Hannah Weinstein
Encyclopedia
Hannah Weinstein was an American journalist, publicist and left-wing political activist who moved to Britain
and became a television producer
. She is best known for having produced The Adventures of Robin Hood
television series in the 1950s. She had three daughters, film producers Paula Weinstein, Lisa Weinstein (wife of Martin Brest
) and the eldest, Dina Wienstein.
Hannah Weinstein worked for the New York Herald Tribune
from 1927. In 1937, she joined Fiorello H. La Guardia's New York mayoral campaign. She was also involved in the presidential campaigns of Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Henry Wallace
.
In 1952, she moved to London to avoid the anti-Communist persecution and McCarthyism
affecting the US at the time. There she established her own television production company, Sapphire Films
, which made series for the British commercial ITV
network. Weinstein created and executive produced The Adventures of Robin Hood
(1955-59), starring Richard Greene
. The series was sold to both British and American television through ITC Entertainment
.
Weinstein hired American writers who had been blacklisted by the McCarthy Communist hearings (Waldo Salt
, Ring Lardner Jr.
, Ian McLellan Hunter
and others), using pseudonyms, and instituted elaborate security measures to ensure that the writers' true identities remained secret. The success of Robin Hood led Weinstein to create a further four television series, The Buccaneers
(1956-57), The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
(1956-57), Sword of Freedom
(1958-60) and The Four Just Men (1959) (as Hannah Fisher). Weinstein returned to America in 1962, and resumed her involvement in politics.
In 1971 she founded the Third World Cinema Corporation to produce films with members of African-American groups. In 1974, she produced the Oscar nominated film Claudine
, featuring an all-black cast in a story about an afro-American family struggling through hard times and racism. She later produced Greased Lightning
(1977) and Stir Crazy
(1980) starring comedian Richard Pryor
.
In 1982, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work over their lifetime, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. In 1984, was named for the Liberty Hill Foundation
Upton Sinclair Award in honor of her artistic and political accomplishments.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and became a television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. She is best known for having produced The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)
The Adventures of Robin Hood is a popular British television series comprising 143 half-hour, black and white episodes. It starred Richard Greene as the outlaw Robin Hood and Alan Wheatley as his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The show aired weekly between 1955 and 1959 on ITV in London in the...
television series in the 1950s. She had three daughters, film producers Paula Weinstein, Lisa Weinstein (wife of Martin Brest
Martin Brest
Martin Brest is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer.-Education:He was born in a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York....
) and the eldest, Dina Wienstein.
Hannah Weinstein worked for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
from 1927. In 1937, she joined Fiorello H. La Guardia's New York mayoral campaign. She was also involved in the presidential campaigns of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Henry Wallace
Henry Wallace
Henry or Harry Wallace may refer to:*Henry A. Wallace , U.S. Vice President 1941-1945, presidential candidate for the Progressive Party 1948**Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center...
.
In 1952, she moved to London to avoid the anti-Communist persecution and McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
affecting the US at the time. There she established her own television production company, Sapphire Films
Sapphire Films
Sapphire Films was a British television production company, active in the 1950s. Amongst their best-known series are The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, The Buccaners, and The Four Just Men produced for ITC Entertainment and screened on ITV in the UK, as well as being...
, which made series for the British commercial ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network. Weinstein created and executive produced The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)
The Adventures of Robin Hood is a popular British television series comprising 143 half-hour, black and white episodes. It starred Richard Greene as the outlaw Robin Hood and Alan Wheatley as his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The show aired weekly between 1955 and 1959 on ITV in London in the...
(1955-59), starring Richard Greene
Richard Greene
Richard Marius Joseph Greene was a noted English film and television actor. A matinee idol who appeared in more than 40 films, he was perhaps best known for the lead role in the long-running British TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood, which ran for 143 episodes from 1955 to 1960.It has been...
. The series was sold to both British and American television through ITC Entertainment
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
.
Weinstein hired American writers who had been blacklisted by the McCarthy Communist hearings (Waldo Salt
Waldo Salt
Waldo Miller Salt was an American screenwriter who was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses during the era of McCarthyism.-Early life and career:...
, Ring Lardner Jr.
Ring Lardner Jr.
Ringgold Wilmer "Ring" Lardner, Jr. was an American journalist and screenwriter blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studios during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s.-Early life:...
, Ian McLellan Hunter
Ian McLellan Hunter
Ian McLellan Hunter was an English screenwriter, most noted for fronting for the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo as the credited writer of Roman Holiday in 1953. Hunter was himself later blacklisted.-Roman Holiday:...
and others), using pseudonyms, and instituted elaborate security measures to ensure that the writers' true identities remained secret. The success of Robin Hood led Weinstein to create a further four television series, The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers (TV series)
The Buccaneers was a 1956 Sapphire Films television drama series for ITC Entertainment, networked by CBS in the US and shown on ATV and selected ITV companies in the UK....
(1956-57), The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot is a British television series first broadcast in 1956, produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and screened on the ITV network...
(1956-57), Sword of Freedom
Sword of Freedom
Sword of Freedom was a 1958 drama adventure series for a family audience. Like several of its predecessors , it was produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and fitted into the same swashbuckler genre as previous productions...
(1958-60) and The Four Just Men (1959) (as Hannah Fisher). Weinstein returned to America in 1962, and resumed her involvement in politics.
In 1971 she founded the Third World Cinema Corporation to produce films with members of African-American groups. In 1974, she produced the Oscar nominated film Claudine
Claudine
The Claudine books are a series of four early novels by the French author Colette published from 1900-1904. The stories are the diaries of protagonist Claudine, which outline the education and growing up of the young girl, who is aged fifteen at the beginning of the first novel Claudine à l'école...
, featuring an all-black cast in a story about an afro-American family struggling through hard times and racism. She later produced Greased Lightning
Greased Lightning
Greased Lightning is a 1977 American biographical film, starring Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, and Pam Grier, and directed by Michael Schultz. Greased Lightning is a film loosely based on the true life story of Wendell Scott, the first African American stock car racing champion in the United States...
(1977) and Stir Crazy
Stir Crazy (film)
Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as down-on-their-luck friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after being framed for a bank robbery; while in prison they befriend other inmates and ultimately escape. In 2000, Total Film magazine voted it the...
(1980) starring comedian Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
.
In 1982, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work over their lifetime, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. In 1984, was named for the Liberty Hill Foundation
Liberty Hill Foundation
The Liberty Hill Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Sarah Pillsbury, heir to the Minnesota Pillsbury baking fortune, in 1976. Its motto is "Change. Not Charity." They have funded local Los Angeles organizations dedicated to environmental justice, such as East Yard Communities for...
Upton Sinclair Award in honor of her artistic and political accomplishments.