Twentieth Century Pictures

Twentieth Century Pictures, Inc. was an independent American Hollywood film-production company formed in 1933 by Joseph Schenck, the former president of United Artists, and Darryl F. Zanuck, who had recently left Warner Bros. Pictures. William Goetz, associated with Fox Studios and Zanuck's family through marriage, and actor and producer Raymond Griffith were also involved in the company's early organization. Schenck served as president while Zanuck directed production. The company emerged from an industrial dispute. In 1933, Warner Bros. declined to restore salary reductions after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had supported their restoration. Zanuck left Warner Bros. in April, and he and Schenck soon announced plans for a new production concern. Twentieth Century Pictures planned to use production facilities associated with Samuel Goldwyn Studios and to distribute its films theatrically through United Artists. The company announced an initial program of twelve pictures and began production activity in the summer of 1933. Its first release was The Bowery, adapted from Michael L. Simmons's book Chuck Connors and released by United Artists on October 7, 1933. The company assembled a substantial early talent roster, including actors George Arliss, Constance Bennett, Wallace Beery, George Raft and Loretta Young, and directors such as Raoul Walsh, Gregory La Cava, Sidney Lanfield and Walter Lang. Through Goetz's connections, the studio could also borrow talent from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Twentieth Century Pictures achieved an unusually strong start. Reference material states that only one of its first eighteen films, Born to Be Bad, failed to become a financial success. The company's productions included The House of Rothschild, released in 1934 and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Les Misérables, released in 1935 and also nominated for Best Picture. These results gave the young company considerable leverage despite its limited operating history and reliance on outside facilities and distribution. The company's relationship with United Artists deteriorated over ownership and governance. Zanuck sought to acquire United Artists stock and obtain a board position, but United Artists co-founder Mary Pickford opposed granting Twentieth Century an equity interest, partly because of concerns about dilution and the interests of fellow co-founder D. W. Griffith. Schenck resigned from United Artists after the dispute, and Twentieth Century began considering alternative distribution and corporate arrangements. In early 1935, the company negotiated with the financially troubled Fox Film Corporation. Twentieth Century Pictures merged with Fox Film that year, creating Twentieth Century-Fox. The merger ended Twentieth Century Pictures as an independent company and combined its production operation with Fox's studio and distribution assets. The resulting company later became 20th Century Fox and, after the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, the successor studio was renamed 20th Century Studios in 2020. Twentieth Century Pictures is therefore best understood as the short-lived predecessor created in 1933, rather than as the same legal and operational entity as the later Disney-owned studio.

Twentieth Century Pictures was created in 1933 during a period of instability in the American film industry. Darryl F. Zanuck left Warner Bros. after the studio declined to restore salary reductions that had been challenged within the industry and supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. On April 18, 1933, Zanuck and Joseph Schenck announced plans for a new company, with Schenck as president and Zanuck responsible for production. The organization was named Twentieth Century Pictures, Inc., and intended to begin studio operations that summer. The new company did not initially possess the complete infrastructure of a traditional vertically integrated studio. It planned to use production facilities connected with Samuel Goldwyn Studios and arranged theatrical distribution through United Artists. William Goetz became Zanuck's executive assistant, while Raymond Griffith was appointed production supervisor. The company's financing and business support came from a group connected to the broader Hollywood and exhibition industries, including Nicholas Schenck, Louis B. Mayer, Bank of America and Herbert J. Yates. Goetz's connection with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer also helped the company obtain access to performers and other talent. Twentieth Century's first production was adapted from Michael L. Simmons's book Chuck Connors. The completed film, The Bowery, was released by United Artists on October 7, 1933. The company also acquired or developed projects including Blood Money, Born to Be Bad and Miss Lonelyhearts, the last of which was released as Advice to the Lovelorn. Its early production strategy combined recognizable stars with experienced directors. George Arliss, Constance Bennett, Wallace Beery, George Raft and Loretta Young were among the performers associated with its initial contract roster, while Raoul Walsh, Gregory La Cava, Sidney Lanfield and Walter Lang were among the directors signed. The company rapidly established a reputation for commercial performance. According to the supplied reference material, seventeen of its first eighteen films were financial successes, with Born to Be Bad identified as the exception. Twentieth Century also pursued prestige material. The House of Rothschild, released in 1934, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Les Misérables, released in 1935 and adapted from Victor Hugo's novel, likewise received a Best Picture nomination. These films demonstrated the company's ability to combine popular entertainment with literary and historical subjects. Relations with United Artists became strained during 1934 and early 1935. Zanuck sought United Artists stock and a board position, but Mary Pickford resisted granting Twentieth Century an ownership interest. The dispute involved concerns about the dilution of existing holdings, including those associated with D. W. Griffith. Schenck, who had been a United Artists stockholder for more than a decade, resigned from the company in protest. Twentieth Century then explored alternatives to its existing distribution relationship. The most consequential negotiations were with Fox Film Corporation, which had been operating under financial pressure. In the spring of 1935, Twentieth Century Pictures merged with Fox Film, creating Twentieth Century-Fox. The transaction brought together Twentieth Century's production organization and talent base with Fox's studio and distribution operations. The merger ended Twentieth Century Pictures as a standalone company after roughly two years, but its management and productions became part of the successor studio's history. The later corporate lineage changed names and ownership several times. Twentieth Century-Fox eventually became 20th Century Fox, and the Walt Disney Company's 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets led to the successor studio's renaming as 20th Century Studios in 2020. Those later entities should not be confused with the original Twentieth Century Pictures company, which existed specifically from its 1933 formation until the 1935 Fox merger.

• 1935

  Les Misérables receives a Best Picture nomination

  [1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  The company's adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

• 1935

  Merger with Fox Film creates Twentieth Century-Fox

  [1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Twentieth Century Pictures merged with Fox Film Corporation, ending its independent existence and creating Twentieth Century-Fox.

• 1934

  The House of Rothschild receives a Best Picture nomination

  [1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  The company's historical drama The House of Rothschild was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

• 1933

  Company announced

  [1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck announced plans for Twentieth Century Pictures, with Schenck as president and Zanuck in charge of production.

• 1933

  The Bowery is released

  [1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  The Bowery became the company's first theatrical release and was distributed through United Artists.

A high-profile independent Hollywood production company built around established creative talent, outside studio facilities and United Artists distribution, with an emphasis on commercially successful prestige-oriented feature films.

• Feature film · 1933

  The Bowery

  The company's first production and first theatrical release, The Bowery was adapted from Michael L. Simmons's book Chuck Connors. United Artists handled its theatrical release in October 1933, establishing the company's initial distribution relationship.

• Feature film · 1934

  The House of Rothschild

  A historical drama produced by Twentieth Century Pictures and released in 1934. Its recognition by the Academy as a Best Picture nominee helped position the young company as a producer of prestige as well as commercially oriented Hollywood films.

• Feature film · 1935

  Les Misérables

  The company's 1935 adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel. The film was another major prestige production from the short-lived company and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

• 1935

  Merge with Fox Film CorporationM&A

  Background

  A dispute with United Artists over stock ownership and board representation led Twentieth Century Pictures to seek an alternative corporate and distribution arrangement. Fox Film was financially troubled but possessed an established studio and distribution operation.

  Action taken

  Twentieth Century Pictures merged with Fox Film Corporation to create Twentieth Century-Fox.

  Aftermath

  The independent Twentieth Century Pictures brand ceased operating as a separate company, while its production organization and history became part of the Twentieth Century-Fox lineage.

  Source

• 1935

  Twentieth Century Pictures merges with Fox Film[1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  After tensions with United Artists over stock and board representation, Twentieth Century Pictures combined with Fox Film Corporation to form Twentieth Century-Fox.

• 1933

  Twentieth Century Pictures is organized[1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck announced the formation of a new production company after Zanuck's departure from Warner Bros. The company planned to produce films using outside facilities and release them through United Artists.

• 1933

  The Bowery becomes the company's first release[1]Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The company's first production, based on the story Chuck Connors, was released theatrically under the title The Bowery through United Artists.

1. 1Twentieth Century Picturesen.wikipedia.org