Sidney Glazier
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Sidney Glazier (May 29, 1916 – December 14, 2002) was an American film producer best known for his work on the
Mel Brooks Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. He began ...
film '' The Producers''.


Early life

Glazier was born in
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on May 29, 1916, the second of three sons born to
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n-
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émigré parents Jake Glazier and Sophie Schekid from
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. His elder brother,
Tom Glazer Thomas Zachariah Glazer (September 2, 1914 – February 21, 2003) was an American folk singer and songwriter known primarily as a composer of ballads, including: "Because All Men Are Brothers", recorded by The Weavers and Peter, Paul and M ...
, became a composer, guitarist, and folk singer. His father, a carpenter, died during the 1918 flu epidemic, and when his mother remarried, her new husband, Solomon Levick did not want her children in the house. As a result, the three boys were placed in the Hebrew Orphan Home in Philadelphia when Glazier was 5. Glazier later reported that "'' r reasoning and the pain it brought us remains incomprehensible, unfathomable."'' Glazier ran away from the orphanage after being sexually abused by a volunteer, but returned as he could find nowhere else to go. He later sought
psychoanalysis PsychoanalysisFrom Greek: + . is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques"What is psychoanalysis? Of course, one is supposed to answer that it is many things — a theory, a research method, a therapy, a body of knowledge. In what might b ...
to help him deal with these childhood experiences. Glazier left the home at the age of 15, working as an usher at the Bijou burlesque theater that showed films between acts. He recalled ''"I instantly realized that films would always be the loveliest and best escape from the troubled life I inherited"''. He also worked as a part-time pimp for a local madam. Glazier was managing the Mayfair Theater in
Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater D ...
, when shortly before the United States entered the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, he enlisted in the Army. The newly married Glazier served in Australia and
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as a second lieutenant, commanding 100 black troops as a support unit of the
380th Bombardment Group 38 may refer to: *38 (number), the natural number following 37 and preceding 39 *one of the years 38 BC, AD 38, 1938 Events January * January 1 ** The new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending ...
.


New York and film production

After his discharge and divorce, Glazier moved to
Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
, where he was appointed the night manager of the Apollo Bar and worked with jazz artists such as Duke Ellington and
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...
. He found a day job under the GI Bill as an apprentice jeweller, but left the position seeking to become a bonds salesman for the new state of
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
. His success in fund-raising led him to be appointed as the executive director of the Eleanor Roosevelt Cancer Foundation. He greatly admired
Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...
as a person and activist and the two later became friends. When she died in 1962, he initiated the production of the documentary on her life. The film, ''
The Eleanor Roosevelt Story ''The Eleanor Roosevelt Story'' is a 1965 American biographical documentary film directed by Richard Kaplan. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1965. The Academy Film Archive preserved ''The Eleanor Roosevelt Story'' in 200 ...
'', which Glazier produced, was groundbreaking in style and won the 1965
Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosoph ...
. In 1964, he married Yungmei Tang who had worked as a production assistant on the film. The couple had a daughter, Karen, in 1965.


The Producers

TV writer and fledgling film writer and director Mel Brooks pitched his project ''Springtime for Hitler'' to Glazier. Brooks had previously made numerous unsuccessful attempts to interest movie producers. Over lunch in Glazier's office, Brooks acted out all the parts and began singing
Springtime for Hitler ''Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp With Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden'' is a fictional musical in Mel Brooks' 1967 film '' The Producers'', as well as the stage musical adaptation of the movie, and the 2005 movie adaptation of the musical. It ...
. Glazier reported that he had never laughed so hard in his life. ''"He spit out his coffee and tuna sandwich and couldn't stop laughing,"'' recalled Brooks. ''"He said 'I vow to get this movie made. The world must see this picture.'"'' Glazier struggled at first to interest movie studios in the show business satire, but with perseverance
Joseph E. Levine Joseph Edward Levine (September 9, 1905 – July 31, 1987) was an American film distributor, financier and producer. At the time of his death, it was said he was involved in one or another capacity with 497 films. Levine was responsible for the ...
at
Avco Embassy Embassy Pictures Corporation (also and later known as Avco Embassy Pictures as well as Embassy Films Associates) was an American independent film production and distribution studio responsible for such films as ''The Graduate'', '' The Produc ...
accepted the project and agreed to let Brooks direct the movie. Filming was not without its challenges. Brooks was an anxious, perfectionist and difficult novice director, who had problems communicating with the actors. Zero Mostel was also often angry and demanding, and Glazier had to mediate between the director, Mostel and others. Despite frequent requests from Brooks for extra money and resources, Glazier succeeded in bringing the film in under budget. Brooks remembered Glazier as a producer was "very bright, warm and a bit of a bon vivant. Sidney was the first one to say, "The dailies look good, let's have a party." He'd have a party about anything – have a few drinks, canapés and pretty girls. He was right out of a black-and-white Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie." The film, renamed '' The Producers'' at the insistence of Levine, had a mixed reception. Many critics gave it poor reviews, but the actor and comedian
Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...
was so enthralled that he took out ads in various trade papers praising the film as ''"the essence of all great comedy combined in a single motion picture."'' The film was to become a cult classic, and in 1996 was entered into the
National Film Registry The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation, each selected for its historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions since the NFPB’s inception ...
as a ''"culturally, historically and aesthetically significant film."'' In his 2001
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
acceptance speech for the Broadway adaptation of the film, Brooks credited Glazier as the ''"man who made it happen."'' He recalled ''"None of it – all of this wonderful, magical stuff – would be, if it wasn't for the faith and courage of this terrific guy."''


Later career

Glazier formed a distribution company, Universal Marion Corporation Pictures, and acted as executive producer on films, such as
Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...
's ''
Take the Money and Run ''Take the Money and Run'' is a 1969 American mockumentary comedy film directed by Woody Allen. Allen co-wrote the screenplay with Mickey Rose and stars alongside Janet Margolin. The film chronicles the life of Virgil Starkwell, an inept bank ro ...
'' (1969),
Waris Hussein Waris Hussein (''né'' Habibullah; born 9 December 1938) is a British-Indian television and film director. At the beginning of his career he was employed by the BBC as its youngest drama director. He directed early episodes of ''Doctor Who'', inc ...
's ''
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx ''Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx'' is a 1970 Irish-American comedy film directed by Waris Hussein and written by Gabriel Walsh. It stars Gene Wilder as the title character, a poor Irish manure collector who falls in love with an Ameri ...
'' (1970), Mel Brooks's '' Twelve Chairs'' (1970), and ''
Glen and Randa ''Glen and Randa'' is a 1971 American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film directed by Jim McBride. It was co-written by McBride, Lorenzo Mans and Rudy Wurlitzer. McBride made the film for $480,000 with an obscure cast including Steven ...
'' (1971). The company managed the US distribution of
Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians, and directors to be one of the greatest and ...
's ''
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'' (1969) and the Dario Argento film ''
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage ''The Bird with the Crystal Plumage'' () is a 1970 giallo film directed by Dario Argento, in his directorial debut. The film has been credited with popularizing giallo, an Italian genre of thriller developed in the 1960s. It is the first in what ...
'' (1970). In 1973 Glazier produced the television drama ''Catholics'' (1973). The production, adapted from a Brian Moore novel about the
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after
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, won a Peabody Award. Brooks asked Glazier to go to Hollywood to work on further films, but with his marriage breaking up he demurred, preferring to remain in New York to be close to his daughter. He continued a savvy business career—for example he invested in the doctor who discovered
Viagra Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in women. It is taken by ...
—and maintained generous friendships with many, in which he disliked being the center of attention. Glazier died at the age of 86 of natural causes at a nursing home in
Bennington, Vermont Bennington is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. It is one of two shire towns (county seats) of the county, the other being Manchester. As of the 2020 US Census, the population was 15,333. Bennington is the most populous t ...
. "Most movie executives and producers," said Brooks, "are usually boring and dull, and not well-read. They don't care about art or painting, they just care about profits. But Sidney was always an artist. You could talk about anything with him - great literature, life and love." The writer and critic
Michael Coveney Michael Coveney (born 24 July 1948) is a British theatre critic. Education and career Coveney was born in London and educated at St Ignatius’ College, Stamford Hill, and Worcester College, Oxford. After graduation, he worked as a script re ...
knew Glazier as “demanding .. irascible, impatient but full of charm", someone who "epitomised ew Yorks spirit of tolerance, intellectual curiosity, fast living and taste for the high life".


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glazier, Sidney 1916 births 2002 deaths American film producers American people of Polish-Jewish descent American people of Russian-Jewish descent United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Producers of Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winners United States Army Air Forces officers