Joseph Edward Levine (September 9, 1905 – July 31, 1987) was an
American film producer. At the time of his death it was said he was
involved in 497 movies as a producer, distributor or financier. These
included Two Women, Contempt, The 10th Victim, Marriage Italian Style,
The Lion in Winter, The Producers, The Graduate, The Night Porter, A
Bridge Too Far and Carnal Knowledge; he was also responsible for the
US releases of
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! and Hercules, which
helped revolutionize film marketing.[1]
Contents
1 Biography
1.1 Birth and early life
1.2 Marriage and early career
1.3 World War II and double bills
1.4 Known producing career
1.4.1
Embassy Pictures

Embassy Pictures is born
1.4.2 The promotion of Sophia Loren
1.5 Known trademarks
1.6 Known honors
2 Later career
2.1 Death
2.2 Appraisal
3 Filmography
3.1 Producer credits
3.2 Executive producer credits
4 Quotes
5 Popular culture
6 References
Biography[edit]
Birth and early life[edit]
Levine was born in a slum in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 9,
1905. The youngest of six children of a Russian-Jewish[2] immigrant
tailor, Joe did whatever work he could to help support his mother, a
widow who had remarried only to have her second husband abandon her.
This led Joe (in his later years) to tell an interviewer that he had
known (in his words) "not one happy day" growing up. At 14 years of
age he was hired for full-time work in a dress factory and left
school, never to re-enroll.
In the 1920s in partnership with two of his older brothers, Joe opened
a basement dress shop, whose stock the Levine brothers obtained on
consignment. Nan Robertson's obituary of him for the New York Times
notes that he "briefly drove an ambulance, manufactured little statues
of Daddy Grace, a black evangelist, and operated the Cafe Wonderbar in
Boston's Back Bay" during this period and during the early and middle
1930s.
Marriage and early career[edit]
In 1937, Levine encountered Rosalie Harrison, then a singer with Rudy
Vallee's band, and left the restaurant business for her; within a week
of their engagement, at Harrison's insistence, Levine sold the Cafe
Wonderbar. They married the following year and moved to New Haven,
Connecticut, where Joe bought, and commenced to run, a movie house.
Eventually, he became a successful, if small-time, distributor and
exhibitor throughout New England, buying "decrepit" Westerns at low
rates for his movie houses.
One of Levine's most unusual successes was Body Beautiful, a
sex-hygiene film which he saw drawing a line of prospective
ticket-buyers who were braving a snowstorm to that end. He later
remembered buying it to show in his theaters because "it made me
sick."
World War II and double bills[edit]
The Second World War led Levine to run an almost jingoistic promotion
of the film Ravaged Earth, which had been shot in China. Renting the
Shubert Theater in his native Boston, he spent large sums of his own
money on advertisements for the film that he wrote himself; these
reflected the anti-Japanese sentiments of the times and used language
that would later be considered offensive. Robertson's obituary quotes
one of the slogans as reading: "Jap Rats Stop at Nothing - See This.
It Will Make You Fighting Mad."
Levine discovered that double features with the same cast members or
similar titles brought in higher box-office revenues; this led him to
present two movies together because they had similar titles. When, in
1956, he bought the Australian film Walk Into Paradise, its low
box-office revenues led him to change the title to Walk Into Hell,
which gave it box-office success.[3]
Known producing career[edit]
Embassy Pictures

Embassy Pictures is born[edit]
In 1956, the year he brought
Walk Into Paradise

Walk Into Paradise to the United States
under the title Walk Into Hell, Levine founded Embassy Pictures
Corporation, an independent studio and distributor which became
responsible for such films as Godzilla, King Of The Monsters! in 1956,
Attila and Hercules, both in 1958, The Carpetbaggers, Harlow, The
Graduate, A Bridge Too Far and The Lion in Winter.
The promotion of Sophia Loren[edit]
Levine's
Embassy Pictures

Embassy Pictures began dealing in art films, often European
ones, in the 1960s. During that decade, he reached the peak of his
career and his prestige, which he was able to sustain into the 1970s.
In 1961, Levine bought North American distribution rights for Two
Women after seeing no more than three minutes of its "rushes." He was
not credited as the "executive producer" of Two Women, which was based
on a novella written by Alberto Moravia, had been directed by Vittorio
de Sica, and starred
Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren and Eleanora Brown, who acted out
the respective roles of a mother and her young daughter whom World War
II had displaced from their home. One segment of it showed Moroccan
soldiers raping the mother and the daughter.
Levine's promotional campaign focused on one still photograph, which
showed Loren, as the mother, wearing a torn dress, kneeling in the
dirt, and weeping with rage and grief. Predicting that she would win
the Academy Award for her performance, Levine brought Loren to the
United States for interviews, bought space for, and placed, large
advertisements in newspapers, and saw to it that
Two Women

Two Women appeared in
the cities of residence of Academy Award jury members.
Levine's efforts paid off when Loren became the first cast member of a
foreign-language film to win the Academy Award for best actress. It
came to be said of him that he "nursed"
Two Women

Two Women towards its ultimate
popularity and success.
Known trademarks[edit]
Levine became famous in the industry for his massive advertising
campaigns, starting with Hercules in 1959. He is also responsible for
having brought the Japanese movie Gojira to the American general
public under the title Godzilla, King Of The Monsters! in 1956. Levine
had hired Terry Turner, who had been a former RKO Pictures
exploitation expert of the late 1920s and 1930s, where he had
exploited King Kong amongst other films.[4] Levine's and Turner's
exploitation campaigns were designed to appeal both to the general
public and to the film industry and exhibitors.[4]
Known honors[edit]
In 1964, Levine received the
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award

Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in
recognition of his lifetime achievement in motion pictures.
Later career[edit]
Levine sold Embassy to Avco for $40 million. He later called this a
"horrible mistake which made me rich".[5]
Death[edit]
Levine died on July 31, 1987, in Greenwich, Connecticut, at the age of
81. His known survivors, in addition to his widow Rosalie, included
his son Richard Levine, who then lived in Greenwich, his daughter
Tricia Levine, and two grandchildren, whose names the writer of his
August 1 obituary in The New York Times, Nan Robertson, did not
provide.
Appraisal[edit]
"I have a knack for betting on unknown directors and actors and
getting my money's worth," said Levine.[1]
Levine said his favorite of his movies was The Lion in Winter
(1968).[1]
Filmography[edit]
NOTE: Films are listed in reverse chronological order.
Producer credits[edit]
Tattoo (1981)
Magic (1978)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
They Call Me Trinity (1970)
The Spy with a Cold Nose

The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966)
Harlow (1965)
Where Love Has Gone (1964)
Only One New York (documentary) (1964)
The Carpetbaggers (1964)
Contempt (1963)
The Empty Canvas

The Empty Canvas (1963)
Le Meraviglie di Aladino (1961)
Morgan, the Pirate (1961)
Gaslight Follies (documentary) (1945)
Executive producer credits[edit]
The Day of the Dolphin

The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
Thumb Tripping (1972)
Rivals (1972)
Trinity Is Still My Name

Trinity Is Still My Name (1971)
Carnal Knowledge

Carnal Knowledge (1971)
C.C. and Company

C.C. and Company (1970)
Macho Callahan (1970)
Soldier Blue

Soldier Blue (1970)
The Adventurers (1970)
Sunflower (1970)
Don't Drink the Water (1969)
Mad Monster Party? (1969)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
The Producers (uncredited) (1968)
The Graduate (1967)
Robbery (1967)
The Tiger and the Pussycat

The Tiger and the Pussycat (1967)
Woman Times Seven

Woman Times Seven (1967)
The Caper of the Golden Bulls

The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967)
The Idol (1966)
A Man Called Adam (1966)
The Daydreamer (1966)
The Oscar (1966)
Where the Bullets Fly

Where the Bullets Fly (1966)
Sands of the Kalahari

Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
Darling (uncredited) (1965)
The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World

The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World (1965)
Levine renamed this film Licensed to Kill for its American release and
added a title song performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.
Listed as "Presenter":
Morgan the Pirate (1960)
Thief of Baghdad (1961)
Marriage Italian-Style

Marriage Italian-Style (uncredited) (1964)
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
This film marked the screen debut of
Pia Zadora

Pia Zadora as one of the
children.
Zulu (1964)
The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah
.jpg)
The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah (1962)
Constantine and the Cross

Constantine and the Cross (1962)
Boys' Night Out (1962)
Long Day's Journey into Night (1962)
Two Women

Two Women (uncredited) (1960)
Jack the Ripper (1959 film) (1959)
Levine provided a new soundtrack, with music composed by Pete Rugolo,
and added color to a sequence of blood in the black and white film.
Tempi duri per i vampiri (1959)
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
Walk Into Paradise

Walk Into Paradise (1956)
Levine retitled this film Walk into Hell for its American release.[6]
Quotes[edit]
"You can fool all of the people if the advertising is right."[6]
Popular culture[edit]
In an issue of the
Fantastic Four
_cover_art.jpg)
Fantastic Four (#48), The Thing mentions, upon
seeing the sky aflame, that it could be just Joseph E. Levine
advertising one of his movies.[7]
References[edit]
^ a b c Independent movie producer Joseph E. Levine, 81, dies. (1987,
Aug 01). The Washington Post (1974-Current File). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/139100041
^ Film Society of Lincoln Center. "Flaunting It: The Rise and Fall of
Hollywood's "Nice" Jewish (Bad) Boys Filmlinc.com Film Society of
Lincoln Center". Filmlinc.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
^ Scheuer, P. K. (1959, Jul 27). Meet Joe Levine, super(sales)man! Los
Angeles Times (1923-Current File). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/167430798
^ a b "Joseph E. Levine : Showmanship, Reputation and Industrial
Practice 1945-1977" (PDF). Etheses.nottingham.ac.uk. Archived from the
original (PDF) on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
^ Rosenthal, Donna (5 July 1987). "SELF-MADE MOGUL HANGS ON: Joseph E.
Levine, 82, Is Still Wheeling and Dealing". Los Angeles Times.
p. K23.
^ a b Robertson, Nan (August 1, 1987). "Joseph E.Levine, A Towering
Figure In Movie Making, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved
2014-06-25.
^ Fantastic Four. Volume 1, Issue 48.
8. McKenna, A.T. Showman of the Screen:
Joseph E. Levine
.jpg/440px-Joseph_Levine_and_Cathy_Ryan_(1975).jpg)
Joseph E. Levine and His
Revolutions in Film Production. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press
of Kentucky, 2016.
v
t
e
Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille Award
Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille (1952)
Walt Disney

Walt Disney (1953)
Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl F. Zanuck (1954)
Jean Hersholt

Jean Hersholt (1955)
Jack L. Warner

Jack L. Warner (1956)
Mervyn LeRoy

Mervyn LeRoy (1957)
Buddy Adler (1958)
Maurice Chevalier

Maurice Chevalier (1959)
Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby (1960)
Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire (1961)
Judy Garland

Judy Garland (1962)
Bob Hope

Bob Hope (1963)
Joseph E. Levine
.jpg/440px-Joseph_Levine_and_Cathy_Ryan_(1975).jpg)
Joseph E. Levine (1964)
James Stewart
_01.jpg/440px-Annex_-_Stewart,_James_(Call_Northside_777)_01.jpg)
James Stewart (1965)
John Wayne

John Wayne (1966)
Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston (1967)
Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas (1968)
Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck (1969)
Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford (1970)
Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra (1971)
Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock (1972)
Samuel Goldwyn

Samuel Goldwyn (1973)
Bette Davis

Bette Davis (1974)
Hal B. Wallis

Hal B. Wallis (1975)
Walter Mirisch (1977)
Red Skelton

Red Skelton (1978)
Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball (1979)
Henry Fonda
.JPG/440px-Henry_Fonda_as_Mr._Roberts_1948_(cropped).JPG)
Henry Fonda (1980)
Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly (1981)
Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier (1982)
Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier (1983)
Paul Newman

Paul Newman (1984)
Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor (1985)
Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck (1986)
Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn (1987)
Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood (1988)
Doris Day

Doris Day (1989)
Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn (1990)
Jack Lemmon

Jack Lemmon (1991)
Robert Mitchum
.jpg/440px-Robert_Mitchum_1949_(no_signature).jpg)
Robert Mitchum (1992)
Lauren Bacall
.jpg)
Lauren Bacall (1993)
Robert Redford
.jpg/440px-Robert_Redford_(cropped).jpg)
Robert Redford (1994)
Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren (1995)
Sean Connery

Sean Connery (1996)
Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman (1997)
Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine (1998)
Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson (1999)
Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand (2000)
Al Pacino

Al Pacino (2001)
Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford (2002)
Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman (2003)
Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas (2004)
Robin Williams
_(cropped).jpg/440px-Robin_Williams_(6451536411)_(cropped).jpg)
Robin Williams (2005)
Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins (2006)
Warren Beatty

Warren Beatty (2007)
Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg (2009)
Martin Scorsese
.jpg/440px-Martin_Scorsese_Berlinale_2010_(cropped).jpg)
Martin Scorsese (2010)
Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro (2011)
Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman (2012)
Jodie Foster
.jpg)
Jodie Foster (2013)
Woody Allen

Woody Allen (2014)
George Clooney

George Clooney (2015)
Denzel Washington
.jpg/440px-The_Equalizer_07_(15127104638).jpg)
Denzel Washington (2016)
Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep (2017)
Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey (2018)
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 19893046
LCCN: n85199111
ISNI: 0000 0000 8099 2177
BNF: cb14270635t (data)
BNE: XX1265467
SN