Arthur B. Krim (April 4, 1910 – September 21, 1994) was an American entertainment lawyer, the former finance chairman for the U.S. Democratic Party, an adviser to President Lyndon Johnson and the former chairman of Eagle-Lion Films (1946–1949), United Artists (1951–1978), and Orion Pictures (1978–1992). His more than four decades as a movie studio head is one of the longest in Hollywood history.[1]

Arthur B. Krim
Born(1910-04-04)April 4, 1910
Died21 September 1994 (1994-09-22) (aged 84)
EducationColumbia University, (BA)
Columbia Law School, (JD)
Occupation(s)Chairman of Orion Pictures from 1978 to 1992
Chairman of United Artists from 1951 to 1978
SpouseMathilde Krim

Biography

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Born to a Jewish family[2] in New York City, he received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1930, and graduated from Columbia Law School two years later.[3]

Krim was a partner at the firm of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon. He worked as an entertainment lawyer for clients such as Clifford Odets and John Garfield.[4]

He served in the U.S. Army Service Forces in the Pacific Theatre of Operations of World War II where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Film

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In 1946 Krim and his partner Robert Benjamin managed the American portion of Eagle-Lion Films where they sought top talent to produce their films.[5]

When Krim and Benjamin took over United Artists in 1951, stockholders gave them three years to turn a profit; they did it in six months.[6] Krim remained with UA until 1978 when he created Orion Pictures.

Democratic Party

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Krim became an influential Democrat, head of the Democratic Party Financing Committee and advised Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter.[6]

Personal life

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He was married to Mathilde Krim. He died in New York City in 1994, aged 84.[3]

Upon Nelson Mandela's release and subsequent freedom tour in 1990, Krim hosted a $1,000 per person cocktail party at his East Side townhouse where attendees hoped to greet the newly freed Mandela.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Krim, Trustees' Former Leader, Is Dead at 84". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  2. ^ Brook, Vincent (December 15, 2016). From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood. Purdue University Press. p. 17. ISBN 9781557537638. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "In Memoriam: Arthur B. Krim '30, LAW'32". Columbia College Today. Winter 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-12-26. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  4. ^ p. 47 Morrison, John Mathilde Krim Infobase Publishing, 2009
  5. ^ Tzioumakis, Yannis American Independent Cinema: Second Edition Edinburgh University Press, 7 Mar 2018
  6. ^ a b Week, Jew of the. "Jews of the Week: Mathilde and Arthur Krim | Jew of the Week". Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  7. ^ Cortes, Ryan (2016-06-22). "#RememberWhensdays: Nelson Mandela visits Yankee Stadium". Andscape. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
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