Josef Shaftel Explained

Josef Shaftel (14 March 1919–9 March 1999) was an American film producer, director and writer. He made a number of films in England.^[1]

Shaftel was particularly prolific in the late 1960s and early 1970s.^[2] In 1970 he raised seven million pounds to film a slate of six movies for Cinerama.^[3] This included The Statue, The Last Grenade, Goodbye Gemini (originally called Ask Agamemnon), The Assassination of Trotsky and Say Hello to Yesterday.^[4]

In April 1972 Shaftel announced he would make sixteen films worth $20 million. However by April 1973 he was in receivership.^[5]

He declared bankruptcy in 1976.^[6]

• The Bliss of Mrs Blossom (1968) - producer, story
• The Last Grenade (1970) - producer
• Goodbye Gemini (1970) - producer
• Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) - producer
• The Statue (1971) - producer
• The Trojan Women (1971) - executive producer
• The Assassination of Trotsky (1972) - executive producer
• Where Does It Hurt? (1972) - executive producer
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) - executive producer
• The Spiral Staircase (1975) - executive producer
• The Sell-Out (1976) - producer
• Gulliver's Travels (1977) - executive producer
• Erotic Images (1983) - executive producer
• My Therapist (1983) - executive producer

Television

• The Californians (1957) - writer
• General Electric Theatre - producer
• The Untouchables (1959-61) - producer
• US Steel Hour (1961) - producer
• Straightaway (1961–1962 television series) - producer
• The Beachcomber (1962) - producer
• Summer Playhouse (1964) - producer

External links

• • Joseph Shaftel Productions at BGI
• Josef Shaftel at TCMDB
• Josef Shaftel at BFI

Notes and References

1. Shaftel to do Don Giovanni. Variety. 13. 23 April 1952.
2. News: 'Sister George' Preens for the Movies: More About Movie Matters. A. H. WEILER. . Jan 1, 1967. The New York Times. 63.
3. News: Daily Telegraph. Title Producer's £7m 'films in Britain' plan. Day-Lewis. Sean. 8 January 1970. 16.
4. News: Daily Telegraph. Title Producer's £7m 'films in Britain' plan. Day-Lewis. Sean. 8 January 1970. 16.
5. Book: Walker, Alexander. National heroes : British cinema in the seventies and eighties. 126. 1985 . Harrap .
6. p. 19i Annakin, Ken so You Wanna Be a Director? Tomahawk Press 2001

7. Selected credits

   Film

   • The Man Who Watched Trains Go By (1952) aka The Paris Express - producer
   • The Naked Dawn (1955) - producer
   • No Place to Hide (1956) - producer, director
   • The Naked Hills (1956) - producer, director, writer
   • The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) - producer, story^[6]