rec.arts.movies.past-films

"Steven L." wrote in message
news:13rs5e1gb36nje4@...
> What are some examples of producers who had major acting roles in their
> own movies?
>
> I'm thinking of a movie like "Battlefield Earth," in which John Travolta
> was the producer (and had tried for years to get the film produced), and
> also starred in it. But that movie was unsuccessful.
>
> Can you name some others?

Practically every major star currently in films is his or her own producer,
since most deals are made with those stars' own production companies.

It's a tradition dating back to the pre-1920 era, with people like Florence
Turner and Hobart Bosworth heading their own production units. But these
were the exceptions rather than the rule--even after the formation of United
Artists.

The star-as-producer phenomenon really took hold with the collapse of the
studio system in the 1950s, when several major names created their own
production companies for capital-gains tax purposes.

A better question might be, "Which producers who WEREN'T actors appeared in
their own films?" I can only think of Hitchcock and William Castle off the
top of my head. Any others?

--Hal E