PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

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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
Company typeSubsidiary
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
Defunct1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FateFolded into Universal Pictures in 1999
Revived by Universal Music Group in 2017 and renamed PolyGram Entertainment
SuccessorsUniversal Pictures
USA Films
OwnerPhilips (1980–1998)
Seagram (1998–1999)
ParentPolyGram (1980–1998)
Universal Pictures (1998–1999)
DivisionsPolyGram Television
PolyGram Video

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 European competitor to Hollywood, but was eventually sold to 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), Candyman (1992), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Dead Man Walking (1995), The Big Lebowski (1998), Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), Fargo (1996), Kalifornia (1993), Trainspotting (1996), What Dreams May Come (1998), The Usual Suspects (1995), Elizabeth (1998) and Notting Hill (1999).

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

History

The music company PolyGram (owned by 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 and Midnight Express. 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.[2]

Its first film 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.[2]

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies.[3] In 1991, PolyGram's Michael Kuhn became the head of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,[3] 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 UK 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."

PolyGram also built up a sizable film and television library that could be profitable. In 1995, the company purchased ITC Entertainment for $156 million.[4] Through this purchase, PolyGram acquired 350 feature films, several thousand hours of television programming, and gained further access into the television market.[3] In 1997, PFE agreed to purchase the Epic film library, which included a thousand feature films, from Crédit Lyonnais Bank for $225 million.[5] PolyGram also attempted purchasing MGM[6] and The Samuel Goldwyn Company's library,[7] but to no avail.

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 Seagram in 1998.

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.[8] In October 1998, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (through Orion Pictures)[9] paid $235-250 million to acquire 1,300 films released before March 31, 1996 from PolyGram.[10]. In 1999, the ITC library was sold to Carlton Communications (later known as ITV Studios) for $150 million.[11] Some of PFE's North American distribution assets were sold to USA Networks.[12] Universal Pictures now owns the rest of the post-1996 films (beginning with Barb Wire) and PolyGram Television.

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.

Production companies

Distribution company

In 1992, PolyGram partnered with Universal Pictures to create a joint venture called Gramercy Pictures. Gramercy primarily distributed PolyGram films in the USA, and it doubled as a specialty label for Universal. In 1997, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution was founded to release PFE's mainstream titles in the USA, while Gramercy became a low-budget/art-house sublabel.[14] After PolyGram's merger with Universal in 1999, the company merged Gramercy with October Films to create USA Films, which eventually became Focus Features.

Selected films

Among the films directly produced by PFE were:

1980s

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

1990s

Release Date Title Notes
July 27, 1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl co-production with New Line Cinema and Working Title Films
August 17, 1990 Wild at Heart co-production with The Samuel Goldwyn Company
September 14, 1990 Fools of Fortune co-production with New Line Cinema
May 24, 1991 Drop Dead Fred co-production with New Line Cinema and Working Title Films
November 1991 Driving Me Crazy co-production with Motion Picture Corporation of America
January 17, 1992 A Gnome Named Gnorm co-production with Vestron Pictures
March 27, 1992 Ruby co-production with Triumph Films
August 7, 1992 London Kills Me distributed by Fine Line Features
September 4, 1992 Bob Roberts distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-production with Miramax Films, LIVE Entertainment and Working Title Films
October 16, 1992 Candyman co-production with TriStar Pictures
April 23, 1993 Map of the Human Heart distributed by Miramax Films; co-production with Working Title Films
May 14, 1993 Posse distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
August 20, 1993 The Ballad of Little Jo distributed Fine Line Features
September 3, 1993 Kalifornia distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
October 8, 1993 The Young Americans distributed by LIVE Entertainment; co-production with Working Title Films
November 5, 1993 A Home of Our Own distributed by Gramercy Pictures
January 7, 1994 The Air Up There distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
February 4, 1994 Romeo Is Bleeding distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
March 9, 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral co-production with Working Title Films and Channel Four Films
March 11, 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy distributed by Warner Bros.; co-production with Working Title Films and Silver Pictures
April 8, 1994 Holy Matrimony distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
April 15, 1994 Backbeat distributed by Gramercy Pictures
May 6, 1994 Dream Lover distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
August 10, 1994 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert distributed by Gramercy Pictures
September 23, 1994 Terminal Velocity distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
September 28, 1994 Jason's Lyric distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
January 20, 1995 S.F.W. distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
February 10, 1995 Shallow Grave distributed by Gramercy Pictures
February 24, 1995 Before the Rain distributed by Gramercy Pictures
March 17, 1995 Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
May 3, 1995 Panther distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
May 5, 1995 French Kiss distributed by 20th Century Fox; co-production with Working Title Films
July 28, 1995 Operation Dumbo Drop distributed by Walt Disney Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
August 16, 1995 The Usual Suspects distributed by Gramercy Pictures
September 22, 1995 Canadian Bacon distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
September 29, 1995 Moonlight and Valentino distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
November 3, 1995 Home for the Holidays distributed by Paramount Pictures
November 10, 1995 Carrington distributed by Gramercy Pictures
December 29, 1995 Dead Man Walking distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
December 29, 1995 Mr. Holland's Opus distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
February 23, 1996 La Haine distributed by Gramercy Pictures
March 8, 1996 Fargo distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
March 22, 1996 Jack and Sarah distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Granada Productions and Le Studio Canal+
Land and Freedom distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
May 3, 1996 Barb Wire distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films

All films released since this point are owned by Universal Pictures

May 31, 1996 Eddie distributed by Hollywood Pictures; co-production with Island Pictures
July 17, 1996 Kazaam co-production with Touchstone Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
July 19, 1996 Trainspotting distributed by Miramax Films; co-production with Channel Four Films
September 20, 1996 Loch Ness distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
October 18, 1996 Sleepers co-production with Propaganda Films
distributed by Warner Bros. in North America
October 18, 1996 Jude distributed by Gramercy Pictures
December 24, 1996 The Portrait of a Lady distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Propaganda Films
January 10, 1997 The Relic distributed by Paramount Pictures
January 29, 1997 Gridlock'd distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Interscope Communications
February 14, 1997 When We Were Kings distributed by Gramercy Pictures
March 7, 1997 The Eighth Day distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
April 11, 1997 Keys to Tulsa distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with ITC Entertainment
May 9, 1997 Twin Town distributed by Gramercy Pictures
August 6, 1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player distributed by Gramercy Pictures
August 24, 1997 Snow White: A Tale of Terror co-production with Interscope Communications
September 12, 1997 The Game co-production with Propaganda Films
September 19, 1997 Going All the Way distributed by Gramercy Pictures
October 3, 1997 The Matchmaker distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
October 24, 1997 A Life Less Ordinary distributed by 20th Century Fox
November 7, 1997 Bean distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
December 5, 1997 The Borrowers co-production with Working Title Films
January 16, 1998 Hard Rain distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-production with BBC Films, Mutual Film Company, Nordisk Film and Toho
January 23, 1998 Spice World distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment; co-production with Icon Productions and Columbia Pictures
The Gingerbread Man co-production with Island Pictures and Enchanter Entertainment
February 18, 1998 I Want You distributed by Gramercy Pictures
February 26, 1998 Dead Letter Office
March 6, 1998 The Big Lebowski distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
March 27, 1998 No Looking Back distributed by Gramercy Pictures
The Proposition co-production with Interscope Communications
Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie co-production with Lyrick Studios
May 1, 1998 Wilde distributed by Sony Pictures Classics; co-production with BBC Films, Capitol Films and Pony Canyon
Go Now distributed by Gramercy Pictures
May 29, 1998 The Last Days of Disco distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment
June 12, 1998 The Land Girls distributed by Gramercy Pictures
August 14, 1998 Return to Paradise co-production with Propaganda Films and Tetragram
August 21, 1998 Your Friends & Neighbors distributed by Gramercy Pictures
September 25, 1998 Clay Pigeons distributed by Gramercy Pictures
October 2, 1998 What Dreams May Come co-production with Interscope Communications
November 13, 1998 Thursday co-production with Propaganda Films
November 22, 1998 Elizabeth distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with StudioCanal, Working Title Films and Channel Four Films
November 25, 1998 Very Bad Things co-production with Interscope Communications
January 22, 1999 The Hi-Lo Country distributed by Gramercy Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
February 1999 Choke co-production with Propaganda Films
March 5, 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
May 28, 1999 Notting Hill distributed by Universal Pictures; co-production with Working Title Films
July 9, 1999 Arlington Road distributed by Screen Gems; co-production with Lakeshore Entertainment
October 1, 1999 Plunkett & Macleane distributed by USA Films; co-production with Working Title Films
October 29, 1999 Being John Malkovich distributed by USA Films; co-production with Propaganda Films

2000s

Release Date Title Notes
February 18, 2000 Pitch Black distributed by USA Films; co-production with Interscope Communications
March 24, 2000 Waking the Dead distributed by USA Films
April 14, 2000 Where the Money Is distributed by USA Films
July 28, 2000 Wonderland distributed by USA Films

See also

References

  1. ^ "Universal Music Relaunching Polygram, Announces 'Story of Motown' as First Production". billboard.com. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b Griffin, Nancy and Masters, Kim (1996). "Hit and Run" (pp. 100-116). New York: Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company.
  3. ^ a b c Apodaca, Patrice (1995-02-21). "Screen Play : PolyGram Hopes to Bolster Its Hollywood Presence With Purchase of Once-Venerable ITC Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  4. ^ "ITC Entertainment Sold to Polygram for $156 Million". Los Angeles Times. 1995-01-17. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  5. ^ https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770
  6. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (1996-07-17). "Kerkorian Group Plans to Buy MGM Studio for $1.3 Billion". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  7. ^ "Company News;Polygram Said To Drop Goldwyn Offer". New York Times. 1996-01-31. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  8. ^ Eller, Claudia (October 9, 1998). "Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mgm-signs-250-million-agreement-acquire-polygram-film-library
  10. ^ Eller, Claudia (1998-10-23). "MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  11. ^ Thal, Peter (1999-01-20). "Carlton pays $150m for film library". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  12. ^ "USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets". Los Angeles Times. April 8, 1999.
  13. ^ Polygram shutters Island Pictures
  14. ^ Eller, Claudia (1997-05-03). "PolyGram Unit to Distribute Films in U.S. - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-10-22.

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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