| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 1953; 72 years ago (1953) |
| Founder |
|
| Defunct | 1987; 38 years ago (1987) |
| Fate | Sold toManagement Company Entertainment Group |
| Successor | Management Company Entertainment Group |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles,California,United States |
Key people | Michael Goldman |
Manson International was an independent American filmproduction company anddistributor. The name was derived from the founders' surnames. Initially a distributor of foreign films, it became one of the pioneer film sales agencies in the country.[1][2]
Manson was founded in 1953 by formerColumbia Pictures executive Edmund Goldman and Sam Nathanson asManson Distributing Corporation. It initially focused on distributing foreign films in the United States. Among its films distributed wasGodzilla. By the time it was incorporated in 1962, it began distributing primarily sex trip movies, where its features were marked as either "hard" or "soft". In 1975, Edmund's son Michael took over the company and shifted it into marketing and international licensing of independent films.
By the early 80s, Manson becameManson International and ventured into film production withRadioactive Dreams, as well as international TV distribution and arthouse pictures.[3][4][2][5][6] At its peak, Manson International held the distribution rights to the libraries of Intercontinental Releasing Corporation.
In 1987, Manson was sold toManagement Company Entertainment Group, a production company owned byJonathan D. Krane.[7] As a result, Intercontinental Releasing switched distribution to United Film Distribution Company. In 1995, MCEG andOrion Pictures merged to formMetromedia International Group. In 1997,Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired Metromedia. MGM currently owns the Manson library, with certain exceptions.[8][1] The aforementioned Intercontinental Releasing titles were acquired separately in November 16, 1994 by MCEG.[9][10]