Edward Small
Encyclopedia
Edward Small was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970.
Small, the son of Jewish Austrian-born Philip Schmalheiser and Prussian-born Rose Lewin, began his career as a talent agent in New York City
. In 1917, he moved his agency to Los Angeles. Small began producing films in the 1920s, when it became his full-time occupation.
In 1932, Small formed Reliance Pictures together with Joseph Schenck
and Harry M. Goetz. Small formed Edward Small Productions in 1938.
Small produced a number of economically produced films, mostly released through United Artists
, including The Count of Monte Cristo
(1934), The Man in the Iron Mask
(1939), Brewster's Millions
(1945) and Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950) starring George Montgomery. His most frequent director was Allan Dwan
. The years following World War II, the quality of Small's films declined, with some notable exceptions like Raw Deal
(1948), but he continued to work until 1970.
Though still releasing films through United Artists, Small formed an arrangement with Columbia Pictures
where he made eleven films over seven years where Columbia allowed him profit sharing after Columbia made up their investment in the film. In 1950 Small sold a package of 26 films he produced to show on American television through his Peerless Television Productions.
Small later served as chairman of the board of the TV distribution company Television Programs of America
. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for his television work located at 1501 Vine Street.
His mausoleum is at Beth Olam Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Small, the son of Jewish Austrian-born Philip Schmalheiser and Prussian-born Rose Lewin, began his career as a talent agent in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1917, he moved his agency to Los Angeles. Small began producing films in the 1920s, when it became his full-time occupation.
In 1932, Small formed Reliance Pictures together with Joseph Schenck
Joseph Schenck
Joseph Michael Schenck was a pioneer executive who played a key role in the development of the United States film industry.Born in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia to a Jewish household, he and his family-including younger brother Nicholas- emigrated to New York City in 1893, he and Nicholas...
and Harry M. Goetz. Small formed Edward Small Productions in 1938.
Small produced a number of economically produced films, mostly released through United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, including The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo (1934 film)
The Count of Monte Cristo is a film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas, père's novel of the same name, directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, and Louis Calhern...
(1934), The Man in the Iron Mask
The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)
The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1939 American film very loosely adapted from the last section of the novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père, which is itself based on the French legend of the Man in the Iron Mask....
(1939), Brewster's Millions
Brewster's Millions (1945 film)
Brewster's Millions is one of a number of adaptations of the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. An ex-serviceman, played by Dennis O'Keefe, receives an unusual inheritance....
(1945) and Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950) starring George Montgomery. His most frequent director was Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
. The years following World War II, the quality of Small's films declined, with some notable exceptions like Raw Deal
Raw Deal (1948 film)
Raw Deal is a 1948 film noir directed by Anthony Mann and shot by cinematographer John Alton.-Plot:Prisoner Joe Sullivan , who has "taken the fall" for an unspecified crime, breaks jail with the help of his girl, Pat...
(1948), but he continued to work until 1970.
Though still releasing films through United Artists, Small formed an arrangement with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
where he made eleven films over seven years where Columbia allowed him profit sharing after Columbia made up their investment in the film. In 1950 Small sold a package of 26 films he produced to show on American television through his Peerless Television Productions.
Small later served as chairman of the board of the TV distribution company Television Programs of America
Television Programs of America
Television Programs of America, Inc was a New York-based US television production company in the 1950s. TPA had a Canadian subsidiary, Normandie Productions....
. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
for his television work located at 1501 Vine Street.
His mausoleum is at Beth Olam Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Select Filmography
- I Cover the WaterfrontI Cover the WaterfrontI Cover the Waterfront is a 1933 film, based on the book of the same name by Max Miller. The film was directed by James Cruze and stars Ben Lyon, Claudette Colbert, Ernest Torrance, and Hobart Cavanaugh.-Synopsis:...
(1933) - Palooka (1933)
- The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo (1934 film)The Count of Monte Cristo is a film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas, père's novel of the same name, directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, and Louis Calhern...
(1934) - Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round (1934)
- The Last of the MohicansThe Last of the Mohicans (1936 film)The Last of the Mohicans is a 1936 adventure film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name starring Randolph Scott, Binnie Barnes, Henry Wilcoxon and Bruce Cabot....
(1936) - The Man in the Iron MaskThe Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1939 American film very loosely adapted from the last section of the novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père, which is itself based on the French legend of the Man in the Iron Mask....
(1939) - My Son, My Son!My Son, My Son!My Son, My Son! is a 1940 drama film based on a novel by the same name written by Howard Spring and directed by Charles Vidor. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by John DuCasse Schulze.-Cast:* Madeleine Carroll - Livia Vaynol...
(1940) - The Son of Monte CristoThe Son of Monte CristoThe Son of Monte Cristo is a 1940 black-and-white film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders....
(1940) - The Corsican BrothersThe Corsican Brothers (1941 film)The Corsican Brothers is a 1941 swashbuckler film starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in a dual role as the title Siamese twins, separated at birth and raised in completely different circumstances. Both thirst for revenge against the man who killed their parents, both fall in love with the same woman,...
(1941) - Up in Mabel's RoomUp in Mabel's RoomUp in Mabel's Room is a 1944 film directed by Allan Dwan based on the play by Wilson Collison. It stars Marjorie Reynolds and Jack Oakie. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1945. Remake of a 1926 silent film.-Cast:...
(1944) - Abroad with Two Yanks (1944)
- Brewster's MillionsBrewster's Millions (1945 film)Brewster's Millions is one of a number of adaptations of the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. An ex-serviceman, played by Dennis O'Keefe, receives an unusual inheritance....
(1945) - Raw DealRaw Deal (1948 film)Raw Deal is a 1948 film noir directed by Anthony Mann and shot by cinematographer John Alton.-Plot:Prisoner Joe Sullivan , who has "taken the fall" for an unspecified crime, breaks jail with the help of his girl, Pat...
(1948) - Black MagicBlack Magic (1949 film)Black Magic is a 1949 film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas, père's novel. It was directed by the Russian-born Gregory Ratoff and stars Orson Welles in the lead role as Joseph Balsamo and Nancy Guild as Lorenza/Marie Antoinette...
(1949) - Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)
- Kansas City Confidential (1952)
- Top GunTop Gun (1955 film)Top Gun is a 1955 Western about an ex-gunslinger who arrives in a small town warning of an impending attack by his old gang...
(1955) - Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
- The Greengage SummerThe Greengage SummerThe Greengage Summer is a 1961 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Kenneth More and Susannah York . It was based on the novel, Greengage Summer, by Rumer Godden...
(1961)