Samuel Goldwyn: A Hollywood Legend

Early Life and Career

Samuel Goldwyn was born Schmuel Gelbfisz in Warsaw, Poland, in 1879. He immigrated to the United States in 1898 and changed his name to Samuel Goldfish. In 1913, he co-founded the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company with Jesse L. Lasky and Cecil B. DeMille. The company was renamed Paramount Pictures in 1917.

Goldwyn was a pioneer in the film industry. He was one of the first to use sound in films and to establish a system of distribution and exhibition for films. He also played a major role in the development of the Hollywood studio system.

Goldwyn was known for his sharp wit and his demanding personality. He was often quoted saying, "It's not the money that talks. It's the silence." He was also known for his perfectionism. He would often spend years developing a single film and would not hesitate to fire directors and actors if he was not satisfied with their work.

Legacy

Samuel Goldwyn died in 1974. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Hollywood. He was a pioneer in the film industry and his legacy continues to this day.

Goldwyn's films have won numerous Academy Awards and have been praised by critics and audiences alike. He is credited with helping to create the Hollywood star system and with establishing the studio system that dominated the film industry for decades.

Goldwyn's legacy is also reflected in the many awards and honors he has received. He was awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1958 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He was also inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990.