21st Century Film Corporation
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
21st Century Film Corporation was a small-scale theatrical distribution company formed sometime in the early 1970s as a production company and distributor.
The company had largely gone unnoticed for nearly twenty years when sometime in the late '80s, while filing for bankruptcy, it was purchased by Giancarlo Parretti
. Parretti had also recently purchased Cannon Films, and he eventually handed 21st Century Film Corporation over to Israeli filmmaker Menahem Golan
as part of Golan's severance package from Cannon.
Golan's goal was to release high-quality motion pictures to the American and worldwide film audiences, but 21st Century only enjoyed small-scale success releasing low-budget, art-house films like Eraserhead
, as well as remakes of The Phantom of the Opera
and Night of the Living Dead
.
heroes, Captain America
and Spider-Man
. Captain America was filmed and was given only a limited theatrical release worldwide, despite its major budget. 21st Century eventually lost the rights to filming Spider-Man.
and most notably Death Wish V: The Face of Death
, which was not only the last in the series but Charles Bronson
's final theatrical film. At that time, it was under the 21st Century Group.
In 1996, it eventually went bankrupt. In 2001, Golan
later returned to his native Israel and formed New Cannon, Inc.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
21st Century Film Corporation was a small-scale theatrical distribution company formed sometime in the early 1970s as a production company and distributor.
History
It was formed sometime in 1971 as a production company and distributor.The company had largely gone unnoticed for nearly twenty years when sometime in the late '80s, while filing for bankruptcy, it was purchased by Giancarlo Parretti
Giancarlo Parretti
Giancarlo Parretti is an Italian financier.In 1989, he took over Cannon Film Group Inc. from Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. Almost immediately, he made plans to take over the storied French studio Pathé, and changed Cannon's name to Pathé Communications...
. Parretti had also recently purchased Cannon Films, and he eventually handed 21st Century Film Corporation over to Israeli filmmaker Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
as part of Golan's severance package from Cannon.
Golan's goal was to release high-quality motion pictures to the American and worldwide film audiences, but 21st Century only enjoyed small-scale success releasing low-budget, art-house films like Eraserhead
Eraserhead
Eraserhead is a 1977 American surrealist film and the first feature film of David Lynch, who wrote, produced and directed. Lynch began working on the film at the AFI Conservatory, which gave him a $10,000 grant to make the film after he had begun working there following his 1971 move to Los Angeles...
, as well as remakes of The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1989 film)
The Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture is a 1989 horror film directed by Dwight H. Little and based on Gaston Leroux's novel of the same name....
and Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
.
Rights to Marvel Comics characters
In 1990, 21st Century bought the film rights to two Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
heroes, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. Captain America was filmed and was given only a limited theatrical release worldwide, despite its major budget. 21st Century eventually lost the rights to filming Spider-Man.
Later Years
After The Cannon Group's demise in 1993, it released a few more movies including, Deadly HeroesDeadly Heroes
Deadly Heroes is a direct to video 1993 action film starring Michael Paré, Jan-Michael Vincent and Billy Drago. Directed by Menahem Golan, Deadly Heroes is notable for being one of the last films released under Golan's 21st Century Film Corporation banner. The company went bankrupt shortly thereafter...
and most notably Death Wish V: The Face of Death
Death Wish V: The Face of Death
Death Wish V: The Face of Death is a 1994 action thriller, and the fourth and final sequel to the 1974 film Death Wish.Star Charles Bronson returned to reprise the role of Paul Kersey one final time for this, his final theatrical starring role in the industry.The film is produced by 21st Century...
, which was not only the last in the series but Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
's final theatrical film. At that time, it was under the 21st Century Group.
In 1996, it eventually went bankrupt. In 2001, Golan
Golan
Golan was a biblical city in Land of Israel. It was in the territory of Manasseh in the Bashan.Golan was the most northerly of the three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River . Manasseh gave this city to the Gershonite Levites .According to the Bible, the Israelites conquered Golan from the...
later returned to his native Israel and formed New Cannon, Inc.
Filmography
- 1989: The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (1989 film)The Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture is a 1989 horror film directed by Dwight H. Little and based on Gaston Leroux's novel of the same name....
- 1989: EraserheadEraserheadEraserhead is a 1977 American surrealist film and the first feature film of David Lynch, who wrote, produced and directed. Lynch began working on the film at the AFI Conservatory, which gave him a $10,000 grant to make the film after he had begun working there following his 1971 move to Los Angeles...
- 1989: Bullseye!
- 1989: Caged FuryCaged Fury (1989 film)Caged Fury is a 1989 women in prison film about a group of prisoners who decide to escape from an all-female prison. The film was directed by Bill Milling, and stars Erik Estrada and James Hong.-Plot:...
- 1990: Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead (1990 film)Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A...
(released by Columbia PicturesColumbia PicturesColumbia 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...
) - 1990: Captain America
- 1991: The Finest Hour
- 1991: Bloodmatch (now owned by MGMMetro-Goldwyn-MayerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
) - 1992: Prison Planet
- 1992: Desert Kickboxer
- 1993: Deadly HeroesDeadly HeroesDeadly Heroes is a direct to video 1993 action film starring Michael Paré, Jan-Michael Vincent and Billy Drago. Directed by Menahem Golan, Deadly Heroes is notable for being one of the last films released under Golan's 21st Century Film Corporation banner. The company went bankrupt shortly thereafter...
- 1993: Teenage Bonnie and Klepto Clyde
- 1994: Death Wish V: The Face of DeathDeath Wish V: The Face of DeathDeath Wish V: The Face of Death is a 1994 action thriller, and the fourth and final sequel to the 1974 film Death Wish.Star Charles Bronson returned to reprise the role of Paul Kersey one final time for this, his final theatrical starring role in the industry.The film is produced by 21st Century...