Sidney W. Pink
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Sidney W. Pink was an American film producer and occasional director. He has been called the father of feature-length 3-D movies. He is also noted for producing early
Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...
s and low-budget science-fiction films, and for his role in actor
Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. He is th ...
's transition from stage to screen. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1916, Pink died in 2002 at his home in
Pompano Beach, Florida Pompano Beach ( ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is located along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2020 ...
, following a long illness.


Early life and education

Pink was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1916, the second of Philip and Rose (née Ehrenworth) Pink's two sons. After playing the film producer in his high school's production of '' Merton of the Movies'', he realized this was the profession he would ultimately pursue, calling it his life's ambition. Pink earned a degree in business administration from the
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is composed of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the universit ...
.


Film career

Pink first worked as a projectionist in a movie theater owned by his wife's family and worked for years building and managing theatres. Sometimes he presented stage shows in cinemas. In 1937, Pink moved to Hollywood and was hired by Grand National Pictures as production budget manager for the Tex Ritter
singing cowboy A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films. It references real-world campfire side ballads in the American frontier, the original cowboys sang of life on the trail with all the challenges, hardships, and d ...
series. Pink then moved to
Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
as a budget manager on ''
Lost Horizon ''Lost Horizon'' is a 1933 novel by English writer James Hilton. The book was turned into a film, also called ''Lost Horizon'', in 1937 by director Frank Capra. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian lamaser ...
'' and the Jack Holt action films. At that time, ''Lost Horizon'' had a budget of $1.25 million for the film, the largest amount ever allocated to a project at that time.


World War II and after career

During World War II, he served in the
Army Transportation Corps The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army. It is responsible for the movement of personnel and material by truck, rail, air, and sea. It is one of three U.S. Army logistics branches, the others being the Qu ...
and Special Services. After the war, he imported foreign films and produced burlesque shows in downtown Los Angeles with
Lili St. Cyr Marie Frances Van Schaack (June 3, 1918 – January 29, 1999), known professionally as Lili St. Cyr, was a prominent American burlesque dancer and stripper.. Early years St. Cyr was born Willis Marie Van Schaack in Minneapolis, Minnesota, o ...
,
Joe DeRita Joseph Wardell (July 12, 1909 – July 3, 1993), known professionally as Joe DeRita, was an American actor and comedian, who is best known for his stint as a member of The Three Stooges in the persona of Curly Joe DeRita. Early life DeRita wa ...
and other performers.


3-D film pioneer

In 1952, Pink served as associate producer with
Arch Oboler Arch Oboler (December 7, 1909 – March 19, 1987) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director who was active in radio, films, theater, and television. He generated much attention with his radio scripts, particular ...
, the producer, writer and director of ''
Bwana Devil ''Bwana Devil'' is a 1952 American adventure film, adventure B movie written, directed, and produced by Arch Oboler, and starring Robert Stack, Barbara Britton, and Nigel Bruce. ''Bwana Devil'' is based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters an ...
''. The feature-length color film was the first widely-shown
3-D film 3D films are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. They have existed in some form since 1915, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion pict ...
to use the polarized 3-D method rather than the red-and-blue-glasses anaglyph 3-D occasionally used for short films. It was made using the ''Natural Vision'' system, which employed two separate but interlocked cameras and required two specially modified projectors. The film premiered in late November and started a brief but intense 3-D fad that peaked in mid-1953, faltered in the fall, rallied, then faded away almost completely during 1954.


''Bwana Devil''

''Bwana Devil'' star Robert Stack said he was proud to have starred in Pink's pioneer 3-D production, shot in Hollywood with two large cameras using polarized lenses, one for the left eye and one for the right. Stack said “There was a line 6 feet from both cameras which you were not supposed to cross, otherwise, you’d wind up with that portion of your anatomy projected over the first 10 rows of the audience.” Stack said no one involved with the film knew how audiences would react to the 3-D technique. “Sidney Pink and Arch Oboler and all of us poor innocents were involved in something that we didn’t even know worked or not,” Stack said. “It was a very expensive process, and it took a lot of guts to even do it.” Stack recalled that everyone had their fingers crossed at the first preview. “Over the titles, they had a train that made a long, circling turn and then came directly to the camera. Well, when it came directly to the camera, people began to scream and jumped out of their seats and ran out of the theater. I remember one of the guys saying, ‘Son of a un it really works.’” Stack said “Bwana Devil” was “enough of an eye catcher” to prompt Jack Warner to come out with his own 3-D production at Warner Bros. in 1953, “The House of Wax,” starring Vincent Price. “He (Warner) felt this was the coming thing,” said Stack. “Of course, he was not exactly a rocket scientist, and it wasn’t the coming thing.” In 1989, Pink spoke fondly, recalling the opening week, starting November 30, 1952 of ''Bwana Devil'' at the Hollywood Paramount Theater. "They were lined up around the block". "People would come out of the movie and yell, 'Don't go in, it stinks!' But nobody listened and they went in anyway."


CineMagic process

In 1959, Pink produced ''
The Angry Red Planet ''The Angry Red Planet'' (also called ''Invasion of Mars'' and ''Journey to Planet Four'') is a 1959 American science fiction film directed by Ib Melchior and starring Gerald Mohr. Melchior reportedly had an initial production budget of only $2 ...
'', using a new film processing technique he named CineMagic to create an unreal, otherworldly "Martian" effect in some sequences.


Foreign productions

In 1959, Pink moved his operation to Denmark. Pink's wife Marian Pink, in a newspaper interview, said "At the time it was very difficult to work in any of the ollywoodstudios because they had union problems and would not accept an independent producer... at that time, they were called ‘the runaway producers". In 1960, Pink wrote, directed and produced ''
The Greeneyed Elephant ''The Greeneyed Elephant'' ( da, Elefanter på loftet) is a 1960 Danish family film directed by Peter Guildbrassen and starring Dirch Passer. Premise Two aspiring actresses stumble upon an ancient Aztec elephant sculpture that through the ac ...
'' for
Saga Studios Saga Studio (or Saga Film A/S) was a film production company in Denmark founded by John Olsen. The company existed from 1942 to 1976. History Several years after Olsen co-founded ASA Film Studio with Lau Lauritzen Jr. and Henning Karmark, the ...
in
Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...
. He also co-produced and co-directed the American version of Saga Studios' '' Reptilicus'', a "giant-monster-on-the-loose" film. Pink also wrote, directed and produced ''Gateway Gaza'', filmed in Cairo, Egypt. All three films were released by American International Pictures.


Praised Danish animators

Pink returned to Hollywood praising Danish animation, saying "Danish miniature work has surpassed that of Japan, up to generally acknowledged to be the finest in the world. Facilities in Denmark, by Hollywood standards, are notably lacking; but fine craftsmen who put everything together by hand are not concerned with the time it takes, (and) are excellent." Pink also said "the Scandinavian countries have never truly been exploited by Hollywood filmmakers, so the settings have remained unusually fresh ground for motion pictures. ''Reptilicus'' at Saga Studios in Copenhagen made “at a cost of $380,000 (), about a third of what it probably would have cost if made in the U. S.".


Later films

In 1964, Pink turned down an offer to produce
A Fistful of Dollars ''A Fistful of Dollars'' ( it, Per un pugno di dollari, lit=For a Fistful of Dollars titled on-screen as ''Fistful of Dollars'') is a 1964 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, a ...
. Pink said "And can you believe it, I turned down the offer to produce A Fistful of Dollars in
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
with
Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
? That was not one of my better decisions." In 1965, Pink co-wrote and directed a spaghetti western '' Finger on the Trigger'' (also known as ''Blue Lightning''), starring
Rory Calhoun Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such as ''How to Marry a Millio ...
. The movie was filmed in Spain.
Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...
was set to be the movie's star, but he didn't fulfill his contract and did not appear. Pink later sued Mature for $1.1 million dollars. In 1966, Pink discovered
Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. He is th ...
in an
off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
stage production in New York City and cast him in '' Madigan's Millions'' as a U.S. Treasury agent sent to Italy to recover money that had been stolen by a murdered gangster played by Cesar Romero. The movie was filmed in Italy and Spain and not released until 1969, two years after Hoffman achieved stardom with his role in the 1967 film '' The Graduate''. All told, Pink produced a total of more than 50 films.


Movie theatre owner

In the early 1970s, Pink built and owned movie theaters in the southeastern United States, including the Bainbridge Triple Cinemas (now the closed Bainbridge Mall Cinemas) in Bainbridge, Georgia, as well as theatres in
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
and Florida.


Death and burial

Pink died in 2002 at his home in
Pompano Beach, Florida Pompano Beach ( ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is located along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2020 ...
, following a long illness. His body was buried in the Har Tzion Mausoleum at Star of David Memorial Gardens in North Lauderdale, Florida.


Partial filmography

*''
Bwana Devil ''Bwana Devil'' is a 1952 American adventure film, adventure B movie written, directed, and produced by Arch Oboler, and starring Robert Stack, Barbara Britton, and Nigel Bruce. ''Bwana Devil'' is based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters an ...
'' (1952, dir.
Arch Oboler Arch Oboler (December 7, 1909 – March 19, 1987) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director who was active in radio, films, theater, and television. He generated much attention with his radio scripts, particular ...
) *''
The Twonky ''The Twonky'' is a 1953 independently made American black-and-white science fiction/comedy film, produced by A.D. Nast, Jr., Arch Oboler, and Sidney Pink, written and directed by Arch Oboler, and starring Hans Conried, Gloria Blondell, Billy ...
'' (1953, dir.
Arch Oboler Arch Oboler (December 7, 1909 – March 19, 1987) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director who was active in radio, films, theater, and television. He generated much attention with his radio scripts, particular ...
) *''
Flame Over Vietnam ''Flame Over Vietnam'' Original title: Una cruz en el infierno is a 1957 Spanish film directed by José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spag ...
'' (1957, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
The Angry Red Planet ''The Angry Red Planet'' (also called ''Invasion of Mars'' and ''Journey to Planet Four'') is a 1959 American science fiction film directed by Ib Melchior and starring Gerald Mohr. Melchior reportedly had an initial production budget of only $2 ...
'' (1959, dir. Ib Melchior) *''
The Greeneyed Elephant ''The Greeneyed Elephant'' ( da, Elefanter på loftet) is a 1960 Danish family film directed by Peter Guildbrassen and starring Dirch Passer. Premise Two aspiring actresses stumble upon an ancient Aztec elephant sculpture that through the ac ...
'' (1960, dir. Peer Guldbrandsen) *'' Reptilicus'' (1961, dir. Ib Melchior) *''
Journey to the Seventh Planet ''Journey to the Seventh Planet'' is a 1962 Danish-American science fiction film. It was directed by Sid Pink, written by Pink and Ib Melchior, and shot in Denmark with a budget of only US$75,000. Uranus, the seventh planet in the solar system, ...
'' (1962, dir. Sidney W. Pink) *'' The Castilian'' (1963, dir.
Javier Setó Javier Setó (1926–1969) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography * ''Forbidden Trade'' (1952) * '' Bronze and Moon'' (1953) * ''Bread, Love and Andalusia'' (1958) * ''Pelusa'' (1960) * ''The Castilian'' (1963) * '' The ...
) *'' Pyro... The Thing Without a Face'' (1964, dir.
Julio Coll Julio Coll (7 April 1919 – 17 January 1993) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote for more than 30 films between 1947 and 1971. In 1972, he was a member of the jury at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival. Selected ...
) *'' Finger on the Trigger'' (1965, dir. Sidney W. Pink) *''
La llamada "La Llamada" ( en, "The Phone Call") is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her first live album '' Live!'' (1993). It was composed by Selena y Los Dinos backup singer Pete Astudillo and Selena's brother and principal record ...
'' (1965, dir.
Javier Setó Javier Setó (1926–1969) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography * ''Forbidden Trade'' (1952) * '' Bronze and Moon'' (1953) * ''Bread, Love and Andalusia'' (1958) * ''Pelusa'' (1960) * ''The Castilian'' (1963) * '' The ...
) *''
The Drums of Tabu ''The Drums of Tabu'' (also known as ''Fugitivos de las islas del sur'' and ''Tabu: le vergini di Samoa'') is a 1966 adventure film directed by Javier Setó and produced by Sidney W. Pink. Premise The story follows a drunk who discovers a Samo ...
'' (1966, dir.
Javier Setó Javier Setó (1926–1969) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography * ''Forbidden Trade'' (1952) * '' Bronze and Moon'' (1953) * ''Bread, Love and Andalusia'' (1958) * ''Pelusa'' (1960) * ''The Castilian'' (1963) * '' The ...
) *''
Seven Vengeful Women ''Seven Vengeful Women'' (Spanish: ''Las siete magníficas'', Italian: ''7 donne per una strage'') is a 1966 western film directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber and Sidney W. Pink.Weisser p.207 It stars Anne Baxter, Maria Perschy and Gustavo Rojo. It was ...
'' (1966, dir. Rudolf Zehetgruber) *''
The Treasure of Makuba ''The Treasure of Makuba'', also known as ''El tesoro de Makuba'', is a 1967 Spanish film directed by José María Elorrieta and starring Cameron Mitchell. Cast * Cameron Mitchell as Coogan * Mara Cruz as Maroa * Jessie Paradise as Mary * Todd ...
'' (1967, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
A Witch Without a Broom ''A Witch Without a Broom'' is a 1967 Spanish film starring Jeffrey Hunter. It was directed by José María Elorrieta. Cast External links *''A Witch Without a Broom''at TCMDB Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay- ...
'' (1967, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
The Fickle Finger of Fate ''The Fickle Finger of Fate'' (also known as ''El Dedo del destino'' and ''The Cup of St. Sebastian'') is a 1967 comedy film directed by Richard Rush, produced by Sidney W. Pink, and starring Tab Hunter. Hunter stars as a clumsy businessman who ...
'' (1967, dir.
Richard Rush Richard Rush (August 29, 1780 – July 30, 1859) was the 8th United States Attorney General and the 8th United States Secretary of the Treasury. He also served as John Quincy Adams's running mate on the National Republican ticket in 1828. Born ...
) *''
The Christmas Kid ''The Christmas Kid'' (also known as ''Joe Navidad'') is a 1967 western film directed by Sidney W. Pink and distributed in America by Troma Entertainment. Plot In a small western town in Arizona called Jaspen, a boy is born on Christmas Day. Jo ...
'' (1967, dir. Sidney W. Pink) *'' Operation Delilah'' (1967, dir. Luis de los Arcos) *''
The Vengeance of Pancho Villa ''The Vengeance of Pancho Villa'' ( es, Los 7 de Pancho Villa or ) is a 1967 Spanish Western film directed by José María Elorrieta, scored by Federico Contreras and starred by John Ericson, Nuria Torray and Gustavo Rojo. Cast * Nuria Torra ...
'' (1967, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
Bang Bang Kid ''Bang Bang Kid'' is a 1967 Western film produced by Sidney W. Pink and starring Tom Bosley. The film was distributed in America by Troma Entertainment Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution compan ...
'' (1967, dir. Luciano Lelli) *'' Madigan's Millions'' (1968, dir. Stanley Prager) *''
1001 Nights ''One Thousand and One Nights'' ( ar, أَلْفُ لَيْلَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٌ, italic=yes, ) is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the ''Arabian ...
'' (1968, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
The Emerald of Artatama ''The Emerald of Artatama'' (also known as ''La Muchacha del Nilo'' and ''The Girl of the Nile'') is a 1969 adventure film directed by José María Elorrieta and distributed by Troma Entertainment. The film stars Rory Calhoun as a con man searchi ...
'' (1969, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
A Candidate for a Killing ''A Candidate for a Killing'' is a 1969 Italian film. It starred John Richardson and Anita Ekberg. It was an early film credit for composer Bill Conti William Conti (born April 13, 1942) is an American composer and conductor, best known for h ...
'' (1969, dir.
José María Elorrieta José María Elorrieta (1921–1974) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He wrote or directed a number of Spaghetti Westerns.Weisser p.168 Selected filmography Director * '' María Dolores'' (1953) * ''Flame Over Vietnam'' (1957) * '' ...
) *''
The Man from O.R.G.Y. ''The Man from O.R.G.Y.'' (also known as ''The Real Gone Girls'') is a 1970 comedy film directed by James Hill and starring Robert Walker Jr., Louisa Moritz, Slappy White, Lynne Carter and Steve Rossi. It was filmed in Puerto Rico and New York C ...
'' (1970, dir. James Hill)


References


External links

*
CNN Obituary
October 2002. *Last Sidney Pink interview https://web.archive.org/web/20140728220449/http://voices.yahoo.com/the-last-interview-sid-pink-467.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Pink, Sidney W. 1916 births 2002 deaths American film directors Film producers from Pennsylvania Businesspeople from Pittsburgh 20th-century American businesspeople