291:
magazine later wrote "Simon’s legacy as a movie financier is actually very good – he just lacked a library of past titles to provide him with a diversified cash flow to ride out the bad times (every independent suffers from this problem)."
284:
However, there were several more flop movies and Simon decided to leave the industry. "I did about 25 movies and I got out of it, thank God - it didn't cost me any money ultimately," Simon told a paper in 2002.
115:
called Simon "the hottest, most sought after source of filmmaking money in the business." He had three films about to be released, seven completed or being edited, and six either shooting or about to star.
210:
In
September 1979 20th Century Fox agreed to pick up all Melvin Simon's movies made in 1979 and 1980 in a deal worth an estimated $ 10 million. Excluded from the deal were films made before 1979 -
940:
638:
Fawcett-Majors Gets
Unglamorous for a Film Role: CALENDAR F.F.M.: 'Something Going on Behind the Phenomenon' Taylor, Clarke. Los Angeles Times 5 Feb 1978: M 1.
39:. Simon loaned him the rest of the money; the film was not made, but Saltzman repaid the loan by selling his house and Simon decided to get into filmmaking.
445:
83:
from Simon and a
British company, the Film Finance Group; Ruddy was to make two more movies for this partnership, including a film about the Rough Riders.
202:
which they financed for over $ 3 million and earned $ 30 million. It was sold to AIP and Simon was looking for an arrangement with a
Hollywood major.
724:
Fox Plans To Handle Simon Films: Distribution Pact Covers 1979-80 A Spoof of Zorro By ALJEAN HARMETZ Special to The New York Times. 14 Sep 1979: D 5.
620:
Mel Simon--Film
Financier Extraordinaire: Simon--Film Financier Extraordinaire Mel Simon Warga, Wayne. Los Angeles Times 11 June 1978: Q 1.
862:'Red Ryder,' Deep in the Gut of Texas: 'Red Ryder': At Work in the Gut of Texas Christon, Lawrence. Los Angeles Times 21 May 1978: n48.
831:
453:
281:
which it co financed with a
Canadian company. In April 1982 Simon announced he would make films in partnership with Alan Landsburg
250:
In April 1980 the company announced it would make ten films over the next two years to be distributed by Fox. These would include
138:
was a box office disappointment but Simon made a profit of $ 2 million from pre-selling it. He also made a small profit from
488:
224:
665:
CRITIC AT LARGE: High Noon for
Stanley Kramer Incomplete Source Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times 24 Feb 1978: oc C 1.
712:
SPOTLIGHT: Movie Mogul Melvin Simon: His 'Love at First Bite' Is a Hit By HOLLIS ALPERT. New York Times 6 May 1979: 133.
520:
853:
SPOTLIGHT: MOVIE MOGUL MELVIN SIMON: HIS 'LOVE AT FIRST BITE' IS A HIT By HOLLIS ALPERT. New York Times 6 May 1979: 133
433:
61:
536:
188:
By April 1979 six films of Simon had been released and he had spent an estimated $ 25–30 million. They then financed
119:"All my decisions are made on instinct," said Simon. "They tend to be neither logical or deductive but they work."
742:
Marketing a Movie Is More Than
Selling Jell-o: The Selling of Films By DAN YAKIR. New York Times 6 Jan 1980: D 16.
769:
At the Movies
Harmetz, Aljean. New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast); New York, N.Y. 23 Apr 1982: C 8.
703:
FILM CLIPS: Distribution Game: Picking 'Meatballs' SCHREGER, CHARLES. Los
Angeles Times 18 Apr 1979: F 11.
674:
FILM CLIPS: Peckinpah Still Leading 'Convoy'? FILM CLIPS Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times 15 Mar 1978: f9.
441:- distributed by Columbia - cost $ 5 million but they made a profit of $ 2 million by pre-selling the film
307:
44:
438:
383:
367:
270:
was eventually released by Fox to excellent reviews. However the majority of the films flopped, notably
66:
19:
was a short-lived film production company of the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded by real estate magnate
806:
Baumoel, Lois (April 17, 1978). "Joan Rivers Says Teamwork Helped 'Rabbit Test' Meet Tight Schedule".
808:
512:
544:
468:
398:
406:
318:
789:
873:
839:
694:
FILM CLIPS: Mr. Simon Goes to Hollywood SCHREGER, CHARLES. Los Angeles Times (2 Apr 1979: F 9.
414:
402:(1978) - put up half the film's budget of $ 5 million made a profit of $ 450,000 from presales
760:
HOLLYWOOD SHIVERS IN A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE HARMETZ, ALJEAN. New York Times,20 Dec 1981: A 1.
825:
is for Low Budget and Big Box Office Bucks, So Sam Arkoff is Proud to Be Called Hollywood's
559:
375:
352:
312:
53:
49:
821:
647:
FILM CLIPS: Round 1 for a Boxing Kangaroo Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times 8 Oct 1977: B 6.
629:
FILM CLIPS: 'Husband' Upcoming for Farrah Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times 20 Aug 1977: C 8
835:
579:
76:
94:. In November 1977 Milton Goldstein left Avco Embassy to become chief operating officer.
31:
Simon got into filmmaking in 1976 when he was having a social game of golf with producer
656:
FILM CLIPS: 'Discovering' Vivien Leigh Kilday, Greg. Los Angeles Times 7 Nov 1977: E 10.
733:
WHERE'S THE SCRATCH FROM 'BITE'? SCHREGER, CHARLES. Los Angeles Times 24 Aug 1980: R 1.
480:
473:
98:
32:
778:
Mel Simon, Pacers co-owner, dies at 82 Davies, Tom. Journal - Gazette17 Sep 2009: B 5.
751:'NEW' COMPANY TO BACK 10 MOVIES SCHREGER, CHARLES. Los Angeles Times 30 Apr 1980: G 6.
934:
496:
323:
574:
504:
419:
91:
20:
339:
334:
327:
457:(1979) - cost $ 1.5 million, gross $ 20 million - distributed by Columbia
410:(1979) - starring George Hamilton - cost $ 3 million, earned $ 44 million
592:
528:
260:
185:. The company struggled to find distribution for several of these.
122:
By this stage three films Simon was associated with had come out.
235:
Mel Simon films started flopping regularly at the box office:
871:"It's a Scream for Three Unknowns: UNKNOWNS". Thomas, Kevin.
73:, which he funded in mid 1977. The budget was $ 5 million.
142:
due to pre-selling it, although it flopped when released.
902:
Tom Buckley; "George Segal sheds light on light comedy".
920:"We're Talking Gross, Tacky and Dumb". Brown, Peter H.
492:(1980) - budget $ 4 million sold to Fox for $ 2 million
274:
and the company started to wind back its operations.
35:
who needed money for a film he wanted to make called
887:
Movies: Stanley Kramer--Guess Who's Come to Seattle?
198:performed poorly. The company's first big hit was
126:was a flop. However Simon had a part interest in
516:(1981) - cost $ 12.6 million, gross $ 5 million
941:Film production companies of the United States
790:"Ten Billionaires Who Were Stung by Hollywood"
532:(1981) - cost $ 4 million, gross $ 130 million
548:(1985) - cost $ 8 million, gross $ 20 million
540:(1983) - cost $ 7 million, gross $ 55 million
59:The company's first major motion picture was
8:
524:(1981) - cost $ 7 million, gross $ 220,000
97:In February 1978 Simon signed a deal with
916:
914:
912:
616:
614:
612:
610:
606:
720:
718:
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
680:
79:secured finance for the $ 4.5 million
7:
243:. However they had a huge hit with
222:. Films that were covered included
14:
563:(1980) - directed by Burt Kennedy
788:Vagg, Stephen (March 10, 2020).
446:When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?
277:The company had a huge hit with
462:Distributed by 20th Century Fox
107:When You Coming Back Red Ryder?
105:. He invested $ 1.6 million in
86:Melvin Simon's major movie was
52:and gave an early lead role to
144:When You Coming Back Red Ryder
1:
596:(filmed 1981, released 1985)
521:Chu Chu and the Philly Flash
877:, October 26, 1979: p. G23.
500:(1980) - cost $ 3.5 million
484:(1979) - budget $ 7 million
449:(1979) - cost $ 1.7 million
434:Somebody Killed Her Husband
301:Distributed by Avco Embassy
149:The next run of films were
136:Somebody Killed Her Husband
69:' first film since leaving
62:Somebody Killed Her Husband
957:
893:. November 18, 1979: L 33.
489:The Man with Bogart's Face
346:Distributed by Warner Bros
225:The Man with Bogart's Face
844:. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
508:(1980) - cost $ 3 million
356:(1979) - cost $ 3 million
48:which was distributed by
586:Distributed by Universal
537:Porky's II: The Next Day
177:and two Canadian films,
17:Melvin Simon Productions
906:. August 15, 1980: C 6.
427:Distributed by Columbia
322:(1978) - star debut of
311:(1977) - star debut of
42:Simon totally financed
924:. January 20, 1985: 6.
827:King of the B Pictures
568:Distributed by Blossom
308:The Chicken Chronicles
146:was a disappointment.
134:which were lucrative.
124:The Chicken Chronicles
45:The Chicken Chronicles
472:(1979) - directed by
454:When a Stranger Calls
439:Farrah Fawcett Majors
418:(1979) - directed by
245:When a Stranger Calls
67:Farrah Fawcett Majors
513:Zorro, The Gay Blade
476:- cost $ 2.5 million
422:- budget $ 2 million
330:- budget $ 1 million
469:The Runner Stumbles
272:Zorro the Gay Blade
252:Zorro the Gay Blade
237:The Runner Stumbles
230:Zorro the Gay Blade
212:The Runner Stumbles
171:The Runner Stumbles
103:The Runner Stumbles
904:The New York Times
834:2014-05-23 at the
578:(1980) - starring
437:(1978) - starring
407:Love at First Bite
392:Distributed by AIP
338:(1978) - starring
200:Love at First Bite
159:Love at First Bite
922:Los Angeles Times
891:Los Angeles Times
874:Los Angeles Times
113:Los Angeles Times
111:In June 1978 the
948:
925:
918:
907:
900:
894:
889:. Warga, Wayne.
884:
878:
869:
863:
860:
854:
851:
845:
819:
813:
804:
798:
797:
785:
779:
776:
770:
767:
761:
758:
752:
749:
743:
740:
734:
731:
725:
722:
713:
710:
704:
701:
695:
692:
675:
672:
666:
663:
657:
654:
648:
645:
639:
636:
630:
627:
621:
618:
545:Porky's Revenge!
376:The Third Walker
368:Blood & Guts
313:Steve Guttenberg
206:20th Century Fox
183:The Third Walker
71:Charlie's Angels
54:Steve Guttenberg
956:
955:
951:
950:
949:
947:
946:
945:
931:
930:
929:
928:
919:
910:
901:
897:
885:
881:
870:
866:
861:
857:
852:
848:
836:Wayback Machine
820:
816:
805:
801:
787:
786:
782:
777:
773:
768:
764:
759:
755:
750:
746:
741:
737:
732:
728:
723:
716:
711:
707:
702:
698:
693:
678:
673:
669:
664:
660:
655:
651:
646:
642:
637:
633:
628:
624:
619:
608:
603:
588:
580:David Carradine
570:
555:
464:
429:
394:
363:
348:
303:
298:
208:
77:Albert S. Ruddy
29:
12:
11:
5:
954:
952:
944:
943:
933:
932:
927:
926:
908:
895:
879:
864:
855:
846:
814:
799:
780:
771:
762:
753:
744:
735:
726:
714:
705:
696:
676:
667:
658:
649:
640:
631:
622:
605:
604:
602:
599:
598:
597:
587:
584:
583:
582:
569:
566:
565:
564:
554:
551:
550:
549:
541:
533:
525:
517:
509:
501:
493:
485:
481:Scavenger Hunt
477:
474:Stanley Kramer
463:
460:
459:
458:
450:
442:
428:
425:
424:
423:
411:
403:
393:
390:
389:
388:
380:
372:
362:
361:Canadian Films
359:
358:
357:
347:
344:
343:
342:
331:
326:, directed by
315:
302:
299:
297:
294:
207:
204:
179:Blood and Guts
99:Stanley Kramer
37:The Micronauts
33:Harry Saltzman
28:
25:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
953:
942:
939:
938:
936:
923:
917:
915:
913:
909:
905:
899:
896:
892:
888:
883:
880:
876:
875:
868:
865:
859:
856:
850:
847:
843:
841:
837:
833:
830:
828:
824:
818:
815:
811:
810:
803:
800:
795:
791:
784:
781:
775:
772:
766:
763:
757:
754:
748:
745:
739:
736:
730:
727:
721:
719:
715:
709:
706:
700:
697:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
677:
671:
668:
662:
659:
653:
650:
644:
641:
635:
632:
626:
623:
617:
615:
613:
611:
607:
600:
595:
594:
590:
589:
585:
581:
577:
576:
572:
571:
567:
562:
561:
557:
556:
553:No Theatrical
552:
547:
546:
542:
539:
538:
534:
531:
530:
526:
523:
522:
518:
515:
514:
510:
507:
506:
502:
499:
498:
497:The Stunt Man
494:
491:
490:
486:
483:
482:
478:
475:
471:
470:
466:
465:
461:
456:
455:
451:
448:
447:
443:
440:
436:
435:
431:
430:
426:
421:
417:
416:
412:
409:
408:
404:
401:
400:
396:
395:
391:
386:
385:
381:
378:
377:
373:
370:
369:
365:
364:
360:
355:
354:
350:
349:
345:
341:
337:
336:
332:
329:
325:
324:Billy Crystal
321:
320:
316:
314:
310:
309:
305:
304:
300:
295:
293:
290:
286:
282:
280:
275:
273:
269:
268:The Stunt Man
265:
263:
262:
258:which became
257:
253:
248:
246:
242:
238:
233:
231:
227:
226:
221:
220:The Stunt Man
217:
213:
205:
203:
201:
197:
193:
191:
186:
184:
180:
176:
175:The Stunt Man
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
147:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
120:
117:
114:
109:
108:
104:
100:
95:
93:
90:for director
89:
88:The Stunt Man
84:
82:
78:
74:
72:
68:
64:
63:
57:
55:
51:
47:
46:
40:
38:
34:
26:
24:
22:
18:
921:
903:
898:
890:
886:
882:
872:
867:
858:
849:
838:
826:
822:
817:
807:
802:
793:
783:
774:
765:
756:
747:
738:
729:
708:
699:
670:
661:
652:
643:
634:
625:
591:
575:Cloud Dancer
573:
558:
543:
535:
527:
519:
511:
505:My Bodyguard
503:
495:
487:
479:
467:
452:
444:
432:
420:Andy Sidaris
413:
405:
397:
382:
374:
366:
351:
333:
317:
306:
288:
287:
283:
278:
276:
271:
267:
266:
259:
255:
251:
249:
244:
241:Cloud Dancer
240:
236:
234:
229:
223:
219:
216:Cloud Dancer
215:
211:
209:
199:
195:
194:
190:My Bodyguard
189:
187:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:Cloud Dancer
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
148:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
121:
118:
112:
110:
106:
102:
96:
92:Richard Rush
87:
85:
80:
75:
70:
60:
58:
50:AVCO Embassy
43:
41:
36:
30:
21:Melvin Simon
16:
15:
340:Tony Curtis
335:The Manitou
328:Joan Rivers
319:Rabbit Test
128:Rabbit Test
601:References
809:BoxOffice
560:Wolf Lake
384:Dominique
163:Wolf Lake
151:Dominique
935:Category
842:Magazine
832:Archived
101:to make
794:Filmink
529:Porky's
399:Matilda
289:Filmink
279:Porky's
140:Matilda
132:Manitou
81:Matilda
27:History
840:People
812:. SE8.
593:UFOria
387:(1978)
379:(1978)
371:(1978)
261:UFOria
256:Escape
415:Seven
296:Films
353:Tilt
254:and
218:and
196:Tilt
181:and
155:Tilt
130:and
232:,
937::
911:^
792:.
717:^
679:^
609:^
264:.
247:.
239:,
228:,
214:,
192:.
173:,
169:,
165:,
161:,
157:,
153:,
65:,
56:.
23:.
829:.
823:B
796:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.