entertainment took over the licenses. This was due to Manga Entertainment being moved from Island Records to Palm Pictures.

Relaunch as PolyGram Entertainment

Main article: PolyGram § PolyGram Entertainment

Production companies

US distribution

In 1992, PolyGram partnered with Universal Pictures to create a joint venture called Gramercy Pictures. Gramercy primarily distributed PolyGram films in the United States, and it doubled as a specialty label for Universal. In January 1996, PolyGram bought out Universal[35] and in 1997, PolyGram Films was founded to release PFE's mainstream titles in the United States, while Gramercy became a low-budget/art-house sublabel.[36][37] PolyGram Films' first release was The Game.[37][35] After PolyGram's merger with Universal in 1999, the company merged Gramercy with October Films, which included its subsidiary Rogue Pictures[38] to create USA Films, which eventually became Focus Features. Gramercy was revived in 2015 as a label of Focus Features,[39] but shut down and went dormant the next year.

Selected films

Among the films directly produced by PFE were:

1970s

Release Date Title Notes
17 June 1977 The Deep co-production with Columbia Pictures and EMI Films
19 May 1978 Thank God It's Friday co-production with Columbia Pictures and Motown Productions
6 October 1978 Midnight Express co-production with Columbia Pictures
9 February 1979 Agatha co-production with First Artists and Warner Bros.

1980s

Release Date Title Notes
29 February 1980 Foxes co-production with United Artists
30 May 1980 The Hollywood Knights co-production with Columbia Pictures
1 May 1981 King of the Mountain co-production with Universal Pictures
17 July 1981 Endless Love co-production with Universal Pictures
14 August 1981 Deadly Blessing distributed by United Artists
21 August 1981 An American Werewolf in London co-production with Universal Pictures
13 November 1981 The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper co-production with Universal Pictures
12 March 1982 Missing co-production with Universal Pictures
3 October 1982 Split Image distributed by Orion Pictures
24 December 1982 Six Weeks co-production with Universal Pictures
15 April 1983 Flashdance co-production with Paramount Pictures
13 December 1985 A Chorus Line co-production with Columbia Pictures and Embassy Pictures
Clue co-production with Paramount Pictures
05 June 1987 P.I. Private Investigations co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
22 April 1988 The Blue Iguana co-production with Paramount Pictures
24 March 1989 Troop Beverly Hills co-production with Weintraub Entertainment Group
23 June 1989 Batman co-production with Warner Bros. and The Guber-Peters Company
27 October 1989 Kill Me Again co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
8 December 1989 Fear, Anxiety & Depression co-production with The Samuel Goldwyn Company

1990s

Release Date Title Notes
27 July 1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl co-production with New Line Cinema and Working Title Films
17 August 1990 Wild at Heart co-production with The Samuel Goldwyn Company (co-owned by MGM and Universal)
14 September 1990 Fools of Fortune co-production with New Line Cinema
24 May 1991 Drop Dead Fred co-production with New Line Cinema and Working Title Films (owned by Universal)
21 August 1991 Barton Fink distributed by 20th Century Fox; co-production with Working Title Films (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
15 November 1991 Driving Me Crazy co-production with Motion Picture Corporation of America
17 January 1992 A Gnome Named Gnorm co-production with Vestron Pictures
27 March 1992 Ruby co-production with Triumph Films
15 May 1992 Rubin & Ed co-production with Working Title Films (owned by Sony)
19 June 1992 Batman Returns distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with DC Comics, Tim Burton Productions and De Novi Pictures
7 August 1992 London Kills Me distributed by New Line Cinema; co-production with Fine Line Features
4 September 1992 Bob Roberts distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-production with Miramax Films, Live Entertainment and Working Title Films (co-owned by Lionsgate and Universal)
16 October 1992 Candyman distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; co-production with TriStar Pictures and Propaganda Films (owned by Universal)
23 April 1993 Map of the Human Heart distributed by Miramax Films; co-production with Working Title Films (co-owned by Miramax and Universal)
14 May 1993 Posse distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films (owned by MGM)
20 August 1993 The Ballad of Little Jo distributed by Fine Line Features
3 September 1993 Kalifornia distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films (owned by MGM)
1 October 1993 Malice distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; co-production with Columbia Pictures, New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment and Nelvana (owned by MGM)
8 October 1993 The Young Americans distributed by Live Entertainment; co-production with Working Title Films
5 November 1993 A Home of Our Own distributed by Gramercy Pictures (owned by MGM)
7 January 1994 The Air Up There distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications (owned by Disney)
4 February 1994 Romeo Is Bleeding distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
Most 1994–95 PolyGram films currently owned by MGM unless mentioned otherwise
9 March 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films and Channel Four Films
11 March 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with Working Title Films and Silver Pictures (co-owned by Warner Bros. and Universal)
8 April 1994 Holy Matrimony distributed by Buena Vista Pictures; co-production with Hollywood Pictures and Interscope Communications (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
Red Rock West distributed by Roxie Releasing (theatrical), Columbia TriStar Home Video (home video); co-production with Propaganda Films (owned by Universal)
15 April 1994 Backbeat distributed by Gramercy Pictures (owned by Universal)
6 May 1994 Dream Lover distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
18 May 1994 Final Combination co-production with Propaganda Films
15 July 1994 A Pig's Tale distributed by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment; co-production with Propaganda Films (owned by Universal)
10 August 1994 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert distributed by Gramercy Pictures
23 September 1994 Terminal Velocity distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications (owned by Disney)
28 September 1994 Jason's Lyric distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
16 December 1994 Nell distributed by 20th Century Fox (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
20 January 1995 S.F.W. distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
10 February 1995 Shallow Grave distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Channel Four Films
24 February 1995 Before the Rain distributed by Gramercy Pictures (owned by Universal)
17 March 1995 Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
21 April 1995 The Basketball Diaries distributed by New Line Cinema; co-production with Island Pictures (co-owned by Palm Pictures and MGM)
3 May 1995 Panther distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
5 May 1995 French Kiss distributed by 20th Century Fox; co-production with Working Title Films (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
16 June 1995 Batman Forever distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with DC Comics and Tim Burton Productions
30 June 1995 Innocent Lies
28 July 1995 Operation Dumbo Drop distributed by Buena Vista Pictures; co-production with Walt Disney Pictures and Interscope Communications (owned by Disney)
16 August 1995 The Usual Suspects distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Bad Hat Harry Productions and Spelling Films (co-owned by MGM and Paramount)
15 September 1995 Coldblooded distributed by IRS Media; co-production with Motion Picture Corporation of America and Propaganda Films (owned by Universal)
22 September 1995 Canadian Bacon distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
29 September 1995 Moonlight and Valentino distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
3 November 1995 Home for the Holidays distributed by Paramount Pictures (co-owned by Paramount and MGM)
10 November 1995 Carrington distributed by Gramercy Pictures
15 December 1995 Jumanji distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; co-production with TriStar Pictures and Interscope Communications (owned by Sony)
28 December 1995 12 Monkeys UK distribution only; produced by Atlas Entertainment and Classico (owned by Universal)
29 December 1995 Dead Man Walking distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
29 December 1995 Mr. Holland's Opus distributed by Buena Vista Pictures; co-production with Hollywood Pictures and Interscope Communications (co-owned by Disney and MGM)
9 February 1996 Loch Ness distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
23 February 1996 La Haine distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Le Studio Canal+ and Arte France Cinema
Most films released since this point are owned by Universal Pictures[40]
8 March 1996 Fargo distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films (owned by MGM)
22 March 1996 Jack and Sarah distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Granada Productions and Le Studio Canal+ (owned by MGM)
Land and Freedom distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
3 May 1996 Barb Wire distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
31 May 1996 Eddie distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Island Pictures (co-owned by Disney and MGM)[41]
Last film in the pre-April 1996 library owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer via Orion Pictures
The Arrival distributed by Orion Pictures; co-production with LIVE Entertainment, Steelework Films and Interscope Communications (owned by Lionsgate)
17 July 1996 Walking and Talking distributed by Miramax Films; co-production with Channel Four Films, Zenith Productions, Pandora Film, Mikado Films (France), Electric, TEAM Communications Group and Good Machine (co-owned by Miramax and Universal)
Kazaam distributed by Buena Vista Pictures; co-production with Touchstone Pictures and Interscope Communications (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
19 July 1996 Trainspotting distributed by Miramax Films; co-production with Channel Four Films
18 October 1996 Sleepers distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with Propaganda Films (co-owned by Warner Bros. and Universal)
Jude distributed by Gramercy Pictures (owned by Universal; U.S. rights sub-licensed to Scorpion Releasing)
24 December 1996 The Portrait of a Lady distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
10 January 1997 The Relic distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-production with Tele-München Gruppe, BBC Films, Toho, Pacific Western Production, Marubeni and Cloud Nine Entertainment
29 January 1997 Gridlock'd distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
14 February 1997 When We Were Kings distributed by Gramercy Pictures (owned by Shout! Studios via Westchester)
7 March 1997 The Eighth Day distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
11 April 1997 Keys to Tulsa distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with ITC Entertainment (owned by ITV Studios)
9 May 1997 Twin Town distributed by Gramercy Pictures
20 June 1997 Batman & Robin distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with DC Comics
6 August 1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player distributed by Gramercy Pictures
24 August 1997 Snow White: A Tale of Terror co-production with Interscope Communications
12 September 1997 The Game distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Propaganda Films
19 September 1997 Going All the Way distributed by Gramercy Pictures
3 October 1997 The Matchmaker distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
24 October 1997 A Life Less Ordinary distributed by 20th Century Fox (co-owned by Disney and Universal)
7 November 1997 Bean distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
5 December 1997 The Borrowers distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
16 January 1998 Hard Rain distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-production with BBC Films, Mutual Film Company, Nordisk Film Production and Toho
23 January 1998 Spice World distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; co-production with Columbia Pictures, Icon Entertainment International and Fragile Films
The Gingerbread Man distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Island Pictures and Enchanter Entertainment
18 February 1998 I Want You distributed by Gramercy Pictures
26 February 1998 Dead Letter Office distributed by Southern Star Entertainment
6 March 1998 The Big Lebowski distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
3 April 1998 No Looking Back distributed by Gramercy Pictures
The Proposition distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Lyrick Studios
1 May 1998 Wilde UK distribution only; produced by BBC Films, Capitol Films and Pony Canyon (owned by Altitude)
Go Now distributed by Gramercy Pictures
29 May 1998 The Last Days of Disco distributed by Gramercy Pictures in North America and Warner Bros. internationally;[42] co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment (co-owned by Universal and Warner Bros.)
12 June 1998 The Land Girls distributed by Gramercy Pictures
14 August 1998 Return to Paradise distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Propaganda Films and Tetragram
21 August 1998 Your Friends & Neighbors distributed by Gramercy Pictures
25 September 1998 Clay Pigeons distributed by Gramercy Pictures
2 October 1998 What Dreams May Come distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Interscope Communications
13 November 1998 Thursday distributed by Legacy Releasing; co-production with Propaganda Films
22 November 1998 Elizabeth distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films and Channel Four Films
25 November 1998 Very Bad Things distributed by PolyGram Films; co-production with Interscope Communications
22 January 1999 The Hi-Lo Country distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
February 1999 Choke distributed by PolyGram Visual Programming; co-production with Propaganda Films
5 March 1999 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with The Steve Tisch Company, SKA Films, HandMade Films and Summit Entertainment
1 April 1999 Millionaire Dogs distributed by Pop Twist Entertainment in U.S.; co-production with Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg, EIV Entertainment Invest GmbH & Company KG, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen and Benchmark Entertainment
28 May 1999 Notting Hill distributed by Universal Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
9 July 1999 Arlington Road distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing; co-production with Screen Gems and Lakeshore Entertainment
1 October 1999 Plunkett & Macleane international distribution only; co-production with Working Title Films
10 December 1999 The Green Mile distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment and Darkwoods Productions

See also

References

  1. ^ "Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Casablanca And Filmworks Merge Into New Combine" (PDF). Billboard. 6 November 1976. p. 3.
  3. ^ a b Masters, Kim; Griffin, Nancy (12 January 2016). Hit & Run. Simon & Schuster.
  4. ^ "PolyGram Insures Home Video Base" (PDF). Billboard. 29 March 1980. p. 9.
  5. ^ a b Griffin, Nancy and Masters, Kim (1996). "Hit and Run" (pp. 100-116). New York: Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company.
  6. ^ "Boardwalk - Music label - RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  7. ^ Medavoy, Mike (25 June 2013). You're Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot. Atria Books.
  8. ^ "Horowitz to head new PolyGram television unit" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine. 3 November 1980. p. 46.
  9. ^ "PolyGram to fold" (PDF). Broadcasting. 9 May 1983. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Heron, PolyGram Set Joint Venture With Low Pricing". Variety. 1 January 1986. p. 25.
  11. ^ "Channel Five Moves Into Music & Kid Vid" (PDF). World Radio History. 11 July 1987. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  12. ^ Kuhn, pp. 17-23
  13. ^ a b c Apodaca, Patrice (21 February 1995). "Screen Play : PolyGram Hopes to Bolster Its Hollywood Presence With Purchase of Once-Venerable ITC Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  14. ^ Kuhn, pp. 40-41
  15. ^ "ITC Entertainment Sold to Polygram for $156 Million". Los Angeles Times. 17 January 1995. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  16. ^ Weiner, Rex (3 December 1997). "New Epic librarian".
  17. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (17 July 1996). "Kerkorian Group Plans to Buy MGM Studio for $1.3 Billion". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Company News;Polygram Said To Drop Goldwyn Offer". The New York Times. 31 January 1996. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  19. ^ Cox, Dan (8 December 1997). "WB, Polygram to co-fund Castle Rock". Variety. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ Staff, Variety (22 July 1997). "Philips quitting media biz, except for Polygram stake". Variety. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  21. ^ "CAN HE FIX PHILIPS? HECK, CAN ANYONE? NEW CEO COR BOONSTRA IS AN OUTSIDER WHO TALKS A GOOD TURNAROUND GAME FOR THE ELECTRONICS GIANT--BUT MAY HAVE TO MOVE FASTER. - March 31, 1997". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  22. ^ Week, Marketing (11 June 1998). "Why Phillips must sharpen up its act". Marketing Week. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  23. ^ Eller, Claudia; Philips, Chuck (7 May 1998). "Philips Puts PolyGram Empire Up for Sale". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  24. ^ McCullen, Aidan (27 October 2023). "Killing Your Business While It's Still Working: That (Kodak) Moment". The Innovation Show. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Suitors Buzz Around Polygram". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  26. ^ Eller, Claudia; Philips, Chuck (15 May 1998). "Seagram, Philips Confirm Talks for All of PolyGram". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  27. ^ Eller, Claudia (9 October 1998). "Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library". Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ "MGM Signs $250 Million Agreement to Acquire PolyGram Film Library". Sound & Vision. 25 October 1998.
  29. ^ Eller, Claudia (23 October 1998). "MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  30. ^ Thal, Peter (20 January 1999). "Carlton pays $150m for film library". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  31. ^ "USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets". Los Angeles Times. 8 April 1999.
  32. ^ Carver, Benedict; Dawtrey, Adam (10 February 1999). "U to start int'l distrib". Variety. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  33. ^ Petrikin, Chris (15 October 1999). "U, Par extend UIP pact". Variety. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  34. ^ Madigan, Nick (9 December 1997). "Polygram shutters Island Pictures".
  35. ^ a b "PolyGram joins the big Game". Screen International. 19 September 1997. p. 33.
  36. ^ Eller, Claudia (3 May 1997). "PolyGram Unit to Distribute Films in U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  37. ^ a b "Partyers play 'Game'". Variety. 11 September 1997. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  38. ^ Roman, Monica (3 April 1998). "Rogue of October". Variety. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  39. ^ Petski, Denise (20 May 2015). "Focus Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films". Deadline. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  40. ^ US Copyright Office Document No. V3495D070 / 2003-03-06
  41. ^ US Copyright Office Document No. V15006D985 / 2022-04-22
  42. ^ "Warner Bros. Teams Up with PolyGram to Co-Finance & Co-Distribute Castle Rock Pictures". WarnerMedia. Retrieved 6 April 2020.

Further reading

  • Michael Kuhn, One Hundred Films and a Funeral: The Life and Death of Polygram Films, Thorogood, 2002. ISBN 1-85418-216-1.
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