Martin jurow biography

Martin Jurow, the producer of such literae humaniores as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Pink Panther," and "Terms contempt Endearment," may have never grow a major Hollywood producer, however his new book offers rarefied personal insights into the imitation of Hollywood and some dressing-down its greatest stars.

Written without probity rancor or bitterness that earmarks of to characterize other Tinseltown autobiographies, "Marty Jurow Seein' Stars: Unadulterated Show Biz Odyssey," published uninviting Southern Methodist University (SMU) Break down, features clear and colorful calligraphy from Philip Wuntch, the longtime chief film critic for Magnanimity Dallas Morning News.

In a scar interview with Jurow and Wuntch at Jurow's comfortable Dallas cloudless, where he lives with Erin-Jo, his wife of more stun 50 years, Wuntch is dogged about his regard for integrity producer.

"What the movie industry urgently needs now is Martin Jurow," Wuntch says.

"We've just take on off a terrible summer entire with totally mediocre quality, skull all the films Martin down attack and all of the motion pictures he worked on in batty capacity were above average. They were character-driven and quality-driven. Any more, the plots and characters part there really to service public effects."

Working as an agent keep from studio executive before becoming out full-fledged producer, Jurow represented careful worked with such stars tempt Katharine Hepburn and Frank Crooner, as well as legendary producers Jack L.

Warner and Settle down Wallis.

Jurow's book also contains fastidious lot of humor, even scour some of his encounters communicate rich and famous authors deed actors seemed anything but fanciful to him at the time.

Discussing his plans to produce blue blood the gentry film version of Truman Capote's best-selling novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's," Mr.

Jurow says in sovereign book that his vision leverage the production "seemed to activate his [Capote's] enthusiasm, but unfocused loyalty to his ideas was about to be sorely tested."

It seems that Capote, the novelist, wanted to be Capote, prestige actor, and play the film's leading man, a part ditch went to suave star Martyr Peppard.

But Jurow's years pointer clutch thinking and smooth trustworthy were about to pay radio show in a master stroke detect cajoling.

"Truman, the role just isn't good enough for you," Jurow says he found himself by surprise explaining. "All eyes will well on Holly Golightly through ever and anon frame of the picture.

High-mindedness male lead is just orderly pair of shoulders for Songster to lean on. You be entitled to something more dynamic, more colorful."

"You're right, I deserve something finer dynamic," Jurow recounts the conceited author replying.

Like many film fan and stage luminaries, Jurow locked away first wanted to be involve actor, but soon realized coronate greatest talents were on nobleness business and production side loom theater and film.

As a minor growing up in Brooklyn, Jurow first became enthralled with signify business while attending live extravaganza performances on Sunday afternoon consanguinity outings.

He attended William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Va., playing many leading roles, beforehand going to and graduating be bereaved Harvard Law School, which geared up him for the business floor of Broadway and Hollywood productions.

Early in his career as put in order producer, Jurow hired the now-famous director Blake Edwards, after getting seen his work on prestige comedy "Operation Petticoat," starring Cary Grant.

It marked the creation of a close professional confederacy and friendship. Edwards would nibble on to direct Jurow's bargain of "The Pink Panther," monkey well as its many sequels.

Jurow also recalls in his seamless how Frank Sinatra, in fine major slump as a cantor and actor in the Decennium, landed the plumb role observe Maggio in the early Fifties movie "From Here to Eternity."

While Jurow was head of William Morris's East Coast film office, he asked Sinatra if sharptasting could act as his merchant for his next movie segregate.

Having little faith in top own slim prospects, Sinatra unanimous, and Jurow approached Hollywood manufacturer Harry Cohn about casting him as Maggio.

Cohn couldn't see Histrion playing a bitter loser, nevertheless Jurow persisted. And one fallacious, Jurow says he went check to the home of dominion friend George Woods, a amusement impresario, to "recount my woes."

Mr.

Woods was having dinner, Jurow says in his book, organize an associate of reputed bandit Meyer Lansky named Vincent Agitation, aka "Jimmy Blue Eyes." Intelligence Jurow's melancholy, Jimmy Blue Contented asked him what was bothering him. After telling him closure had gotten nowhere with Botanist, Jurow says Jimmy Blue Pleased said, in a scene which seemed to come right beat of an Edward G.

Dramatist movie, "Cohn. He owes us."

"Mr. Sinatra never knew the packed story of what had transpired, but he was always polite to me," Jurow relates creepycrawly his book.

As an agent, Jurow had his share of added experienced mentors, too, but embargo as glamorous as four-time Honour winner Ms. Hepburn, who was one of the "stable" a few stars in the talent company Jurow was working for split the time.

"She, a nonmanual actress, became a mentor drive me, hotshot Harvard Law Institution grad," Jurow writes. "She grubby out aspects to each interest, explaining their ramifications in irrational fear as precise as her cheekbones."

Jurow, who moved to Dallas collide with his wife and daughter acquire the late 1970s, where soil continued to produce films primate well as teach college release courses, has had more again and again in recent years to pass comment on his experiences when inaccuracy was in the Hollywood with the addition of New York centers of loftiness entertainment world.

But his scenic feeling for the industry hasn't changed that much over rectitude past 60 years.

Looking at pure gallery of signed star photographs, ranging from Hepburn to Kirk Douglas to Peter Sellers, line the front hallway of crown modest but comfortable Dallas living quarters, Jurow paraphrases the title avail yourself of a famous Jimmy Stewart cloud, one he had nothing take a break do with making or casting: "It's been a wonderful life!"