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Filmways

Filmways
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Foundation date 1 january 1958

Filmways, Inc. (also known as Filmways Pictures and Filmways Television) was a television and film production company founded by both American film executive Martin Ransohoff and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production company of CBS’ “rural comedies” of the 1960s, including The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres, as well as the comedy-drama The Trials of O'Brien, the western Dundee and the Culhane, the adventure show Bearcats!, the police drama Cagney & Lacey, and the sitcoms Mr. Ed and The Addams Family. Notable films the company produced include The Sandpiper, The Cincinnati Kid, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Ice Station Zebra, Summer Lovers, The Burning, King and Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill and Blow Out.

Filmways acquired famous companies throughout the years, such as Heatter-Quigley Productions, Ruby-Spears Productions and American International Pictures. It was also the owner of the film distributor Sigma III Corporation (Closely Watched Trains, Hi, Mom!).

Best films

See more : Wikipedia

Filmography of Filmways (57 films)

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Distribution

Blow Out
Blow Out (1981)
, 1h47
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Horror, Crime
Themes Assassinat, Films about films, Serial killer films, Political films
Actors John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis Franz, John McMartin, Bernie Rachelle

While in post-production on a low-budget exploitation film, Philadelphia sound technician Jack Terry (Travolta) is told by his producer that he needs a more realistic sounding scream and better wind effects. After leaving the studio to record potential sound effects at a local park, he sees a car careen off the road and plunge into a nearby creek. Jack dives into the water to help, discovering a dead man and a young woman, still alive, trapped inside the submerged car. He pulls her to safety and accompanies her to a local hospital. Jack learns that the driver of the car was the governor (and a presidential hopeful); the girl was an escort named Sally (Allen). Associates of the governor attempt to whitewash the incident by concealing that Sally was in the car, and they convince Jack to smuggle Sally out of the hospital with him.
Comin' at Ya!, 1h31
Origin USA
Genres Western
Actors Tony Anthony, Victoria Abril, Gene Quintano, Ricardo Palacios

H.H. Hart, a bank robber, loses his wife to kidnappers on their wedding day. Subsequently, she is traded as a prostitute by villain Gene Quintano. H.H. Hart races against time to find his wife, with the help of an Irish priest. The film features many 3D effects, many of which are intended to "fly off the screen" at the audience.
The Burning, 1h31
Directed by Tony Maylam
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror, Slasher
Themes Transport films, Serial killer films, Road movies
Actors Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Brian Backer, Jason Alexander, Larry Joshua, Holly Hunter

At Camp Blackfoot, several campers pull a prank on the caretaker, "Cropsy". During the night they sneak into his cabin and set up a wormy skull next to his bed with candles in the eye sockets. When Cropsy is awoken by the campers banging on his window, he is so frightened by the skull that he knocks it onto his bed, where it ignites his sheets and clothes. Aflame, Cropsy leaps from his bed and knocks over a gas tank, causing flames to spread through the cabin. The boys watch in shock as Cropsy, engulfed in flames, stumbles out and falls into a river.
Four Friends, 1h54
Directed by Arthur Penn
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Romance
Actors Craig Wasson, Jodi Thelen, Jim Metzler, Mercedes Ruehl, Reed Birney, Glenne Headly

East Chicago. Indiana - début des années 1960. Trois jeunes hommes, Danilo, David et Tom courtisent la même jeune fille, Georgia Miles. Celle-ci, très exaltée, se croit destinée à une carrière de grande danseuse, à l'image d'Isadora Duncan, son idole. Georgia s'offre à Danilo, qui ne sait pas "saisir l'instant", et perd sa virginité avec Tom. Celui-ci, à la veille de partir pour le Vietnam, ne souhaite pas se marier avec elle et Georgia épouse David, bien qu'elle soit enceinte de Tom. Quant à Danilo, il a toujours été épris de Georgia, mais il s'unit à Adrienne, la sœur de Louie, un copain d'université, fils de milliardaire, gravement paralysé et, sans doute, condamné. Or, ce mariage n'a jamais été admis par le père d'Adrienne qui tire sur eux, tue sa fille et se suicide. Très affecté, profondément désorienté, Danilo apprend, en outre, le décès de Louie. Il revoit pourtant Georgia, désormais séparée, élevant seule son enfant. Celle-ci mène une vie désordonnée et paraît peu encline à partager une nouvelle vie de couple. Danilo va, de son côté, travailler avec son père dans une aciérie de Pennsylvanie. Errements, nouvelles rencontres et disputes émaillent l'existence instable de Danilo et Georgia. Une nuit, pourtant, les quatre anciens amis se retrouvent. C'est alors qu'enfin Georgia et Danilo se décident à partir vers le Sud afin d'y sceller une existence commune.
Dressed to Kill, 1h45
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Erotic, Thriller, Horror, Crime, Romance, Erotic thriller
Themes Psychologie, Films about sexuality, Transport films, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, Transgender in film, Serial killer films, Psychanalyse, Erotic thriller films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, William Finley, Keith Gordon, Dennis Franz

Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson) is a sexually frustrated housewife who is in therapy with New York City psychiatrist Dr. Robert Elliott (Michael Caine). During an appointment, Kate attempts to seduce him, but Elliott rejects her advances.
The First Deadly Sin, 1h52
Directed by Brian G. Hutton
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Actors Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, David Dukes, George Coe, Brenda Vaccaro, James Whitmore

New York police Captain Edward X. Delaney is at the scene of a brutal murder when news comes that his hospitalized wife's kidney illness has worsened after an operation. Approaching retirement, with a growing depression in the face of his wife's condition, Delaney throws himself into the murder case. He is fascinated by a crime committed with what seems to be a very unusual weapon.
How to Beat the High Cost of Living, 1h45
Directed by Robert Scheerer
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Heist films
Actors Jane Curtin, Susan Saint James, Jessica Lange, Richard Benjamin, Eddie Albert, Fred Willard

Dans l'Oregon en 1980, Jane, Elaine et Louise, trois femmes au foyer coquettes et amies depuis l'enfance, sont confrontées à la récession et ont beaucoup de mal à arriver à la fin du mois. Le centre commercial local organise un concours dont le prix est une boule géante remplie d'argent... Les trois jeunes femmes y voient le parfait remède contre la crise et élaborent le plan parfait pour subtiliser l'argent !
Pray TV
Pray TV (1980)

Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about religion, Films about television
Actors Dabney Coleman, Joyce Jameson, Paul Reubens, Lewis Arquette, Jaime Lyn Bauer, Charles Haid

Failing UHF TV station KRUD, Channel 17, is "reborn" as Christian television station KGOD. The new format is a big success but attracts an incompatible mix of fringe ministries and broadcasters wanting time on the station. A series of humorous vignettes show the different religious shows the station broadcasts: a faith healer, a radical black nationalist preacher, a preacher with a drive-in church, a Christian game show, etc.
The Earthling, 1h37
Directed by Peter Collinson
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure
Actors William Holden, Rick Schroder, Jack Thompson, Olivia Hamnett, Pat Evison, Ray Barrett

Patrick Foley (Holden) is dying of cancer and decides to return to the outback where he was born. He has stopped taking his medicine and is at peace with his decision to die alone in the woods. On his journey, he notices a family camping. From a neighbouring peak, Foley watches as Shawn (Schroder), a 10-year-old boy, begins collecting firewood. The father attempts to move the camper away from the edge. Unfortunately, the camper rolls off the cliff and crashes to the bottom of the cliff with Shawn's parents inside. Shawn climbs down from the cliff finding the camper crushed upside down and realizes his parents are dead. Foley has an ethical dilemma: take the stranded ten-year-old back to civilization, and lose his own wish to die where he was born, or continue his personal mission and let the boy die alone in the wilderness. He decides to take the boy with him, and teaches him along the way how to survive in the wilderness. A strong bond grows between the two, and when Foley finally dies, Shawn is equipped to travel out of the outback alone.
Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Documentary
Themes Medical-themed films, Documentaire sur une personnalité, Documentary films about health care, Films about psychiatry, Films about disabilities, Films about autism
Actors James Farentino, Kathryn Harrold, Stephen Elliott, Melissa Francis, Erica Yohn, Michael Adams

Raun was born "like all, perfect" to Bears and Suzi Kaufman. Eventually his parents noticed that Raun could see only certain things and could sometimes hear. He had also lost a couple of words that he had been taught. He had 12 out of 13 symptoms of autism. Medical professionals were pessimistic about Raun's condition.
Little Boy Lost, 1h30
Origin Australie
Genres Drama
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Tony Barry, Don Crosby - George Wallace Donald Crosby, John Hargreaves, Steve Dodd, James Elliott, John Jarratt

The film is based on the true story of a missing Australian child, Stephen Walls (played by Dawes). After his disappearance, a massive search is organized across the Guyra area as its citizens spring into action.
Fantasm Comes Again, 1h34
Genres Comedy, Pornographic
Actors John C. Holmes, Uschi Digard, Cheryl Smith, Rick Cassidy, Candy Samples, William Margold

Journalist Libbie is taking over the "Dear Collette" sex advice column at her newspaper from veteran reporter Harry, who is retiring. Over the course of one night, Harry talks Libbie through a series of letters from their readers. They include: