Albert Zugsmith (April 24, 1910 – October 26, 1993) was an American film producer, film director and screenwriter who specialized in low-budget exploitation films through the 1950s and 1960s.
Zugsmith was a journalist, publicist, and lawyer. In 1939 he moved in to brokering sales of communication properties like newspapers and radio and television stations; he was very successful, making up to $250 million worth of sales, and became a millionaire from his commissions. He was a film buff, and wanted to move into film producing.[3]
National Comics lawsuit
In 1947, Zugsmith represented Jerry Siegel (with whom he served in World War II) and Joe Shuster in their lawsuit against National Comics. Siegel and Shuster were seeking $5 million and the return of the rights to their creation Superman. They ended up settling out of court for $100,000, and National retained the rights. Siegel would later speculate that Zugsmith had cut a deal with National without his clients' knowledge.[4]
American Pictures Corporation
Zugsmith formed American Pictures Corporation, along with Peter Miller, Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen. They planned to make six films a year for five years out of a fund of $3.5 million.[5]
It was a film he made for Columbia that established him - Invasion, U.S.A. (1952), which earned profits of over a million dollars. He followed it with Paris Model (1953), and Top Banana (1954, starring Phil Silvers), both comedies.[7]
Zugsmith's next film was Touch of Evil (1958), which had Welles attached to play the villain; Charlton Heston agreed to star if Welles directed, which happened, although some additional scenes were directed by Harry Keller after Zugsmith left the studio.
MGM
Zugsmith says he left Universal because he was unhappy Edward Muhl had been made subservient to Al Daff[10] He moved to MGM, where he signed a six-picture deal. The association started well with High School Confidential! (1958), starring Russ Tamblyn and Van Doren, and directed by Jack Arnold. It was a big hit.[11][12]
He followed it with Night of the Quarter Moon (1958); The Beat Generation (1959), with Van Doren and Steve Cochran, co-written by Matheson, and directed by Haas; The Big Operator (1959) with Van Doren, Cochran and Mickey Rooney, directed by Haas; and Girls Town (1959) with Van Doren, also directed by Haas. All these lost money.[11]
Zugsmith later said "after telling me that I would have decent budgets, MGM never gave me a decent budget while I was there.... I didn't get along very well with Mr Benny Thau.... I never cared for MGM. They gave me all kinds of curves: bad cameramen that happened to be under contract, and so on. I wasn't one of the 'clique'. They wouldn't back me up on the set or anything else."[13]
Zugsmith turned director with The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960) which he filmed with Rooney, who also starred; Van Doren was in the cast. It was made independently outside MGM, for Universal.[12]
"I pick my titles to get 'em into theatres", said Zugsmith. "Thousands of exhibitors say amen to that."[3]
In 1973, he said in an interview "many of the talents that I have developed or worked with have suffered by not continuing with me. And I have suffered by not continuing with them."[17]
Zugsmith's last credit was directing Violated! (1975).
Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (1975). "Albert Zugmsith". In Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (eds.). Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. pp. 412–420.
^ abThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ abc"Rooney to Rejoin Albert Zugsmith: 'Platinum High School' Vehicle; Trade Paper Raps High Prices". Scheuer, Philip K., Los Angeles Times. June 5, 1959: A9.
