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46-609: Walter Mirisch began to work as a producer at Monogram Pictures beginning with Fall Guy (1947), the profitable Bomba the Jungle Boy series, Wichita (1955), and The First Texan (1956), by which time the company was known as Allied Artists. Walter Mirisch was in charge of production at the studio when it made Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Love in the Afternoon (1957). The Mirisch Company

92-597: A Golden Globe Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as Best Outdoor Drama of 1955, The First Texan (1956), and An Annapolis Story (1955). Among other films, he supervised the productions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers , Friendly Persuasion (both 1956), and the Billy Wilder -directed Love in the Afternoon (1957). Mirisch headed that category of creative producers who learned their craft thoroughly from

138-535: A dune buggy at high speed along the Massachusetts coastline. Vicki Anderson's car, referred to as "one of those red Italian things", is the first of only ten Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spiders built. Today, this model is one of the most valuable Ferrari road cars made. McQueen liked the car very much, and eventually managed to acquire one for himself. The dune buggy was a Meyers Manx . McQueen owned one. Crown's two-door Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow carried

184-502: A kid). When I later acted in one of his (lesser) productions, The Spikes Gang , I learned that a prolific and brilliant producer could also be a terrific guy and a wonderful teacher." Mirisch received the 1967 Academy Award for Best Picture for his production of In the Heat of the Night . Throughout the years he was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including The Producer of

230-407: A limited edition CD featuring the previously released album tracks (1–13 below) and the premiere release of the film version. The 1999 remake was released starring Pierce Brosnan as Crown, Rene Russo as the insurance investigator, and Denis Leary as the detective. The original film's co-star Faye Dunaway also appears as Crown's therapist. This adaptation is different from the original in that it

276-809: A nationwide release in August 1968. This movie's release introduced United Artists ' new logo that shows the iconic Transamerica "T" and the byline, "Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation". The Thomas Crown Affair made its U.S. television premiere on NBC Saturday Night at the Movies in September 1972. The film was released on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment in the United States in February 1999 with two special features, an audio commentary by director Norman Jewison and theatrical trailer. It

322-740: A number of television movies and cartoon shows of The Super 6 and The Pink Panther Show . In 1965, the company, along with Lee Rich started Mirisch-Rich Television Productions , with the intent to produce shows for network television and it maintains headquarters in the Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Rich left in 1967 and it was soon renamed Mirisch Television Productions . The company forged long-term associations with directors such as Billy Wilder , Blake Edwards , Robert Wise , George Roy Hill , William Wyler , J. Lee Thompson , John Sturges , and Norman Jewison , who directed three consecutive successes for it: The Russians Are Coming,

368-432: A story he had co-written with Harley Peyton , while additional material was provided by Nick Meyer , Michael Finch and Karl Gajdusek . In 2016, Michael B. Jordan had approached Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to pitch a new adapatation of the story, with hopes of starring in the lead role. In April 2023, after having acquired MGM, Amazon announced plans to reboot the franchise, with a new feature film in development through

414-740: A trustee of the Motion Picture and Television Fund . Mirisch was also an Emeritus member of the board of directors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles , and the board of directors of the UCLA Foundation. He was decorated by the Republic of France with its Order of Arts and Letters in 1961. In May 1989, he received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Wisconsin–Madison . In June 1989, he

460-464: Is a 1968 American heist film directed by Norman Jewison and written by Alan Trustman . It stars Steve McQueen , Faye Dunaway , Paul Burke and Jack Weston . In the film, Vicki Anderson (Dunaway) is hired to investigate the culprits of a multi-million dollar bank heist, orchestrated by Thomas Crown (McQueen). The film was nominated for two Academy Awards , winning Best Original Song for Michel Legrand 's " The Windmills of Your Mind ". A remake

506-779: Is set in New York rather than Boston, and the robbery is of a priceless painting, a Monet , instead of cash, among other story line differences, including the complete lack of violence in Thomas Crown's crimes. In January 2007, a sequel to the 1999 movie, loosely based on Topkapi (1964), was announced as being in development. By January 2009, Brosnan confirmed his involvement while announcing Paul Verhoeven as director. By April 2010, Verhoeven stepped down from his role as director, citing creative differences and scheduling conflicts. At various points in time, both Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron were in discussions for roles in

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552-532: The Academy Award for Best Picture as producer of In the Heat of the Night (1967). Born to a Jewish family in New York, Mirisch was the youngest of three sons born to Josephine Frances (née Urbach) and Max Mirisch. His siblings included film producer Marvin. His father emigrated from Kraków, Poland in 1891 at the age of 17, arriving in New York City where he worked as a tailor. His mother

598-531: The Bergmans to compose " The Windmills of Your Mind " and a second song, "His Eyes, Her Eyes"; Noel Harrison recorded "The Windmills of Your Mind" after Jewison failed to get his friend Andy Williams to do it, while Legrand performed "His Eyes, Her Eyes". Although the film's score was recorded in Hollywood, featuring Vincent DeRosa , Bud Shank , Carol Kaye , Emil Richards , Ray Brown and Shelly Manne ,

644-434: The robbery was familiar with the bank's routines because he had an account there, and that the stolen money has been spirited to Switzerland, Vicki and the police draw up a list of bank customers who have made several recent trips to Geneva. When she sees Crown's profile on the list, she intuitively recognizes him as capable of orchestrating the robbery, and shortly thereafter guesses the cellular method that he used to organize

690-523: The Academy Award for Best Picture) went to Scott Rudin , Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men . Mirisch was married to Patricia Kahan (1924–2005); they had three children. Mirisch turned 100 on November 8, 2021, and died of natural causes in Los Angeles on February 24, 2023, at the age of 101. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 film) The Thomas Crown Affair

736-761: The Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award , which is given to an individual whose "humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry" (1983). Mirisch served three terms as president of the Producers Guild of America . He served four terms as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . He was a former president and Governor of the Performing Arts Council of the Los Angeles Music Center, as well as

782-604: The Heat of the Night (1967), which also won four other Oscars. Among the most noteworthy Mirisch projects that Walter personally produced are: Man of the West (1958); The Magnificent Seven (1960); Two for the Seesaw (1962); Toys in the Attic (1963); the film version of James A. Michener 's monumental novel, Hawaii (1966), which was nominated for seven Oscars, and its sequel, The Hawaiians (1970); Midway (1976),

828-630: The Massachusetts vanity license plate "TC 100" for the film. Sean Connery had been the original choice for the title role, but turned it down — a decision he later regretted. Johnny Carson also turned down the role. The movie was filmed primarily on location in Boston and surrounding areas in Massachusetts and New Hampshire : Other locations included: The Thomas Crown Affair had its world premiere in Boston on June 19, 1968, with openings in Los Angeles and New York on June 26, 1968, and

874-468: The Navy, but Mirisch was still eager to serve his country during World War II. He moved to Burbank, California, to work at a bomber-plane plant, where he wrote technical articles, sharing knowledge with other military manufacturers. After the war ended Mirisch immediately turned his attention back to his original passion, the movies. In 1942, he received a BA degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and

920-581: The Roof (1971), and many others. In 1964 Mirisch Films Ltd, or Mirisch Films GB was formed in the United Kingdom for the production of 633 Squadron , A Shot in the Dark and several other films. The Pink Panther featured an animated Pink Panther , which soon became a star of a series of theatrical cartoons made by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released by Mirisch/UA. The cartoon series earned

966-640: The Russians Are Coming (1966), In the Heat of the Night (1967), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). The following films and television series were from Mirisch Companies : Television series: Television films: Walter Mirisch Walter Mortimer Mirisch (November 8, 1921 – February 24, 2023) was an American film producer. He was the president and executive head of production of The Mirisch Corporation , an independent film production company which he formed in 1957 with his brother, Marvin , and half-brother, Harold . He won

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1012-871: The Year Award: first, from the Producers' Guild of America (1967); later, the National Association of Theatre Owners (1972); and then ShowaRama (1975). In addition, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field" (1976), the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his "consistently high quality of motion picture production (1978), and

1058-502: The album re-recording issued by United Artists Records on LP was done in France under the composer's baton; Jewison said it was the favorite score for any of his films. The original album was later reissued by Rykodisc in 1998 on CD , with five dialogue excerpts and the inclusion of "Moments of Love" and "Doubting Thomas". Varèse Sarabande re-released the album in 2004 (without the dialogue excerpts). In 2014, Quartet Records issued

1104-461: The extent of her conflicted emotions. When she seemingly persuades him to negotiate an end, Eddy Malone stubbornly refuses to make any deal, leaving her torn between the men, her convictions, and her heart. Crown organizes another robbery exactly like the first with different accomplices and tells Vicki where the "drop" will be, because he has to know for sure that she is on his side. The robbery goes off like clockwork. Choosing her loyalty, Vicki and

1150-470: The film, with Brosnan expressing interest in having Theron co-star. In April 2013, Brosnan acknowledged the project's status in development hell , while stating he is still interested in developing the film. In April 2014, John McTiernan revealed that he had written a treatment for the script, titled "Thomas Crown and the Missing Lioness". The initial script had been written by John Rogers from

1196-419: The next year he graduated from Harvard's Graduate School of Business Administration. He produced his first film, Fall Guy (1947), for Monogram Pictures . At the age of 29, Mirisch became production head at Allied Artists Studio, initially only a division of Monogram, with some 30 films to oversee. During his tenure, he found time to personally produce Flat Top (1952), Wichita (1955), which received

1242-540: The original crime and perpetrating a new one successfully. A pioneering split screen photography technique used to show simultaneous actions was inspired by the breakthrough Expo 67 films In the Labyrinth and A Place to Stand . The latter debuted the use of Christopher Chapman's " multi-dynamic image technique " of images shifting on moving panes. Steve McQueen was on hand for an advance screening of A Place to Stand in Hollywood, and personally told Chapman he

1288-432: The partnership name of Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng for the copyright of The Pink Panther and is used to this day by special arrangement through MGM for new cartoon specials and series. Mirisch first entered television in 1959 with the series, Wichita Town for NBC. It also co-produced live-action television shows such as The Rat Patrol , Hey Landlord and The Magnificent Seven television series, as well as

1334-436: The police stake out the cemetery, where they watch one of the robbers make the drop, then lie in wait to ambush Crown. However, when his Rolls-Royce arrives, he has sent a messenger in his place, with a telegram inviting her to either bring the money and join him or keep the car as a concession prize. Reflexively smiling at him eluding her trap, she soon realizes she had revealed her hand yet gained nothing in return. Tearing

1380-422: The project, but he was unavailable and recommended Legrand; he wrote his music as long pieces rather than specifically to scene timings, with the film later edited to the music by Legrand, Jewison and editor Hal Ashby . In addition, Legrand also had to prepare an original song to replace " Strawberry Fields Forever ", used as the temporary track for the glider scene. Taking Quincy Jones ' advice, Legrand worked with

1426-421: The release of Fort Massacre (1958) but later including Some Like It Hot (1959), The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Magnificent Seven (1960), West Side Story (1961), Follow That Dream (1962 with Elvis Presley ), The Great Escape (1963), The Pink Panther (1963), Hawaii (1966), In the Heat of the Night (1967), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Fiddler on

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1472-402: The robbers. Growing closer to her quarry, Vicki makes it clear to Crown that she knows he is the thief and that she intends to prove it. A game of cat and mouse ensues, which spurs both a physical and emotional attraction that soon evolves into an affair. This complicates Vicki's vow to find the money and help detective friend Eddy Malone bring the perpetrator to justice. A reward offer entices

1518-455: The robbery. Crown retrieves the money after secretly trailing the drop. He deposits it into a numbered bank account in Geneva over several trips to avoid drawing undue attention to his actions. Independent investigator Vicki Anderson is contracted by the bank’s insurance company to investigate the heist; she will receive 10% of the stolen money if she recovers it. Speculating that whoever planned

1564-522: The saga of America's greatest naval victory; the tender and moving Same Time, Next Year (1978); and Romantic Comedy (1983). For the NBC television network, Mirisch was executive producer of Wichita Town with Joel McCrea (1959–1960), Peter Loves Mary (1960–1961), Desperado ; Return of Desperado ; Desperado: Avalanche At Devil’s Ridge ; Desperado: Legacy ; Desperado: Sole Survivor ; and in 1993, Troubleshooters: Trapped Beneath The Earth . Mirisch

1610-424: The telegram to bits, she strews the pieces to the wind, tearfully staring at the sky while Crown escapes unruffled overhead. The audience never learns whether there was actually money in the bags dropped at the cemetery or not, nor what becomes of Vicki following her blurred role of playing both ends against the middle—trying to entice a criminal to confess or entrap him—while simultaneously abetting him in concealing

1656-422: The very inception of a project through all phases of its production process. Known in the industry as a perfectionist, he supervised every detail of his films from the earliest stages to the final release. The Mirisch Company was founded in 1957. It produced 68 films for United Artists, including three that won the Academy Award for Best Picture, namely The Apartment (1960), West Side Story (1961) and In

1702-598: The wife of the getaway driver, Erwin Weaver, to inform on him for $ 25,000 ($ 167,000 in 2023 dollars ). Vicki finds out that he was hired by a man he never saw but whose voice he heard (via a microphone). She tries putting Erwin in the same room as Crown, but there is no hint of recognition on either's part. While Vicki is clearly closing in on Crown, even using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as leverage against his liquid assets, he forces her to realize

1748-500: The year. Which is not to say it isn't great to look at. It is." As of 2020 the film held a rating of 70% from 40 reviews at the film aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes . The site's consensus states: "Steve McQueen settles into the role with ease and aplomb, in a film that whisks viewers into an exotic world with style and sex appeal." The music was composed and conducted by Michel Legrand , scoring his first major American film. Director Norman Jewison had hoped to hire Henry Mancini for

1794-554: Was executive producer of Lily in Winter for the USA Network in 1994, A Class for Life for ABC in 1995, as well as The Magnificent Seven , a weekly series for CBS in 1997. Ron Howard said of Mirisch, "From Bomba, the Jungle Boy to Some Like It Hot and In the Heat of the Night  ... Walter Mirisch produced many of the films which dazzled and inspired me (and I'm not kidding about Bomba . I loved those movies as

1840-400: Was first released on Blu-ray Disc on February 1, 2011, with the same extra supplements. On February 13, 2018, Kino Lorber (under license from MGM) released a Blu-ray 50th anniversary edition with six extra features, including an original featurette with cast and crew interviews, audio commentary by film historians Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman, and an interview with the director. The film

1886-610: Was founded in 1957 at which time it signed a 12-picture deal with United Artists (UA) that was extended to 20 films two years later. Its first production was Man of the West (1958) starring Gary Cooper . UA acquired the company on March 1, 1963, but the Mirisch brothers continued to produce for their distribution, under other corporate names, in rented space at the Samuel Goldwyn Studio . It produced many successful motion pictures for United Artists , beginning with

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1932-537: Was highly impressed; the following year, Norman Jewison incorporated the technique into the film by inserting split screen scenes into the already finished product. The film also features a chess scene, with McQueen and Dunaway playing a game of chess, silently flirting with each other. The game depicted is based on a game played in Vienna in 1898 between Gustav Zeissl and Walter von Walthoffen. McQueen performed his own stunts, which include playing polo and driving

1978-436: Was released in 1999. Millionaire businessman-sportsman Thomas Crown is a handsome, dashing, cultured adrenaline junkie. Out of boredom, he masterminds a near perfect crime by organizing a five-man heist of $ 2.66 million from a Boston bank ($ 17.8 million in 2023 dollars ), with the getaway driver dumping the money in a quiet cemetery trash can. None of the men ever meet Crown face to face, nor know or meet each other before

2024-408: Was successful at the box office, grossing $ 14 million on a $ 4.3 million budget. Reviews at the time were mixed. Critics praised the chemistry between McQueen and Dunaway and Norman Jewison's stylish direction, but considered the plotting and writing rather thin. Roger Ebert gave it 2½ stars out of four, and called it "possibly the most under-plotted, underwritten, over-photographed film of

2070-504: Was the daughter of immigrants from Hungary and Poland. His father was previously married to Flora Glasshut with whom he had two sons; she died of cancer at the age of 40. Walter Mirisch graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School . He was a summer vacation usher in Jersey City 's State Theater, his first job associated with the movie business. He soon moved up to higher positions at other theaters. A heart murmur kept him from joining

2116-720: Was the recipient of the UCLA Medal, the university's highest award. In 2004, he was honored with a retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art entitled "The Magnificent Mirisches". The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York honored him in 2006 with a retrospective of twelve films. On February 2, 2008, Mirisch presented the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year award at the 19th Annual Producers Guild of America Awards . The top honor (the equivalent of

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