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Harold Hecht (1907–1985) was an Academy Award-winning Hollywood film producer, dance director and film director. He was also a talent agent, a literary agent, a theatrical producer, a theatre director and a Broadway actor. He was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the Screen Producers Guild.[1]
During his first stay in Hollywood in the early to mid-1930s, Hecht was one of the leading dance directors in the movie industry, working with the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, W.C. Fields, Gary Cooper, Maurice Chevalier and Marion Davies.[2][3][4] In 1947, he co-founded Norma Productions, an independent film production company, with his business partner and managed actor, Burt Lancaster.[5] From 1954 to 1959, the Norma Productions subsidiaries, Hecht-Lancaster Productions and Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, were the biggest and most important independent production units in Hollywood.[6][7][8] Following the end of the Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions team, Hecht continued as one of the top three independent producers in Hollywood, a position he shared with Stanley Kramer and the Mirisch brothers, for the next ten years.[9][10][11]
At the 28th Academy Awards ceremony in 1956, Hecht received a Best Picture Oscar for the 1955 Hecht-Lancaster Productions film Marty. He was again nominated three years later at the 31st Academy Awards ceremony for the 1958 Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions film Separate Tables.[12] The film did not win but Hecht did accept the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in place of Wendy Hiller who could not be present. The Broadway play version of Separate Tables, produced by Hecht-Lancaster Productions, was nominated for the Best Play Award at the 11th Tony Awards ceremony in April 1957[13] In November 1959 Hecht was chosen by United States President Dwight Eisenhower to accompany the cultural exchange program committee in a trip to Russia when Marty was selected by the USSR as the first American film to be screened in that country since World War II.[14][15]
Fourteen of Hecht's film productions (and an additional three on which he was a choreographer) have won and been nominated for several awards and prizes at various ceremonies and film festivals, including; Academy Awards, Golden Globe Award, British Academy Film Awards, Bodil Awards, Directors Guild of America Award, Writers Guild of America Award, National Board of Review Awards, New York Film Critics Circle Award, Laurel Awards, David di Donatello Award, Bambi Award and the Online Film & Television Association Award; and at the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. Four of the films Harold Hecht worked on have been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States National Film Preservation Board and have been selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry; Duck Soup in 1990, Sweet Smell of Success in 1993, Marty in 1994, and She Done Him Wrong in 1996.[16]
As dance director or choreographer
[edit]
| Year |
Film |
Production Company |
Distribution Company |
Awards
|
| 1948
|
Kiss the Blood off My Hands
|
Norma Productions / Harold Hecht Productions
|
Universal-International Pictures
|
|
| 1950
|
The Flame and the Arrow
|
Norma Productions / Frank Ross Productions
|
Warner Brothers Pictures
|
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Dramatic or Comedy Score
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Color Cinematography
|
| 1951
|
Ten Tall Men
|
Norma Productions / Halburt Productions
|
Columbia Pictures
|
|
| 1952
|
The First Time
|
Norma Productions / Halburt Productions
|
Columbia Pictures
|
|
| 1952
|
The Crimson Pirate
|
Norma Productions
|
Warner Brothers Pictures
|
|
| 1954
|
His Majesty O'Keefe
|
Norma Productions
|
Warner Brothers Pictures
|
|
| 1954
|
Apache
|
Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Linden Productions
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1954
|
Vera Cruz
|
Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Flora Productions
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1955
|
Marty
|
Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Steven Productions
|
United Artists
|
Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress
Bodil Award for Best American Film
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or
Cannes Film Festival OCIC Award
Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
National Board of Review Award for Best Film
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor
National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama
National Film Preservation Board National Film Registry
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source
|
| 1955
|
The Kentuckian
|
Hecht-Lancaster Productions / James Productions
|
United Artists
|
Nominated—Venice Film Festival Golden Lion
|
| 1956
|
Trapeze
|
Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Joanna Productions / Susan Productions
|
United Artists
|
Bambi Award for Best Actress - International
Berlin International Film Festival Silver Berlin Bear Award for Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival Bronze Berlin Bear Award for Audience Poll
Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
|
| 1957
|
The Bachelor Party
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions
|
United Artists
|
National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source
Nominated—Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or
|
| 1957
|
Sweet Smell of Success
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions / Curtleigh Productions
|
United Artists
|
Bambi Award for Best Actor - International
National Film Preservation Board National Film Registry
Online Film & Television Association - Film Hall of Fame
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance
|
| 1958
|
Run Silent, Run Deep
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Jeffrey Productions
|
United Artists
|
Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Cinematography - Black and White
|
| 1958
|
Separate Tables
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Clifton Productions
|
United Artists
|
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress
Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Picture
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Director
Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance
Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama
|
| 1959
|
The Rabbit Trap
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Canon Productions / Anne Productions
|
United Artists
|
Locarno International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
|
| 1959
|
Cry Tough
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Canon Productions / Anne Productions
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1959
|
The Devil's Disciple
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Films / Brynaprod
|
United Artists
|
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best British Actor
|
| 1959
|
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster (Australia) Proprietary Limited
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1959
|
Take a Giant Step
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Sheila Productions
|
United Artists
|
Locarno International Film Festival Silver Sail Award
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Film Promoting International Understanding
Nominated—BAFTA United Nations Award
|
| 1960
|
The Unforgiven
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / James Productions
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1961
|
The Young Savages
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Contemporary Productions
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1962
|
Birdman of Alcatraz
|
Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions
|
United Artists
|
BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
Golden Laurel Award for Top Drama
Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance
National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films
Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor
Venice Film Festival San Giorgio Prize Award
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama
Nominated—Venice Film Festival Golden Lion
|
| 1962
|
Taras Bulba
|
Harold Hecht Productions / Curtleigh Productions / Avala Film
|
United Artists
|
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Score - Substantially Original
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated—International Film Music Critics Award for Best Archival Re-Recording of an Existing Score
|
| 1964
|
Flight from Ashiya
|
Harold Hecht Films / Daiei Motion Picture Company
|
United Artists
|
|
| 1964
|
Wild and Wonderful
|
Harold Hecht Corporation / Reynard Productions
|
Universal Pictures
|
|
| 1965
|
Cat Ballou
|
Harold Hecht Corporation
|
Columbia Pictures
|
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
Berlin International Film Festival Silver Berlin Bear Award for Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival Award of Special Mention
Berlin International Film Festival Youth Film Award for Best Feature Film Suitable for Young People
Golden Laurel Award for Best Comedy
Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Comedy Performance
Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Comedy Performance
Golden Laurel Award for Top Song
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Editing
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Male
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Nominated—Berlin International Film Festival Golden Berlin Bear Award for Best Director
Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Comedy
|
| 1967
|
The Way West
|
Harold Hecht Company
|
United Artists
|
|
- ^ "18 Added to Academy", Boxoffice, December 20 1952, p56
- ^ The Courier Journal, June 23 1933, p25
- ^ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, July 1 1933, p5
- ^ The Wilkes-Barre Record, July 3 1933, p20
- ^ "Newcomer Burt Lancaster Gets Own Outfit For Film", Louella O. Parsons, St. Petersburg Times, Friday, August 1st 1947, p16
- ^ "The Struggle for Survival", Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin, September 2 1957, p23
- ^ "What's With Hecht-Hill-Lancaster?", The Tuscaloosa News, September 24 1959, p5
- ^ "Burt Lancaster Termed Enigma", The Spokesman Review, May 27 1961, p77
- ^ "Writer Strike Finds Hollywood", The Bridgeport Post, November 1 1959, p32
- ^ "Pact Ends Hollywood Writers' Guild Tieup", The Oregon Statesman, November 1 1959, p3
- ^ "The Hollywood Scene", Eureka Humboldt Standard, March 31 1962, p4
- ^ 1959 Oscar Winners
- ^ "Separate Tables Awards", Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "Johnston View", Motion Picture Daily, October 6 1959, p13
- ^ "U.A. Officials to Attend Marty Bow in Russia", Motion Picture Daily, October 22 1959, p2
- ^ National Film Preservation Board, List of Films
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