Al Zimbalist
{{Short description|American film producer (1910–1975)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Al Zimbalist
| image = Alzimbfn.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = On the set of Drums of Africa, 1963
| birth_name = Alfred Zimbalist
| birth_date = March 3, 1910
| birth_place = Kiev, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
| death_date = August 28, 1975 (age 65)
| death_place = Los Angeles
| occupation = producer
| years_active = 1951–1965
| spouse = Bernice Higgen
| children = Donald Zimbalist
| awards = }}
Alfred N. Zimbalist (March 3, 1910, Kiev, Russian Empire – August 28, 1975, Los Angeles) was a producer of low-budget films such as Robot Monster, Monster from Green Hell, Cat-Women of the Moon, Watusi and Baby Face Nelson.
Al Zimbalist was primarily known for B movies, science fiction, crime and horror.Tom Weaver, John Brunas, Michael Brunas. Interviews with B science fiction and horror movie makers. McFarland 2006 p63 Al Zimbalist's son, Donald R. Zimbalist (Feb 17, 1936 – Oct 6, 2004), was a frequent collaborator.
Early years
Al Zimbalist was the son of Nuchim Zimbalist ({{Langx|ru|Нухим Цимбалист}}), a New York dressmaking foreman, and Feiga Fannie Weiner. Zimbalist was one of four children and immigrated to the US, arriving November 13, 1911, aboard the {{ship|SS|Lituania|1889|6}}. He completed his education to the eighth grade. He was a first cousin to Hollywood producer Sam Zimbalist.
Movie career
Zimbalist started his career in the film industry when he joined the Stanley-Warner Theatres home-office in New York in 1929, working as an editor for the company's house organ, The Warner Club News. At 19, Zimbalist was said to be one of the youngest editors in the industry.Warner Bros. Claims to Have Youngest Editors. Exhibitor's Herald World 24 August 1929, P. 46. During this time, he was co-author and director of the Warner Gaieties and later executive assistant to producer Edward L. Alperson.International Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Pub. Co., 1954. p322 Zimbalist continued producing company club events when he joined the publicity and advertising department at RKO-Pathe in 1931.Al Zimbalist with Pathe. Motion Picture Herald 27 June 1931, P. 48.
Zimbalist worked in theatres and publicity for the 1930s and 1940s, including stints at Warner Bros. and RKO Theatres. In 1947, he was head of publicity for Film Classics.{{Cite news|title=HOBBLE'S COMEDY OF '19 TO BE FILM|author=THOMAS F BRADY|date=Aug 7, 1947|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|107830746}}}} He left Film Classics in 1949 and worked as an assistant on some Edward Albertson releases in 1951 and 1952.
In 1952, Zimbalist announced he had formed Motion Picture Artists to make moderate-priced "class exploitation films". These would include Miss Robin Crusoe, Half-caste Girl and La Virgin de Cadiz.{{Cite news|title=PICKFORD REJECTS KRAMER FILM ROLE|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Sep 19, 1952|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|112215108}}}} Of these only the first was made.
However he did produce Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) with Jack Rabin.
Zimbalist produced King Dinosaur and intended to follow it with White Slave Ring{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Rathvon seeks 'embassy baby' cast; danny kaye to team with cantinflas.|date=Sep 14, 1954|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|166676029}}}} but it was not made.
He formed ZS Productions with Irving Shulman to make a film based on the latter's unpublished novel about Baby Face Nelson. They partnered with Mickey Rooney's Fryman Enterprises to make Baby Face Nelson (1957).{{Cite news|title=MITCHUM TO MAKE THREE NEW FILMS|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=Jun 19, 1957|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|114202636}}}}
=MGM=
The film was popular enough for Zimbalist to be signed to MGM. His first film for them was Watusi a sequel to King Solomon's Mines (1950), using footage from that film.{{Cite news|author=Hopper, H.|title=Roz russell may do 'mame' as musical.|date=Apr 10, 1958|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|167280229}}}} The second was a remake of Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959) which also used King Solomon's Mines footage.{{Cite news|title=HOLLYWOOD DOSSIER|author=T. M.|date=Mar 29, 1959|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|114910251}}}}
Zimbalist then made Valley of the Dragons at Columbia based on a Jules Verne novel. This movie made use of footage from One Million B.C. (1940).{{Cite news|author=Scheuer, P. K.|title=Marshall reported a 'miracle' find.|date=Jan 23, 1961|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|167810296}}}}{{Cite news|title=THE KID'S A COMER|date=Feb 8, 1961|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|id={{ProQuest|182828339}}}}
He then went back to MGM for Drums of Africa (1963), using footage from King Solomon's Mines once more. After Drums of Africa Zimbalist was going to make Jazz Jungle but it was never made.{{Cite news|author=Scheuer, P. K.|title=Salaried stars now slice up countries.|date=Apr 22, 1963|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|168322476}}}}
=Later career=
In 1964 he was going to make The Sea Creature for Jack Warner Jr.{{Cite news|title='See creature' first for jack warner jr|date=Jun 1, 1964|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|168633320}}}} The film was never made. Zimbalist set up at the Goldwyn studios and announced plans to make 12 films starting with Young Dillinger.{{Cite news|author=Scheuer, P. K.|title=Location realism calls for ingenuity.|date=Nov 12, 1964|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|155055803}}}} Young Dillinger used footage from Baby Face Nelson.{{Cite news|author=Kelley, B.|title=ASHLEY FINALLY MAKES THE TEAM.|date=Mar 17, 1985|work=Sun Sentinel|id={{ProQuest|389734195}}}}
After Young Dillinger he and star Nick Adams wanted to make Guns of the G Men but it was never made.{{Cite news|title=FILMLAND EVENTS|date=Dec 23, 1964|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|155087137}}}} In 1969 he registered the title Sea of Tranquility but no film resulted.{{Cite news|title=Robbs reminisce with miss raye|date=Aug 6, 1969|work=The Washington Post and Times-Herald|id={{ProQuest|147636078}}}}
Select credits
- Robot Monster (1953)
- Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
- Miss Robin Crusoe (1953)
- King Dinosaur (1955)
- Monster from Green Hell (1957)
- Baby Face Nelson (1957)
- Watusi (1959)
- Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959)
- Prehistoric Valley (1961), US title Valley of the Dragons
- Drums of Africa (1963)
- Young Dillinger (1965)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0956545}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimbalist, Al}}
Category:American film producers
Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States