Sam Spiegel | |
|---|---|
 Spiegel in 1963 | |
| Born | Samuel P. Spiegel November 11, 1901 |
| Died | December 31, 1985(1985-12-31) (aged 84) |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna |
| Occupation | Film producer |
| Years active | 1927–1983 |
| Notable work | On the Waterfront,The Bridge on the River Kwai,Lawrence of Arabia |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel Agranovich (m. 1920; div. 1926) Lynn Baggett (m. 1948; div. 1953) Betty Benson Spiegel (m. 1958–1985, his death) |
| Children | 2[1] |
| Awards | Irving Thalberg Memorial Award |
Samuel P. Spiegel (November 11, 1901 – December 31, 1985) was an American independentfilm producer. Financially responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed motion pictures of the 20th century, Spiegel produced films that won theAcademy Award for Best Picture three times, a Hollywood first for a sole independent producer.[2]
Spiegel was born to a German-speaking Jewish family[3] inJarosław,Galicia,Austria-Hungary (later modernPoland). His parents were Regina and Simon Spiegel, a tobacco wholesaler.[4] He received his education at theUniversity of Vienna. He had an older brother,Shalom Spiegel (1899-c. 1984), who was a professor of medieval Hebrew poetry.
Spiegel worked briefly inHollywood in 1927 following a stint serving withHashomer Hatzair inMandatory Palestine. He then went toBerlin to produceGerman andFrench adaptations ofUniversal films. In 1933 he fledGermany following the election of theNazi party and increasedantisemitism. As an independent producer, Spiegel helped produce a number of European films.
In 1938, he emigrated toMexico and subsequently the United States.
Between 1935 and 1954, Spiegel billed himself as S. P. Eagle; after that he used his real name. His nickname was the "velvet octopus" after his propensity to entwine himself with women in the back of taxis and manage Hollywood with a velvet touch according toBilly Wilder. He loved London and admired the British, as is reflected in his filmsThe Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) andLawrence of Arabia (1962), both of which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. Starting with the 1951 filmThe African Queen, he produced films through his British-based production companyHorizon Pictures.
In a review inVariety of Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's biography of Spiegel, Wendy Smith notes: "It's all here: the sleazy financial maneuvers and creepy taste for underage girls that make Spiegel a decidedly flawed protagonist, as well as the wit, sophistication, and Old World charm that make him a titanic figure the likes of which the movie industry will not see again."[5]
Spiegel won theAcademy Award for Best Picture forElia Kazan'sOn the Waterfront as well as forThe Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) andLawrence of Arabia (1962), both directed by BritonDavid Lean. In 1963, he was awarded theIrving Thalberg Memorial Award at that year'sAcademy Awards for his many contributions to cinema.
American actressTheresa Russell alleged that she was sexually propositioned by Spiegel during her first casting session for his 1976 filmThe Last Tycoon.[6] In another interview, Russell recalled: "I was 16 years old and still living at home, and he took me to the Bistro and tried to stick his tongue down my throat."[7] After she refused to sign a contract with Spiegel, Russell "was completely left out of the publicity forThe Last Tycoon, and Spiegel threatened that he would prevent Russell from working again in Hollywood.[7][8] He also sexually harassed actressToni Kalem when she worked as his secretary in 1975.[9]
Spiegel was married three times: to Rachel Agronovich from 1922 to 1926, with whom he had one daughter; to the actress Lynn Baggett, from 1948 to 1953, and to Betty Benson (1930-2013), from 1957 until his death.[10] He also had a son by Ann Pennington.[10]
Spiegel maintained a connection withIsrael throughout his life, particularly with such personalities asGolda Meir,Ariel Sharon, Jerusalem Foundation president Ruth Cheshin (wife ofMishael Cheshin), and his close friend, thenJerusalem MayorTeddy Kollek. Spiegel also contributed to variousZionist causes. He spoke eight languages fluently: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Hebrew and Yiddish.[11][12]
Spiegel's heirs and the administrators of his estate, son Adam Spiegel, daughter Alisa Freedman, niece Judge Raya Dreben, and Adv. David Bottoms, decided to transfer Spiegel's impressive art collection to theIsrael Museum in Jerusalem. Since 1996, they have made an annual contribution, through theJerusalem Foundation, to the film school in Jerusalem bearing his name since that time –the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Jerusalem. This annual contribution is the largest in the history of Israeli cinema.[citation needed]
In 2005, the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, the Jerusalem Municipality complied with a request from the school's founder-directorRenen Schorr to mark the occasion by declaring the lane in the Talpiot industrial section where the school is located "The Sam Spiegel Alley." The street sign's inscription: "Sam Spiegel – Jewish-American Film Producer and Oscar-winner. Pioneer. Lover of Zion."
