Mort Engelberg, who was a producer on films including Smokey and the Bandit and The Big Easy before transitioning into politics as an “advance man” for Bill Clinton and other presidential candidates, died Saturday in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 86.
“He was a wonderful person, a wonderful husband. He loved the movie business, and he loved his work with President Clinton,” his wife, Helaine Blatt, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He told the best stories of anyone I ever met, the best jokes.”
Born and raised in Memphis, Engelberg graduated from the University of Illinois and then spent a year working on a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri. He left school before completing that degree and worked as a journalist for a few years before moving to Washington in 1961 to work for Sargent Shriver, the director of the then-newly formed Peace Corps, and later...
“He was a wonderful person, a wonderful husband. He loved the movie business, and he loved his work with President Clinton,” his wife, Helaine Blatt, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He told the best stories of anyone I ever met, the best jokes.”
Born and raised in Memphis, Engelberg graduated from the University of Illinois and then spent a year working on a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri. He left school before completing that degree and worked as a journalist for a few years before moving to Washington in 1961 to work for Sargent Shriver, the director of the then-newly formed Peace Corps, and later...
- 12/11/2023
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mort Engelberg, a producer of the films Smokey And The Bandit and The Big Easy, has passed away. Engelberg was 86, and he died in Los Angeles in the company of his wife, Helaine Blatt, a success herself as a high-end jewelry broker.
Engelberg was producing films when he took time away from his day job and organized a famous bus tour taken by Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant Bill Clinton and his running mate Al Gore through numerous states the summer after the Democratic Convention in 1992. Engelberg served a similar role previously for candidates Walter F. Mondale in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988. For Clinton, the bus tour was a rousing success. It bonded Clinton, Gore and their wives, and presenting the amiable presidential candidate as an everymen who thrived mixing with real people in cities across the country. It would become a trademark for Clinton’s successful two presidential runs.
Engelberg was producing films when he took time away from his day job and organized a famous bus tour taken by Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant Bill Clinton and his running mate Al Gore through numerous states the summer after the Democratic Convention in 1992. Engelberg served a similar role previously for candidates Walter F. Mondale in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988. For Clinton, the bus tour was a rousing success. It bonded Clinton, Gore and their wives, and presenting the amiable presidential candidate as an everymen who thrived mixing with real people in cities across the country. It would become a trademark for Clinton’s successful two presidential runs.
- 12/11/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Steve McQueen’s final film is an action-comedy compromise that will satisfy his fans even if it barely hangs together. The thrills are kinder & gentler, with plenty of hair-raising stunts but less gunplay and gore. McQueen’s eccentric bounty hunter collects toys and can barely drive a car, but he always gets his man. Kathryn Harrold is good; Eli Wallach, LeVar Burton, Ben Johnson, Richard Venture and Tracey Walter are along for the ride (and stay out of Steve’s spotlight). Steve’s in charge — he tailors everything to highlight his quirky star characterization, and the guiding principle is ‘low key.’
The Hunter
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 110
1980 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date April 6, 2022 / Available from Amazon Au
Starring: Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold, LeVar Burton, Ben Johnson, Richard Venture, Tracey Walter, Tom Rosales, Teddy Wilson, Ray Bickel, Bobby Bass, Karl Schueneman, Taurean Blacque, Al Ruscio, David Spielberg.
The Hunter
Region Free Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 110
1980 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date April 6, 2022 / Available from Amazon Au
Starring: Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold, LeVar Burton, Ben Johnson, Richard Venture, Tracey Walter, Tom Rosales, Teddy Wilson, Ray Bickel, Bobby Bass, Karl Schueneman, Taurean Blacque, Al Ruscio, David Spielberg.
- 5/7/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Michael Gray, a Hollywood marketing executive which introduced the electronic press kit to the industry, died Monday at his home in Baltimore. He was 87.
His daughter Madeleine Gray confirmed his death on Facebook, saying that he died in his sleep following complications of a hip fracture sustained in January. “We are relieved he did not have to suffer in his greatly-reduced cognitive and physical condition — the things he most dreaded about aging — for too long,” she wrote on Facebook.
Gray graduated from New York University and worked in newspapers before transitioning to the world of publicity. He was the manager at Columbia Pictures’ TV division Screen Gems While there, he introduced Naked City, Route 66 and The Flintstones to the fold. His experience would bring him to Rogers & Cowan where he would take on the role of director of its New York television department.
By 1967 he made the move to United Artists...
His daughter Madeleine Gray confirmed his death on Facebook, saying that he died in his sleep following complications of a hip fracture sustained in January. “We are relieved he did not have to suffer in his greatly-reduced cognitive and physical condition — the things he most dreaded about aging — for too long,” she wrote on Facebook.
Gray graduated from New York University and worked in newspapers before transitioning to the world of publicity. He was the manager at Columbia Pictures’ TV division Screen Gems While there, he introduced Naked City, Route 66 and The Flintstones to the fold. His experience would bring him to Rogers & Cowan where he would take on the role of director of its New York television department.
By 1967 he made the move to United Artists...
- 3/6/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The producer of Burt Reynolds' classic comedy movie Smokey And The Bandit has filed suit against Hollywood studio bosses, alleging he has been cheated out of the proceeds from the 1977 film.
Mort Engelberg and members of his production company filed a lawsuit at Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday against executives at Universal Pictures and Sony, the company which later acquired the Rastar production firm that made the movie.
Engelberg claims the studio bosses are obliged to pay him 50 per cent of "net profits" from the film, as well as its 1980 sequel and another movie, 1979 comedy Hot Stuff starring Dom DeLuise.
He alleges film chiefs have reneged on his original deal with Rastar and he's taking his compliant to court demanding the right to audit their books and then seek appropriate damages, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The suit lists a number of accusations including breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
The original Smokey And The Bandit film made a massive $127 million (£84.7 million) on its release, and spawned two sequels. The third film, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 from 1983, is not part of the legal wrangling.
Mort Engelberg and members of his production company filed a lawsuit at Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday against executives at Universal Pictures and Sony, the company which later acquired the Rastar production firm that made the movie.
Engelberg claims the studio bosses are obliged to pay him 50 per cent of "net profits" from the film, as well as its 1980 sequel and another movie, 1979 comedy Hot Stuff starring Dom DeLuise.
He alleges film chiefs have reneged on his original deal with Rastar and he's taking his compliant to court demanding the right to audit their books and then seek appropriate damages, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The suit lists a number of accusations including breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
The original Smokey And The Bandit film made a massive $127 million (£84.7 million) on its release, and spawned two sequels. The third film, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 from 1983, is not part of the legal wrangling.
- 3/7/2011
- WENN
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